Gruber's Apple Vinegar. Fruity fruit vinegar made from apple cider – handmade in Styria, for salads, marinades, and sauces.
Gruber's Apple Vinegar is a fruity vinegar made from apple cider by Gruber's Fruchtzauberei in Reigersberg near Ilz in Eastern Styria. The ingredient list mentions only apple cider; it is made by hand and bottled in 500-ml bottles. A vinegar for everyday cooking: acidic and fruity, without the sweetness of a balsamic vinegar.
Apple vinegar from Gruber's Fruchtzauberei is the kind of vinegar that Styrian cuisine needs every day. Basically, a fruit vinegar like this is created in two steps. First, the sugar in the apple ferments into alcohol, then acetic acid bacteria convert the alcohol into acetic acid. What ends up in the bottle depends heavily on the starting product. Here, it is apple cider (Apfelmost). The word "Most" can be misleading in Germany: there, it often refers to freshly pressed juice. In Austria, however, "Most" usually refers to fermented apple or pear wine. The producer describes their vinegar simply as a fruity vinegar made from juicy apples. That is exactly how you should use it: wherever a dish needs acidity and can handle a little fruitiness.
Taste
An apple-based vinegar is the friendly side of acidity. Compared to a light distilled vinegar, it feels rounder because of the apple notes. Compared to a white wine vinegar, it is softer and fruitier. Upon opening the bottle, a scent of apple rises, followed by a fresh, lively acidity on the palate. The apple remains noticeable in the background, giving the vinegar depth without making it sweet.
This balance makes it versatile. In salads, it provides freshness; in sauces, it highlights other ingredients; and in marinades, it provides a subtle acidity. It is an everyday vinegar, not one for a special final touch.
For that final touch, the same producer offers Apple Balsamic Vinegar. It is aged for a long time in oak barrels and has a slightly sweet taste. The apple cider vinegar is its uncomplicated sibling, leaner in character and made for the large quantities needed in everyday life. If you are looking for a thick, sweet vinegar for drizzling, you are better off choosing the balsamic.
Use
In Styria, apple vinegar and pumpkin seed oil go together like bread and butter. The classic Styrian salad marinade needs little else: vinegar, dark green seed oil, salt, and a pinch of sugar if needed. Use this to dress "Vogerlsalat," which is what lamb's lettuce is called in Austria. "Käferbohnen" salad with red onions also gets its typical flavor this way. Käferbohnen are large, speckled beans with a long tradition in Styria.
"Erdäpfelsalat"—Austrian-style potato salad—also relies on this vinegar. Boil the potatoes, slice them while still warm, and pour over a marinade of broth, vinegar, salt, pepper, and a little mustard. After half an hour, the acidity has soaked in, and then you add the oil and chives. Cucumber salad with dill or coleslaw with caraway works the same way.
In warm cooking, you use the vinegar to season dishes. A splash in lentil soup, cream goulash, or paprika sauce clarifies the flavor. A tomato sauce that has turned out too flat or sweet gains more profile with a teaspoon of vinegar. Red cabbage and sauerkraut also benefit from a small splash.
It is also well-suited for marinating. For pork tenderloin, mix the vinegar with dark beer, mustard, garlic, and a little honey. Let the meat soak in it for a few hours before putting it in the pan or on the grill. For quick pickling, briefly boil vinegar, water, sugar, and salt, and pour the brine over thinly sliced red onions or radishes. After an hour in the fridge, they are ready and go well with burgers, bowls, and "Brettljause" snack platters.
Our tip: Stir a tablespoon of vinegar with a pinch of salt until the salt has dissolved, and only then add two tablespoons of pumpkin seed oil. This distributes the salt evenly, and the seed oil retains its nutty aroma.
Origin
This vinegar comes from a fruit farm in Reigersberg near Ilz in Eastern Styria, where apples have been the focus for over thirty years. Gruber's Fruchtzauberei is a small family business surrounded by fruit trees, berries, and herbs. Its history dates back to 1860. In the early 1990s, it converted to fruit farming with the goal of producing particularly high-quality apples. This branch of the business still exists today.
A few years later, René Gruber and Beatrix founded "Fruchtzauberei" as their own business name. René Gruber is a master fruit grower and oversees the cultivation of the various fruit varieties. The processing is handled by Beatrix, who is a chef. In addition to vinegar, their kitchen produces jams, chutneys, barbecue sauces, and pestos.
Work is done by hand, and the farm sells its products in its own farm shop and selected stores. Recipes are created through joint tasting and experimentation until the flavor is just right. The farm's motto summarizes its stance concisely: "Quality over quantity." For vinegar, this means a short list of ingredients and a vinegar that should taste like apple.
For whom
This vinegar is for everyone who cooks daily and wants a reliable vinegar in their cupboard. It is suitable for people who enjoy eating salads and mixing their own dressings, and for anyone who loves Styrian cuisine with seed oil. It is a good starting point for beginners in the world of fruit vinegars because it can be used everywhere. The 500-ml bottle is enough for many salads and is large enough for a family kitchen.
As a gift, it works well together with a bottle of pumpkin seed oil: two ingredients for a Styrian salad. For pasta or roasted vegetables, the Walnut Pesto from the same producer is a good choice, which you can thin out into a dressing with a splash of vinegar. All vinegars, chutneys, and jams from Reigersberg can be found on the Gruber's Fruchtzauberei page. Other varieties from other producers are in our category Fruit Vinegar.
The vinegar is not suitable for desserts, ice cream, or cheese when a sweet, syrupy note is required. The Apple Balsamic Vinegar is the better choice for that.
A fruity apple vinegar from Eastern Styria – for pumpkin seed oil salads, potato salad, and any sauce that needs a little freshness.
