Wines from South Tyrol and Trentino

South Tyrol's soul in a glass. The Vernatsch – italian Schiava – is the most widely cultivated red wine variety in the region and is currently experiencing a renaissance in quality. Peter Zemmer grows this autochthonous grape variety on the calcareous clay and gravel soils of the sun-drenched slopes around Kurtatsch, traditionally cultivated on the pergola – the typical pergola shape that has characterised the South Tyrolean landscape for centuries.

Appiano is the largest wine-growing community in South Tyrol – and the St. Michael-Eppan winery is its centrepiece. Together, 330 member companies cultivate 385 hectares on sunny slopes between 250 and 900 metres above sea level. What unites them is not just the geography, but the conviction that quality is created in the vineyard – and that Eppan offers the right conditions for this. The Chardonnay grows at around 400 metres above sea level along the famous South Tyrolean Wine Route, on moraine soils from the Ice Age – calcareous, well-aerated, with a natural ability to ripen slowly. Hand-picked, processed in stainless steel: fresh and typical of the variety.

Founded in 1889 by Pastor Christian Schrott, the Tramin Winery is today one of the most renowned co-operative wineries in Italy – supported by around 270 winegrowing families who cultivate their vineyards around Termeno, Neumarkt, Montan and Auer. Oenologist Willi Stürz, who has been at work since the 1990s, has turned this collective strength into a portfolio that has won many international awards. His credo: purity and terroir character – not a word too much in the cellar. The Pinot Bianco grows on chalky and clayey soils with gravel and crushed stone, between 250 and 500 metres above sea level.

Pinot Bianco is the most cultivated white wine variety at the St. Michael-Eppan winery – and there is a reason for this. At altitudes of 480 to 650 metres in the municipality of Appiano, the grape variety finds exactly what it needs: calcareous gravel soils with a light clay content, south-east exposure and the cool night winds that blow down from the Mendel Mountains. These winds are the invisible tool of the terroir – they slow down the ripening process and maintain the freshness that distinguishes Pinot Bianco at this altitude from all others. Hand-picked, vinification in steel. Typical of the variety, clean, easy to drink.

Pinot Grigio is the most widely grown white grape variety in South Tyrol – and, at the same time, the most frequently misunderstood. Anyone who thinks it has only one character has not yet tasted one from the vineyards around Termeno. The Tramin Winery draws out everything this grape variety has to offer from the soil: calcareous clay and gravel soils, altitudes between 200 and 400 metres, and the temperature fluctuations between day and night that are typical of the valley. This is what gives the Pinot Grigio here its complexity. Vinified in stainless-steel tanks with careful temperature control – no wood, no distractions. What ends up in the glass is the vineyard itself.

The Tramin winery, founded in 1898 and today one of the most renowned cooperatives in South Tyrol with over 300 members, vinifies this Chardonnay from vineyards between 240 and 500 metres above sea level in the municipalities of Ora, Tramin and Egna. The calcareous, loamy, gravelly soils and the marked day-night temperature fluctuations of the Alpine region give the grapes their characteristic intensity of flavour.

A Pinot Gris that finds its finest expression in the South Tyrolean Unterland. For this wine, Peter Zemmer selects the finest grapes from vineyards in the valley floor and on the steep slopes around Kurtinig. The unique microclimate, the calcareous gravel soils formed from moraine sediments and the sandy alluvial soils create ideal conditions for this noble Burgundy variety. The ‘Ora’, that warm southerly wind from Lake Garda, ensures perfect aeration of the grapes and guarantees harvesthealthy, fully ripe harvest. Maturation on the fine lees for several months lends the wine complexity and a creamy mouthfeel.

Terraced vineyards at an altitude of 600 metres surround the traditional Liebrain farm in the Isarco Valley, where Silvaner has found its home for over two centuries. Weathered porphyry soils and extreme day-night temperature fluctuations give this crystal-clear white wine its purist character. The late harvest between the end of September and the beginning of October allows for optimal ripeness while maintaining the typical freshness.

Vernatsch is South Tyrol in its most honest form. The autochthonous red wine variety – also known as Schiava – has accompanied the South Tyrolean wine route for centuries: light, easy to drink, uncomplicated in the best sense of the word. Not a wine that wants to impress. One that invites. Tiefenbrunner has been cultivating it since 1968 on three different sites between 220 and 650 metres – calcareous dolomite soils in the high altitudes of Penon, Hofstatt and Rain, limestone gravel soils from moraine deposits in Entiklar and on the Margreider Leiten, red sandy loam in Brenntal and Frauenriegel. Each site has its part to play. Vinified in concrete vats and large wooden barrels – the only use of wood in the entire Merus line.

