Wines from South Tyrol and Trentino

South Tyrol's most widespread white wine develops its classic elegance on calcareous clay-dolomite soils between 260 and 380 metres. These medium altitudes offer optimal conditions for this classic grape variety: Alpine freshness with sufficient Mediterranean warmth for the reddish-grey berries. As a white mutation of Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio shows its southern Alpine facet here: controlled fermentation in stainless steel, followed by six months of ageing on the lees for additional texture and complexity.

Berg. The name gives away its origins. The higher elevations in the Adige Valley, on the right bank of the Adige, on soils of porphyry and limestone, which give the Pinot Bianco its mineral freshness and structure. The alpine climate, with mild summer months and cool autumns, slows down the ripening process – and the harvest takes place in mid-October, considerably later than for comparable white wines. This patience pays off. In 1932, the winegrowers of Nals and Margreid founded their cooperative on a simple principle: better together than alone. This principle still applies today – for 140 member estates, which supply their grapes with the same care as they did back then.

Margreid is situated in the southern Unterland, where the Adige widens and the climate becomes more Mediterranean. The Ora, the warm afternoon breeze from Lake Garda, sweeps through the vineyards every day, bringing with it the warmth that makes the Chardonnay from these vineyards so full-bodied and aromatic. The soil is the opposite of barren: brooding, white limestone gravel with a high humus content – nutrient-rich, water-retaining, and possessing a minerality that gives the wine its name. Limestone. No further description is needed. Nals Margreid cultivates the Kalk Chardonnay on gently sloping vineyards in Margreid at altitudes of 220 to 350 metres.

In 1907, Josef Hofstätter founded his winery in the heart of Tramin – in an imposing 16th century building, which is still the centre of the estate today. Since then, the name Hofstätter has stood for what South Tyrol is capable of in its purest form: White wines of clear varietal typicity, elegant freshness and unobtrusive minerality. The Pinot Bianco comes from Cortaccia, one of the best sites along the South Tyrolean Wine Route, on light marl soils that give the grape variety precisely the delicate structure and aromatic purity for which Hofstätter is known. Gentle pressing, maturation on the fine lees in steel.

The history of Lagrein cultivation in Alto Adige dates back to the 14th century. The Lagrein from St. Michael-Eppan is a characterful representative of its grape variety - powerful, but well-managed, with regional typicity and a clear profile. Grown on brooding, sandy-loamy soils in the Bolzano and Appiano area, the wine shows what South Tyrol's indigenous red wine variety can achieve in good hands. The 2024 vintage brought a balanced ripeness that allowed for freshness and depth in equal measure. After the classic mash fermentation, the wine matured for several months in large wooden barrels, which lends structure without overpowering the fruit.

The "Kretzer" is South Tyrol's most traditional rosé. It is produced on calcareous loam soils at altitudes of between 260 and 380 metres from the quintessential indigenous "Königsrebe" grape variety. The name "Kretzer" derives from medieval winemaking practices – the "Kretze", a woven wicker basket, was once used to separate the must from the grape skins. This historic rosé wine tradition is continued today using state-of-the-art winery technology: the Lagrein grapes undergo traditional rosé vinification at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks, with brief skin contact giving the wine its characteristic salmon-pink colour.

Three grape varieties, three soils, one rosé. Nals Margreid summarises in this cuvée what makes up the South Tyrolean wine landscape between Nals and Magreid in miniature: Merlot from broodinglimestone gravel soil with a high humus content, Pinot Noir and Lagrein from porphyry, sandy river alluvial soils. 280 to 400 metres above sea level, a Mediterranean climate with warm summers, mild winters – and the Ora, the warm afternoon wind from Lake Garda, which sweeps over the slopes every day and shapes the flavour of the grapes. Hand-picked, short maceration, fermentation in steel for around three weeks, then five months of ageing on the fine lees before bottling.

Tramin gave this grape variety its name. A village on the South Tyrolean Wine Route that has been renowned for its aromatic Gewürztraminer for centuries. Eppan is South Tyrol's largest wine-growing municipality – and has been home to the St. Michael-Eppan Winery for over a hundred years. The co-operative sources its grapes from its members' individual vineyards stretching from Cortaccia via Termeno and Kaltern to Eppan, at altitudes of 300 to 500 metres with a south-southeast aspect, on calcareous gravelly soils with a slight clay content. Hand-harvested in mid-September, fermented and matured in stainless steel. Dry-styled, with pure aromatics.

