White wine

White wine is the largest category at ginusslande.com — over 400 wines from three countries, dominated by Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, and Pinot Blanc. An assortment that represents the broad spectrum of dry white wines: from salty-lean to oak-aged, from cool Kabinett to concentrated Grand Cru.

Overview of Grape Varieties

Riesling is Germany's leading grape variety and defines the assortment of German white wine. From the Saar, the wines of Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken bring a smoky-mineral depth. From Rheinhessen and the Palatinate come the top dry wines from Wittmann, Gunderloch, and Knipser.

Grüner Veltliner is the Austrian counterpart — peppery, grassy, with a clear acidic structure. In the Austrian white wine selection, you'll find Veltliner from Fred Loimer (Kamptal) and Sattlerhof (Südsteiermark).

Vernatsch, Gewürztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc characterize the South Tyrolean side — lighter, alpine, often with a bitter-spicy aftertaste. Manincor and Kurtatsch show what the vineyards around Lake Caldaro can achieve.

Style and Classification

Dry wines make up the majority of the assortment. We carry wines with residual sweetness (Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese) almost exclusively from German winemakers — as a complement to the dry program, not as mass-produced goods. Those who like oak will find oak-aged Pinot Blancs and Chardonnays; those who prefer the crisp style will opt for young Rieslings from stainless steel tanks.

Our Tip: A dry Kabinett with 11% alcohol is often the smarter choice than a 13.5% Grand Cru if the wine is simply meant to accompany an evening. Lightness is not a weakness.

Serving Temperature and Glassware

Serve white wine at 9–11 °C, full-bodied single vineyard wines a nuance warmer (11–13 °C). A classic white wine glass is sufficient for most wines; for Rieslings from Grand Cru sites or mature Pinot Blancs, a more bulbous glass is worthwhile. All three countries are representatively featured in the assortment here — three parallel bottles in comparison are one of the best wine lessons.