Wines from South Tyrol and Trentino

The "Collection" range from the Bolzano Winery is based on a simple principle: the wines bear the winemaker’s name, and each bottle is a portrait of a person and their vineyard site – and thus entails a mutual responsibility. Christian Graf Huyn cultivates the Steinerhof in Siebeneich, one of the warmest wine-growing areas near Bolzano, on sun-exposed porphyry soils at altitudes of between 250 and 300 metres. Merlot is the predominant variety grown on his vineyards. Photovoltaic power is used to run the farm machinery, alongside electric tools, and brush work is used instead of herbicides. Hand-harvesting, thinning the foliage by hand – and much of the work is done by muscle power rather than machinery. Traditional fermentation of the must takes place in steel tanks, followed by ageing in large oak barrels and then bottle ageing.

This classic wine from the Bozen Winery hails from the heartland of Lagrein, the warm porphyry soils of Bozen-Gries at an altitude of 250 metres. Formed in 2001 from the merger of the long-established Gries and St. Magdalena cooperatives, the winery is now one of the leading producers of indigenous South Tyrolean grape varieties – not least thanks to the keen instinct of cellar master Stephan Filippi, who has been making wine here for over three decades.

Count Otto Huyn (1927-1998) embodied the last splendour of the traditional South Tyrolean aristocracy – a nobleman from Eberstein in Carinthia, who owned his best vineyards in Siebeneich near Terlan, thus continuing a centuries-old winemaking tradition of the Tyrolean aristocracy. His privileged plots at an altitude of 250-300 metres, characterised by weathered porphyry soils of volcanic origin, were already considered the crown jewels of South Tyrolean viticulture during his lifetime. The Bolzano winery honours this heritage with its Collection Otto Graf Huyn, a selection that comes exclusively from the top vineyards of the historic estate, personally selected by the cellar master. The unique terroir of Siebeneich, where warm, sun-exposed slopes meet the nutrient-rich weathered soils of the Bolzano porphyry, creates ideal conditions for Bordeaux grape varieties. The cuvée of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc benefits from the continental character of this location: warm days and cool nights give the grapes the concentration and finesse that characterise this Riserva.

Pinot Noir from the finest vineyards in and around Eppan. The compact loamy soils, with limestone deposits on porphyry rock, provide ideal conditions for full-bodied grapes. The bouquet offers a variety of spicy and fruity aromas of raspberries and cherries. Powerful, full-bodied and harmonious on the palate, with an elegant flavour and a long, fruit-driven final. SUPERIORE.DE

Rosso Mosso means: a red wine that's on the move. The play on words is intentional. "Mosso" sounds like "mosto", the young wine that is fermenting and alive. Helena and Alois Clemens Lageder, representing the new generation, created this wine because they wanted to ask a question: what happens when you transform red wine into a fresher, more accessible, effervescent form without losing its character? The answer comes from a network. For over twenty years, Alois Lageder has been working with organic winegrowers from various South Tyrolean vineyards. For the Rosso Mosso, grapes from these partner vineyards come together; different vintages and grape varieties are blended and reimagined. No specific vintage, no boundaries. Volcanic and limestone soils; alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. The attractive label was designed by the Finnish artist Klaus Haapaniemi.

Pinot Blanc is not a fad in Terlan. It is the foundation. The grape variety around which cellar master Rudi Kofler has been thinking for decades is Pinot Bianco – and no other place in Italy produces it as clearly, as long-lived, as unmistakably as these slopes. The vineyards lie at 350 to 900 metres, on steep to very steep slopes on Monte Tschöggl – higher and cooler than most other Terlan parcels. Quartz porphyry, hand-picked, gentle pressing, slow fermentation in steel, 6–7 months on the fine lees.

The evening downdrafts from the Mendel Mountains give the entire terroir of the St. Michael-Eppan Winery its distinctive character. They ensure cool nights and endow the grapes with those exceptional qualities that define the wines' aromas, their unmistakable freshness and their longevity. The downwind is the natural force that sweeps across the vineyard every day, positively influencing the climate and supporting the valuable work of the winegrowers at the cooperative winery. 

