Austria vs. Burgundy: Can Grüner Beat Montrachet? Catch the Wine Wednesday Recap
Why Austria Deserves a Place on Every Serious Collector’s Radar
What a night! On Wednesday I went live with Gerhard Retter, one of Germany and Austria’s most celebrated sommeliers and maîtres, for a deep dive into the wines of his homeland.
We covered a lot of ground—and tasted some unforgettable bottles along the way:
Smaragd Grüner Veltliner: We dove into why these powerful, age-worthy wines can go toe-to-toe with Montrachet in a blind tasting. Austria’s flagship grape has both the precision and the depth to rival Burgundy’s best.
Kracher Sweet Wines: Gerhard opened a gorgeous bottle of No. 9 Scheurebe TBA 2005 from Gerhard Kracher and walked us through how it stacks up against the greats of Germany, Sauternes, and Tokaji. A masterclass in balance and intensity.
Neuburger: An unusual grape that Gerhard spotlighted for its unique character. A reminder that Austria still holds treasures waiting to be rediscovered.
Welschriesling & Blaufränkisch: Two varieties that continue to surprise and excite—fresh, textured whites and peppery, structured reds that show just how diverse Austria can be.
Weissburgunder from Styria: I opened a beautiful bottle from Christoph Neumeister, a reminder of how much elegance and finesse Austria’s southern regions can deliver.
📺 Missed it live? Watch the full replay here:
👉 Austrian Wine Livestream
Wine Wednesday After Hours
Starting this month, we’re adding something new: Club dVIN members-only Q&As right after the public livestream.
These private sessions will be where the best conversations happen—raw, unfiltered, and full of insights you won’t hear on stage. Winemakers, collectors, & sommeliers connecting directly, glass in hand.
📅 Coming up next:
Sept 17: Florian Gentil, Château Pichon-Lalande
Sept 24: Arnaud de Laforcade, Château Cheval Blanc
👉 Sign up for the next Wine Wednesday
These private sessions are just for Club dVIN members. Membership means direct access to the people behind the world’s greatest wines, private chats with iconic winemakers, and opportunities to secure bottles you simply can’t find anywhere else - at insider prices you won’t find anywhere else. 🍇
✨ Applications are now open. Apply here: clubdvin.com
Big names, rare wines, and real access. If you’ve ever wanted to be closer to the heart of the wine world, this is it. See you next Wednesday—glass in hand.
Cheers!
Jana
dVIN Labs co-founder