Alois Lageder

The RIFF project is a cooperation between Alois Lageder and local winegrowers in the Veneto region, where the grapes also thrive in selected vineyards. Since the 2018 vintage, the popular RIFF Pinot Grigio delle Venezie is not only certified organic, but has also been given a new look by Austrian artist Nanna Prieler. On the label, segments of stylised ammonites tell the story of the formation of the mountain landscape on which the vines for the Pinot Grigio RIFF now stand: From the ocean with its coral reefs to the unique terroir in which many fossils of former ocean dwellers can still be discovered today.

Bright light yellow with greenish shimmer. The aroma is finely fruity, floral-mineral with delicate notes of tropical fruits. On the palate, RIFF Pinot Gris is precise, lively and fresh, with a medium body and a harmonious finish. A perfect companion to light Mediterranean dishes or simply solo on the balcony or terrace. SUPERIORE.DE

Radiant ruby red with purple reflections. Fine-smelling in the nose with hints of pepper and violets. Velvety, balanced, juicy and dry in the mouth. The perfect summer and barbecue companion when lightly chilled. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2020 Schiava makes a striking first impression with its purity, displaying a translucent ruby color. It has a bouquet that mixes wild strawberries with clove, crushed violet candies and a hint of wet stone. This is soft-textured with a juicy personality, as pretty red berries give way to inner rose tones, all motivated by vibrant acidity. While a bit shorter than anticipated, it leaves the palate completely refreshed, finishes with hints of savory spice and lavender. This may be a no-frills expression of Schiava, but it‘s one that’s very easy to like." Vinous

Brilliant straw yellow. On the nose, an almost dramatic concert of impressions of flint, dried flowers, tropical fruits and a subtle lime note. Taut on the palate, with good texture and structure, at the same time finely spicy, lively and with a wonderfully pronounced salty tension. Very balanced as it progresses, with a well nuanced fruit and acid dose and a very refreshing clarity. SUPERIORE.DE

"The bright spring-blossom, crisp pear and flint aromas gently pull you into this fresh yet creamy chardonnay. Then some solid tannins come through to give the rather juicy finish some grip and energy." James Suckling

Strong rosé colour and intensely fruity aroma. Full, firm body, round and palatable taste, with invigorating acidity and a delicate bitter note in the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

This fresh Müller Thurgau beams at us with a light straw yellow and greenish shimmer. Its aroma is finely aromatic, with hints of apple and apricot, floral notes and fine nutmeg spice. The slender body does not lack a certain substance and leads to a lively, fresh, dry finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Bright pale yellow Pinot Blanc with an elegant, floral-mineral bouquet and notes of ripe apples and peach. Clean, vinous taste, balanced body and remarkable, medium-long aftertaste. SUPERIORE.DE

"This has the brightness of mountain light and air. Sleek and crisp, but the acidity is well integrated and animates the wine in a way that’s very refreshing. Undemonstrative, but with a very striking personality." James Suckling

Bright, straw-yellow colour with greenish shimmer. Expressive, quite lush, floral aroma with notes of ripe fruit (peach, melon) and fine spices. Full, expansive, elegant flavour, lemon zest in the finish, lots of freshness, some white smoke and a very vital acidity. SUPERIORE.DE

"A striking pinot grigio! The pink shimmer in the glass means this could pass for a very pale modern rosé and some red-berry fruit on the light and creamy front-palate confirms that impression. Then some solid tannins at the herbal finish turn this in a more serious direction." James Suckling

Dark, clear cherry red. Discreet nose of red berries with a spicy component. Medium-bodied on the palate with a nice structure, spicy-juicy taste with good length. SUPERIORE.DE

Above the north-western shore of Lake Kaltern rises a spectacular steep slope that is one of the best sites in the area. Classic and Demeter-certified Vernatsch from South Tyrol: Pronounced, very fruity aroma of red berries and cherries. Round, balanced taste, medium body, fresh finish with fine tannin and pleasant bitter almond note. SUPERIORE.DE

Al Passo del Leone bianco comes from gravelly, calcareous soils from sites up to 900m altitude. Clear, light yellow colour with green shimmer. The bouquet is aromatic and spicy with traces of elderberry. Juicy and lively on the palate, with a fine acid wire and beautiful minerality. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for this highly characterful Sauvignon Bianco come from the Lageder vineyard Tannhammerhof. Bright, light yellow colour, fine varietal aroma of ripe tropical fruits, gooseberry and elderflower. The clean, aromatic taste has a strong acidity that is well integrated into the fruit. SUPERIORE.DE

Medium deep, intense cherry red colour, rich, fruity plum aroma, spicy notes of leather and cocoa, but also floral nuances of violets. Full, mild taste with earthy finish and fine tannin. SUPERIORE.DE

The warm sites around Tramin give this pretty Traminer aromatico substance, breadth and a certain sweetness, while the cool and higher sites in the Eisack Valley give it freshness, finesse and a fine aromatic structure. Clear straw yellow, very aromatic on the nose of ripe mirabelle plum, apricot and fine exotic spices. Juicy and long-lasting in the mouth, with fine minerality and a dry, well-proportioned finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The delicate bouquet of rose water leads you into a remarkably light and almost fragile wine for this grape that can so easily be bombastic. Very interesting interplay of creaminess and lemony freshness on the barely medium-bodied palate, with a touch of wet-stone character at the long, lively finish that’s very rare for this grape." James Suckling

Floral bouquet, aromas of cherries and rose petals, some tea. Full-bodied and silky on the palate, powerful and complex, fine and elegant, supple tannins and long. SUPERIORE.DE

