Wines from South Tyrol and Trentino

Merus – the Latin word for pure, genuine, unmixed. The Tiefenbrunner family has given its entry-level line a name that says it all: no distractions, no overlaying – just the character of the grape variety and the place. Chardonnay Merus comes from two very different sites that complement each other: Penon, Hofstatt and Rain at 400 to 650 metres, on calcareous dolomite soils with south-southeast exposure, stand for freshness and minerality. Margreid, Punggl and Kurtinig at the bottom of the valley at 210 to 220 metres, on sandy-limestone alluvial soils, stand for fullness and fruit. Vinified in concrete vats.

The hill. A solitary, 50-metre-high ridge south of Margreid, which gives the Pinot Grigio its name and character. The soil is unusual: grey, loamy sand with a high clay content – —no porphyry, no limestone gravel—but a soft, nutrient-rich deposit that gives the Pinot Grigio a richness and freshness that poorer soils simply cannot provide. Margreid’s Mediterranean climate – — warm summers, mild winters, and the afternoon ‘Ora’ breeze from Lake Garda – ensures the grapes ripen evenly and develop their aromas. Hand-harvested, clarified must, three weeks’ fermentation in stainless steel, five months on the fine lees.

South Tyrol's "regional red" par excellence thrives between 260 and 500 metres on calcareous clay-dolomite soils to authentic perfection. The autochthonous Vernatsch, mentioned in documents as early as 1370 as Vernatschia, has embodied the soul of South Tyrolean wine culture for centuries. The single-varietal Schiava is fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel and refined for six months in large wooden barrels, a vinification process that skilfully combines tradition and modernity and gives Bocado its characteristic structure.

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 anything but barren: white, broodinglimestone gravel with a high humus content – —nutrient-rich, water-retaining, with a minerality that gives the wine its name. Limestone. No further description is needed. Nals Margreid cultivates the Kalk Chardonnay on gently sloping hillsides 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 clay soils between 260 and 380 metres above sea level from the autochthonous king grape variety par excellence. The name Kretzer comes from the medieval vinification process – the "Kretze", a woven wicker basket, was once used to separate must and berry skins. This historic rosé wine tradition is continued today using state-of-the-art cellar technology: The Lagrein grapes undergo traditional rosé vinification at a controlled temperature in stainless steel, where brief contact with the skins gives the wine its characteristic salmon red 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.

A wine like an ecosystem: Misto Mare is no ordinary white wine, but a polyphonic ode to nature from the house of Alois Lageder. 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 variety 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 habitats.

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

La Manina, a vibrant white wine from biodynamic cultivation in the Dolomites region, is characterised by freshness and loyalty to its origins. The 2024 vintage was characterised by sunny days, cool mountain nights and healthy grapes with a pronounced aroma. After being harvested by hand, it ferments at controlled temperatures in stainless steel. It is then aged on fine lees for a few months to promote texture and structure.

On the Löwenpass, where merchants once crossed paths, wines of pure drinking pleasure are produced today. This organically produced cuvée combines four grape varieties to create an exciting pleasure experience: Müller Thurgau forms the fresh backbone, Pinot Grigio provides the structure, while Moscato Giallo and Gewürztraminer add subtle aromatic accents. Sourced from vineyards between Magreid and the Eisack Valley, the grapes ferment spontaneously in stainless steel tanks and mature for four months on the fine lees. The result is characterised by lively freshness and a playful lightness. Delicate elderflower meets juicy pear, framed by mineral notes from the dolomite soils. A white wine that perfectly embodies Lageder's philosophy of uncomplicated but always high-quality enjoyment. 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.

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.

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