Above Margreid, where the Mediterranean climate of the lowlands gives way to the coolness of the higher altitudes, lies the Penon. A single vineyard at an altitude of 500 to 600 metres, facing east-southeast – to the morning sun, which sweeps gently and evenly across the vineyard before the afternoon heat sets in. The soil is pure: exclusively limestone gravel with a high humus content. No porphyry, no volcanic deposits, no mixed rock. Just limestone – and, within this limestone, the most concentrated minerality that Nals Margreid has to offer for Pinot Bianco. The Penon is not a ‘Tradition’ wine, but one of the estate’s ‘Selection’ wines: a single vineyard vinified according to the estate’s own style. Hand-harvested, carefully processed, and further aged sur lies in stainless steel.

Chardonnay is a world grape variety – and that is precisely the problem from time to time. Too often it tastes like a desire to be somewhere else: Burgundy, Napa, some ideal. Terlaner Chardonnay does not have this problem. It tastes like Terlan. The vineyards are located on the characteristic quartz porphyry soils on the slopes of Monte Tschöggl, where volcanic primary rock gives the grapes mineral tension and natural freshness. Hand-picked, gentle pressing, slow fermentation in steel, 5–7 months on the fine lees – no wood to over-mould, no butter to smooth.

Lezér means "light", and that's exactly what it is – in the most delicate sense of the word. A pale ruby red in colour, with red berries and an interesting hint of violet on the nose. On the palate, smoky notes, freshly cut wood and a subtle creaminess. A thoroughly fresh red wine right through to the finish, which is perfect when served slightly chilled during the warmer months and pairs beautifully with simple Mediterranean cuisine. Maturation in a variety of vessels, such as amphorae, concrete tanks and wooden barrels, lends it an extra charm and an unmistakable character. SUPERIORE.DE

Lagrein – South Tyrol's "local hero", as cellar master Rudi Kofler calls it. Originally native to Bolzano, this indigenous grape variety has long since found a home in the Terlano area too. Founded in 1893, the winery – the village’s first cooperative and today one of the most prestigious producers of South Tyrolean white wines – also cultivates this traditional red variety with its characteristic meticulous care. Hand-harvested, destemmed and fermented at a controlled temperature in stainless steel, the wine is then aged for 7–10 months in large wooden barrels. This ageing process gives the Lagrein its velvety texture without overpowering the fruit.

The Goldmuskateller (moscato giallo) is one of South Tyrol's aromatic rarities. At Tiefenbrunner, it thrives at altitudes between 220 and 650 metres, with the best lots coming from the Penon, Hofstatt and Rain vineyards: 400 to 650 metres high, on calcareous dolomite soils that give the wine its fine mineral structure. Vinification takes place exclusively in concrete tanks – a deliberate decision to preserve the varietal flavours unadulterated.

Rivus: the river. The Adige flows through the Unterland from Neumarkt to Auer, that welcoming region of southern South Tyrol where Lagrein thrives on the flat valley slopes like almost nowhere else. It is here that Pfitscher sources the grapes for her more approachable Lagrein – from vineyards at 300 metres, partly from vines that have stood here for a hundred years. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats with continuous stirring of the cap, followed by 10 to 12 months in oak and concrete vats. An approachable Lagrein for drinking now and for every day.

Tenuta San Leonardo is a name synonymous with red wine. For generations, the Guerrieri Gonzaga family in Avio, in southern Trentino, has been producing a Bordeaux blend that connoisseurs mention in the same breath as Italy's finest wines. Far fewer people are aware that the estate also produces white wine (and rosé) – and does so with the same precision. Vette di San Leonardo takes its name from the peaks that frame the vineyards. "Vette" – peaks, summits – is the image San Leonardo has chosen for this Sauvignon Blanc: high-altitude, crisp, unmistakable. The grapes come from Roveré della Luna, a village on the border between Trentino and Alto Adige, which ranks among the finest Sauvignon Blanc sites in northern Italy. With the Dolomites as a backdrop, cool nights and a long ripening process on the vine. Hand-harvested in September. Exclusively stainless steel, no oak. Five months sur lie on the fine lees – for texture and depth without any external ageing.