The autochthonous Lagrein grape grows in the middle hills between 250 and 400 metres, where clay meets calcareous inclusions, to produce one of the most characterful rosés in South Tyrol. The traditional Tramin winery, founded in 1898 by the visionary priest Christian Schrott, preserves a centuries-old South Tyrolean tradition with its Lagrein Kretzer. Pink to light ruby red in colour, the wine shimmers in the glass and develops a delicate, pleasantly fruity bouquet. The extreme interplay between sunny, Mediterranean-influenced days and cold down winds from the mountains gives it that lively freshness that is stimulating and invigorating on the palate. A classic South Tyrolean rosé with an authentic character. SUPERIORE.DE

The vines for this fresh Müller-Thurgau are trained using the Guyot method on south/south-west-facing hillsides at an altitude of 500 to 800 metres above sea level, on soils consisting of loam and weathered porphyry. A rich yellow-green colour, with intense aromas of fruit, flowers and a subtle nutty note. On the palate, the depth of fruit, delicate mineral and salty notes, and well-integrated acidity lend the wine powerful elegance and character. SUPERIORE.DE

A white wine from the heights. Peter Zemmer's Müller Thurgau thrives at 800 metres above sea level on terraced slopes in the South Tyrolean lowlands. The cross between Riesling and Madeleine Royal – named after the Swiss botanist Hermann Müller from the canton of Thurgau – finds ideal conditions here on calcareous gravel soils from moraine sediments. The exposed altitude, gentle slope and optimal sunlight ensure that the grapes ripen slowly and evenly.

Andrian's Burgundian classic finds its South Alpine expression at altitudes of between 300 and 500 metres on calcareous loam-dolomite soils. These lower-lying vineyards offer the Pinot Bianco ideal ripening conditions: early morning sun combined with sufficient coolness for the thin-skinned, pressure-sensitive berries. Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel and six months' ageing on the fine lees give Finado its characteristic texture and complexity.

Professor Hermann Müller's legendary cross between Riesling and Madeleine Royal finds its alpine perfection on Andrian's calcareous dolomite soils between 500 and 700 metres. The east-facing slopes provide the temperature-sensitive grapes with morning freshness. Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, followed by six months of ageing on the lees, provides additional texture.

At a time when South Tyrol was regarded as a red wine region right up until the 1970s, Vernatsch played the leading role. An indigenous grape variety that is now enjoying a masterful renaissance under the guidance of Alois Lageder. This characterful red wine comes from selected vineyards in Kaltern and Kurtatsch, situated at altitudes of between 300 and 400 metres, with the grapes sourced from organically farmed vineyard plots. The year 2024 marks a historic milestone: for the first time, all 60 of the estate's partner winegrowers are working organically or biodynamically. A triumph for sustainable practices, despite the challenging, rainy growing season. The traditional pergola training system, which provides optimal conditions for the shade-loving vines, still characterises the vineyards on the gravelly, limestone-rich soils today.

Some vineyards have names that you never forget. The Hexenbichl – or Hexenbühel, as the older people around Tramin call it – lies on the southern slopes of the village, between 300 and 450 metres, on calcareous clay and gravel. Vernatsch has thrived here for generations; the vines for this wine are between 60 and 100 years old. They have not been replaced because they knew that no young vine could match the vigour of these roots. Fermented in steel tanks, matured in large oak barrels – without pressure, without haste. Vernatsch, also known as Schiava in South Tyrol, needs this. It is not a grape variety for feats of strength, but for precision and patience.

On the well-aerated limestone-porphyry soils at altitudes of between 260 and 380 metres, the world's most widely grown white grape variety thrives to southern Alpine perfection. These mid-altitude vineyards around Andrian offer Chardonnay the ideal microclimate: Mediterranean warmth combined with cool nights, ensuring optimal aroma development. The grapes are hand-selected, fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel and aged on the fine lees for six months, which gives Somereto its characteristic creaminess and texture.

Above Bolzano, where old gravel paths wind through sun-drenched vineyards, lies the legendary Hof Huck am Bach, which lends its name to one of South Tyrol's most authentic red wines. At altitudes of between 250 and 500 metres, on mineral-rich gravel soils, the Vernatsch and Lagrein vines thrive here – vines that have formed the heart of the St. Magdalener tradition for generations. Theharvest yields grapes that mature in large oak barrels to produce a wine of enchanting elegance.

Autochthonous power from the heart of South Tyrol – lagrein embodies the soul of the Bolzano valley floor like no other grape variety. In Gries and the surrounding slopes, the vines thrive on warm, sandy alluvial soils, where extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night create the complexity that characterises this classic. Intense ruby red colour with violet reflections. Ripe cherries and blackberries on the nose, framed by floral notes of violets and lilacs, while the typical cocoa flavour reveals its origins. The palate reveals the full structure of the grape variety: intense and persistent, with well-integrated tannins and that elegant spiciness that makes Lagrein unmistakable. An authentic ambassador of South Tyrolean wine culture. SUPERIORE.DE

St. Magdalena near Bolzano is characterised by steep slopes: the vines for the Rieser are situated at altitudes of between 250 and 350 metres, facing south-southeast, on gravelly, well-aerated porphyry soils. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters. Vernatsch accounts for 90 per cent, with Lagrein making up the remaining 10 per cent. The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and fermented in stainless-steel tanks, with the must gently pumped over. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged for seven months in an 80-hectolitre wooden cask.