Ten Buck Tuesday: Verde v. Grün
Back to defend its Ten Buck Tuesday title is....Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde (NV, $8).
This week V.Verde takes on an up-and-coming challenger - Berger Grüner Veltliner (2004) from Austria's Kremstal region. At first glance, Berger appears to be ineligible to compete in T.B.T. The wine, at $12, is over the price limit. However our judges* have dertermined that Berger, in the unique 1000 ml (1 litre) size class, qualifies as a ten buck wine (were the wine in a regulation size 750 ml bottle, its price would be around nine dollars).
Berger, aside from a bottle-girth advantage, is a formidable foe to Aveleda's V.V. This wine is made in a similar fashion - using just-ripe, low sugar grapes. Berger G.V. weighs in at a svelte 11.5% alcohol, and packs a jaw-rattling acid punch. You might say this is Austria's version of Vinho Verde. It's simple, refreshing and extraordinarily finger food-friendly.
*ding*ding*ding*
At the end of the tenth round the fight appears to be a draw. What's this? Aveleda's Vinho Verde has yet to come out of its corner. It appears to be empty, while Berger still has 250 ml-worth of picnic-ready wine in the tank. The referee has stepped in and stopped the fight. And the winner by TKO is....
Berger Grüner Veltliner 2004 ($12, 1 litre bottle)
Who's ready to step up and name a contender for the Ten Buck Tuesday Value Wine Grand Championship? Give us your best shot.
*Ten Buck Tuesday is like Calvinball - the rules may change at any time
Technorati Tags: austria, austrian wine, gruner veltliner, cheap wine, vinho verde, wine
I love these Gruners in big, pop-top bottles. Awesome wines to always have on hand.
*chanting* GRUNER-GRUNER-GRUNER
Posted by: Lenn | 25 April 2006 at 02:27 PM
Beau, I heart this wine! I called it the One Liter Chug-A-Lug Jug.
Why do only Austria and Germany have the brains to give you 33% more wine for free?
Also, I must comment on the new graphical representation: love the bendy straw. What doesn't taste better out of a bendy straw? (I'm sure you are just using a straw to oxygenate the wine; very avant-garde.
Posted by: Jameson | 25 April 2006 at 11:12 PM
Lenn - this was the first 'chubby' format bottle of gruner i've had. Good stuff.
J - Sure beats a 40oz. What German producers offer 1L bottles?
Oh and doesn't everyone drink wine with a bendy straw?
;)
Posted by: beau | 26 April 2006 at 07:39 AM
the liter gruner we always get is this one from austria
Grüner Veltliner, Weingut Hofer 2005
we get it at Astor where its $8.99/bottle
oh, and see! i get it this week! i'm offering a WHITE suggestion (not a red like last time!)
Posted by: ann | 26 April 2006 at 11:47 AM
I have just bought a case at New Seasons in Lake Oswego for 100 bucks and I hope we can make it last for a while...it is delicious cold in this 100 degree weather and a wine I would be happy to bring to a friends house . Yum!
Posted by: Annie | 25 July 2006 at 06:49 PM
Stay cool Annie, stay cool!
Posted by: beau | 25 July 2006 at 07:07 PM