2020 Gut Oggau Gruner Veltliner Theodora

Gut Oggau is an artisanal producer of natural wines in the small town of Oggau, Burgenland. It was started by Eduard and Stephanie Tscheppe in 2007. Eduard comes from a family of winemakers, and Stephanie’s family is in the restaurant business. The couple bought an abandoned winery and began refurbishing the vineyards and cellar. They earned a biodynamic certification for the estate and started making red and white wines from indigenous grapes. Each of wines is named for a family member, and a line drawing of that person’s face is part of the label. The wine Timotheus, for example, is a blend of Gruner Veltliner and Weissburgunder and is named for an uncle.

This white grape is widely grown in Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia. As a wine, it is food friendly and has beaten top Chardonnays in blind tastings. It compares to a white Burgundy in richness and texture, and offers an exotic alternative to Sauvignon Blanc.