Named after the Moar farm of the same name, which can look back on over 600 years of winegrowing tradition, this Classico embodies the soul of the St. Magdalener region. The vines grow on the south-facing slopes above Bolzano between 200 and 300 metres above sea level, where gravelly porphyry soils give the wine its unmistakable character. The classic cuvée of 85% Vernatsch and 15% Lagrein combines the best of two indigenous worlds: the floral lightness of Vernatsch with the structure-giving depth of Lagrein. After traditional fermentation, the wine matures in large oak barrels.

While the Magred thrives in the Mediterranean south of South Tyrol, the Gennen lies at the opposite end of the winery – in Nals, north of Bolzano, at 330 to 400 metres above sea level. A different world, a different character. No Ora wind, no Mediterranean flair. Instead: a continental climate, warm days, cool nights and a soil that has been washed. Literally. The subsoil is a 150 metre deep cone of debris from the Sirmian and Nals streams – 80% limestone gravel, 20% porphyry gravel, orientated east-southeast. This soil gives the Sauvignon Blanc its tension: striking minerality, salty flavour, aromatic precision. Cellar master Harald Schraffl ferments the clarified must for around three weeks in cool steel tanks and then matures the young wine for seven months on the fine lees – pure, without the influence of wood, focussing on freshness and structure.

Goldmuskateller is one of South Tyrol's oldest grape varieties, which until a few years ago was still regarded as temperamental and demanding. Manincor demonstrates what this "diva" is capable of when given the right sites: Mareit Leiten at 350 metres, with an extremely steep south-facing slope featuring warm gravelly soils and moraine deposits. Added to this are Vogelleiten and Panholzer, with loamy limestone gravel soils – sites where the Muscat's exuberant growth is tamed and perfect ripeness is achieved. The destemmed berries macerate for twelve hours in the press to extract aroma and structure from the skins. Fermentation takes place in wooden barrels and steel tanks, largely spontaneously with wild yeasts. During the five-month ageing on the fine lees, the aroma and flavour become more refined – and the wine develops that balance between fruit and minerality which characterises dry Muscat wines.

Kretzer – it sounds rougher than the wine actually is. This old South Tyrolean word for rosé, once derived from the tart freshness of unripe berries, has a completely different character today: fruity, lively, with the unmistakable temperament of Lagrein. For Lagrein is South Tyrol in its purest form – an indigenous grape variety that has been at home between Bolzano and Terlano for centuries. As a rosé, it reveals a side that the full-bodied red does not always show: lightness, freshness and approachability. The grapes grow at altitudes of 250 to 280 metres in the flat, sun-drenched vineyards around Terlan. Hand-harvested, gently pressed as whole bunches, slow fermentation in stainless steel – 6 to 7 months on the fine lees.

The name reveals the origin: pepis made up of the classic Sauvignon vineyards Penon and Pinzon, which are located in the municipalities of Kurtatsch and Montan on opposite sides of the valley. A clever move – while one side receives its full ration of sunshine in the morning, the other is only spoilt in the afternoon. The result: grapes from 250 to 550 metres above sea level that ripen on calcareous, loamy, gravelly soils and benefit from extreme day-night fluctuations. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a cool 19°C.

The name Glarea is of Romansh origin and means ‘gravel’. The grapes for this mineral-driven and very harmonious Chardonnay grow at an altitude of around 250 metres on the lower part of the Höllenbach debris cone, in soils rich in limestone and gravel. Thanks to the low hillside location and proximity to the valley floor, a distinct microclimate develops here, characterised by considerable temperature fluctuations. During the day, the Glarea vineyards enjoy very warm temperatures, which are replaced – particularly in the late night and early morning hours – by cool air masses, lending the wine a lovely crispness and freshness.