There was a time—not that long ago—when Austria’s reputation for white wine stopped well short of the world’s most serious cellars. That’s changed dramatically over the past two decades, as a small group of producers began pushing beyond freshness and into something far more compelling: structure, site expression, and longevity. At the center of that shift is Weingut Bernhard Ott, a reference point for what Grüner Veltliner can achieve when handled with absolute precision. These are not simple, peppery whites—they’re layered, textural, and quietly powerful wines that have earned a devoted following among collectors who value nuance over flash.
Ott’s vineyards sit on the loess terraces of the Wagram, where deep soils meet underlying gravels and limestone influences from thenearbyDanube. Farming is fully biodynamic, but more importantly, it’s obsessive—yields are controlled, harvest decisions are exacting, and élevage is designed to build both clarity and dimension. The results speak in a very specific dialect: Grüner that carries weight without heaviness,intensity without exaggeration. In a world where many whites chase immediacy, Ott’s wines feel composed, architectural, and built to evolve.
The 2021s are especially compelling. Ried Stein leans into its stony origins, delivering a wine of tension and precision—95-point material thatfeels both grounded and lifted at once. Ried Spiegel shows a more airy, almost weightless side of the grape, all white pepper and lift, yet anchored by a surprising depth of texture. And then there’s Rosenberg, drawn from old vines and handled with extended lees aging, bringing a broader, more powerful expression without sacrificing line or energy. Together, they form a snapshot of site-driven Grüner at a world-class level—distinct, articulate, and unmistakably Ott.
These are not wines that flood the market. Allocations remain tight, and bottles tend to disappear into the hands of people who’ve been quietlyfollowing the estate for years. For anyone looking to understand how Austria moved from “refreshing whites” to some of the most compelling dry wines in the world, this is as direct a path as it gets.
We’ll be closed tomorrow on Easter, but we’ll be honoring first come first served on orders of Bernhard Ott. If you’re reading this….the clock is ticking.
Ott’s vineyards sit on the loess terraces of the Wagram, where deep soils meet underlying gravels and limestone influences from thenearbyDanube. Farming is fully biodynamic, but more importantly, it’s obsessive—yields are controlled, harvest decisions are exacting, and élevage is designed to build both clarity and dimension. The results speak in a very specific dialect: Grüner that carries weight without heaviness,intensity without exaggeration. In a world where many whites chase immediacy, Ott’s wines feel composed, architectural, and built to evolve.
The 2021s are especially compelling. Ried Stein leans into its stony origins, delivering a wine of tension and precision—95-point material thatfeels both grounded and lifted at once. Ried Spiegel shows a more airy, almost weightless side of the grape, all white pepper and lift, yet anchored by a surprising depth of texture. And then there’s Rosenberg, drawn from old vines and handled with extended lees aging, bringing a broader, more powerful expression without sacrificing line or energy. Together, they form a snapshot of site-driven Grüner at a world-class level—distinct, articulate, and unmistakably Ott.
These are not wines that flood the market. Allocations remain tight, and bottles tend to disappear into the hands of people who’ve been quietlyfollowing the estate for years. For anyone looking to understand how Austria moved from “refreshing whites” to some of the most compelling dry wines in the world, this is as direct a path as it gets.
We’ll be closed tomorrow on Easter, but we’ll be honoring first come first served on orders of Bernhard Ott. If you’re reading this….the clock is ticking.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock Bernhard Ott wines
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock Bernhard Ott wines
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Sale ends Wednesday, April 8th at 9 am Pacific.
Three fabulous examples of Bernhard Ott wines on sale now, including:
Bernard Ott Ried Spiegel Grüner Veltliner 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Vinous 94 points “The 2021 Grüner Veltliner Spiegel was picked on well-ventilated terraces of loess on top of calcareous, iron-rich Danubian gravels. On the nose, yeast blends into the gentle woodland scent of moss, edged with just a little pepper. The palate is rounded, with a heightened sense of pepper on a very airy, smooth, almost ethereal body. Soaring towards the sky, this is fresh and bright, all reaching upwards. At once light-footed and sprightly yet profound, the entire wine is vivid with white pepper. (Bone-dry).”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2021 Ried Spiegel 1ÖTW Feuersbrunn Grüner Veltliner opens very clear, precise and intense on the nose, with intense and dense white, ripe fruit aromas. On the plate, this is a very rich and textural Veltliner with remarkable and vital acidity. The wine is very complex and long, revealing a long and aromatic as well as intense, powerful and stimulating saline finish. 13% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in August 2023.”
Bernard Ott Ried Stein Grüner Veltliner 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $71.90, that’s $68.30 at 5% off and $64.71 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95-96 points “”Tasted as a sample, the 2021 Ried Stein 1ÖTW Engabrunn Grüner Veltliner offers a deep, fresh and flinty/stony bouquet of ripe fruits and smoky bacon. Full-bodied, rich and dense on the palate, this is an opulent but elegant, fresh, savory and salty Veltliner with spectacular grip and tension. A fascinating wine. Tasted as a sample in September 2022.”
Vinous 95 points “The 2021 Grüner Veltliner Stein is grown on gneiss. The nose is scented with moss, lemon, savory edges of sage and mellower woodruff that verges into creaminess. Bright lightness and a sense of naked stoniness come across as totally translucent, yet supple and smooth. Altogether, this results in a most harmonious completeness, defined freshness and pristine resonance—always mouthwatering, with a lovely, lemony, bright zestiness. This is elegant, stony and utterly balanced. (Bone-dry).
Bernard Ott Rosenberg Grüner Veltliner 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $94.50, that’s $89.77 at 5% off and $85.05 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Vinous 96 points “”The 2021 Grüner Veltliner Rosenberg is harvested from 1956-planted vines that root in deep loess. The wine stays on gross lees for two winters. The second winter, so Ott, is crucial, as the yeasts pull back some of the richness they initially lent to the wine. This is immediately creamy on the nose, while the palate comes in with immense concentration. Zestiness and stoniness meet on the linear, precise frame. Lemon follows on this trail with urgency and insistence. This wine is a contradiction of everything you may think of loess. The finish is long and shows off a subtle but very becoming astringency, lending both structure and beauty. (Bone-dry).”
Wine Advocate 94-95 points “Basket-pressed and aged in large oak, the 2021 Ried Rosenberg 1ÖTW Feuersbrunn Grüner Veltliner is pure and intense on the nose and offers a clear, ripe, elegant and slightly lactic bouquet. Rich and round on the palate, this is a silky-textured and grippy, quite powerful and saline Veltliner with a long and powerful finish. Tasted as a barrel sample in September 2022.”