A wine like an ecosystem: Misto Mare is no ordinary white wine, but a polyphonic ode to nature from the Alois Lageder winery. The blend combines grapes from over 14 white and red grape varieties grown in organically or biodynamically managed vineyards that are currently in the process of transitioning to organic certification. The grapes come from a wide range of altitudes across South Tyrol – a reflection of the region's diversity, captured in a single wine. The name draws on the region's geological past: around 200 million years ago, South Tyrol was covered by a primeval sea. Today, vines grow on what was once the seabed, their complexity evoking the former depths and the intricate balance of marine ecosystems.

For decades, Margreid has been considered the Merlot Eldorado of South Tyrol – and Alois Lageder as its master. On the gentle slopes between 230 and 320 metres above sea level, where the first international vines were planted back in 1934, Merlots of impressive clarity are produced. The bouquet reveals intense notes of wild berries and plums, interspersed with fine spices and a hint of graphite. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and velvety, with a lively freshness and a lingering fruity final. SUPERIORE.DE

A German variety finds its South Tyrolean perfection: Kerner, crossed from Trollinger and Riesling in Weinsberg around 1930, unfolds its full aromatic power in the sun-drenched altitudes of the Eisack Valley between 600 and 800 metres. On light, stony sandy soils, this new variety matures into a wine that combines the elegance of Riesling with the robustness of Trollinger. After the harvest harvest, the grapes are gently pressed and fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel to optimally preserve their natural freshness.

The vines for this fresh Müller-Thurgau grow under Guyot training in south/southwest-facing hilly locations at 500 to 800 metres above sea level, on soils consisting of clay and weathered porphyry. Rich yellow-green colour, intense aromas of fruit, flowers and light nutty notes. On the palate, fruit depth, delicate mineral-salty notes and well-integrated acidity lend powerful elegance and character. SUPERIORE.DE

This typical Gewürztraminer is produced from steep vineyards around Bolzano between 400-600 metres above sea level, personally selected by cellar master Stephan Filippi, and celebrates the centuries-old tradition of this royal grape variety. Ceslar thrives on warm, steep porphyry slopes, where volcanic primary rock favours wines with a particularly strong character thanks to its water permeability and mineral deposits.

La Manina, a vibrant white wine from biodynamic vineyards in the Dolomites, is characterised by its freshness and true expression of its terroir. It displays great precision and an invigorating vigour – more than just unpretentious, it perfectly embodies the house style and possesses an attractive personality. After being hand-harvested, the wine ferments at controlled temperatures in stainless steel. This is followed by a few months' ageing on fine lees to enhance its texture and structure.

The vines for this Chardonnay grow on volcanic rock in the Pianezzi, Coveli, Molini and Palai parcels at an altitude of 300-750 metres. Straw yellow in colour with greenish reflections. Intense fruity nose of apple, banana and pineapple, with a hint of flint and hay. Open and round flavour with well-integrated acidity and mineral-sour citrus notes. It's like drinking a Chardonnay from a mountain spring. SUPERIORE.DE

The Palai area is one of the most representative areas for the production of Müller-Thurgau in Italy due to its microclimatic characteristics and the influence of the Cembra and Isarco valleys. In order to preserve its varietal characteristics (aromas and natural antioxidants), the grapes are processed using the hyper-reduction technique (in the absence of oxygen) developed and patented by the company.

Stone. The word needs no explanation – and certainly not in South Tyrol. The name describes the soil on which these vines grow: a 150-metre-deep alluvial fan that the Sirmian and Nalles streams have carried down from the mountains into the valley over thousands of years. Alluvial rock, clay, marl – a soil that retains water well, releases heat slowly and gives the Sauvignon Blanc that salty minerality which is immediately apparent in the glass. The vineyards are situated in Nalles, between Bolzano and Merano, at altitudes of 330 to 400 metres, facing east-southeast. The climate is the typical South Tyrolean paradox: warm to hot by day, noticeably cool by night – temperature fluctuations that create aromatic precision and preserve the wine's freshness. 100% Sauvignon Blanc, hand-harvested, fermented in stainless steel for around three weeks, then aged on the lees for five months before bottling.