Alois Lageder's dry Moscato entices with wonderful honey aromas, underpinned with a hint of grapefruit. Full-bodied on the palate of fresh fruit, in the finish memories of spicy dried lemon peel with a beautiful acid play.. SUPERIORE.DE

Cherry red with ruby glints. In the nose cherries and other red berries and a fine spiciness. Medium-bodied, with a buoyant freshness and good acidity. Its depth predestines it to accompany fine lamb dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

South of Margreid lies the "15er" site, which is characterised by deposits of the Fenner stream and the Etsch river and has been largely planted with Merlot vines since 1957. Its site enjoys particularly good aeration due to the warm wind from Lake Garda, the Ora, which gives the wine a filigree structure and great finesse. Cherry red with ruby shimmer. Impressive bouquet of concentrated fruits, pepper and vegetal notes. Pleasantly medium-bodied, precise and balanced, with a fine hint of bittersweet and a convincing freshness. SUPERIORE.DE

Since the 2020 vintage, Haberle has been called Versalto and is now Demeter-certified. Diversity as a focus: Versalto is characterised by geological, microclimatic and cultural contrasts. Its grapes come, on the one hand, from the Haberlehof in Buchholz on the eastern side of the Etsch Valley and, on the other, from the opposite sites in Penon above Margreid. Both vineyards are located at about 500 metres and ensure optimal conditions for the variety.

Bright light yellow. Fine, distinctly fruity apple and peach bouquet with very discreet woody notes. Clean, elegant taste, balanced structure and harmonious finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The super-flinty nose with a note of grilled lemon pulls you into this light and creamy dry pinot blanc that plows its own furrow. Quite an austere balance, due to the pronounced tannins, then wild-herb character at the very dry finish. Only 11.5% alcohol!" James Suckling

"The 2020 Pinot Bianco Versalto keeps me coming back to the glass with its spicy bouquet of hot peppers and curry leaves, offset by cooling notes of cracked slate and freshly sliced Granny Smith apples. This is round and soothing, with a core of salty minerals and tart orchard fruits that balance the expression quite well. The interplay of sweet and sour really excites the senses, as this tapers off long with lemony concentration. This zesty Pinot Bianco is packed full of energetic tension. The fruit for the Versalto comes from opposite sides of the Val d'Adige valley, from vineyards which both average around 500 meters." Vinous

Bright, straw-yellow colour with a light greenish tinge. Fine fruity, varietal, fragrant aroma with scents of ripe tropical fruits. Balanced, medium-bodied and clean taste. Fresh, lively acidity and wonderful finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2020 Chardonnay Gaun needs some time to unwind in the glass. A burst of savory herbs, crushed stone and underbrush first greets the senses. With swirling, a prettier mix of ripe apple, nectarine and hints of mace can be found. It’s silky with medium-bodied weight and a liquid rock-like minerality that balances it all out, while cascading white pit fruits and savory spices across the palate. This finishes a bit short yet crisp and with a salty flair. Don’t be in a rush, the 2020 needs a little time to freshen up. After spontaneous fermentation, the Gaun matures for nine months on the lees in a combination of neutral barrels and stainless steel tanks." Vinous

The name "Mimuèt" (to my taste) comes from Ladin. Convinced that South Tyrol offers the best conditions for the Pinot Noir grape variety, Alois Lageder paid particular attention to it at a very early stage. His goal is to produce wines with precision, lightness and filigree structure. Garnet red with ruby reflexes. Pinot Noir Mimuèt smells of ripe black cherries, flowers and spices. On the palate, elegant, almost light on its feet, with a multi-layered, soft finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Very autumnal nose with notes of underbrush, the red-berry fruit very restrained. Sleek and taut with quite grainy tannins, some will probably find this quite challenging. Dry finish with quite some drive and wet-earth character. Just 11.5% alcohol." James Suckling

Here comes Surmont, the successor to Rain Riesling. As in the past, part of the grapes come from the South Tyrolean lowlands, while the other part now comes from the Valle Isarco from high and cool sites on soils of volcanic origin, which give the wine a fresher, almost alpine style.

Bright, straw-yellow colour with a slight greenish tinge. Clean, distinct, fragrant varietal aroma with fine fruity notes (peach, pear). Balanced, medium-bodied. Fresh, juicy finish. The racy acidity is harmoniously integrated into the fruit structure. A wonderful Riesling italico in a small edition. SUPERIORE.DE

The name "Conus" comes from the Latin term for cone and refers to the Margreider Schuttkegel and its gentle slopes. The dolomitic limestone present there is an important prerequisite for the fruity and round character of this impressive red in Riserva quality. Cherry red with ruby reflexes. Intense bouquet of plum, liquorice and cocoa. In the body powerful, precise and balanced, then in the final beautiful tannins, a sympathetic juiciness and nice length. SUPERIORE.DE

The contrast between the flint of the porphyry-rich Lehenhof site, typical of the Terlan region, and the delicate structure of the Tannhammer site determines the fresh, fruity and balanced character of this excellent Sauvignon Blanc. Light yellow with greenish shimmer. Distinct and at the same time discreet varietal aroma with the scent of ripe fruits and elderflowers. Very aromatic taste with strong, well-integrated acidity, full, harmonious and long-lasting. SUPERIORE.DE

Fórra, an elegant small-batch white, is made purely from Manzoni Bianco, has an interesting history and an exciting development. Lageder's project with this grape variety began several years ago and resulted in the crossing of Rhine Riesling and Pinot Bianco. In the cellar, very traditional methods were used - for a lot of freshness and liveliness. Contact with the skins over several days sharpens the wine's profile. After spontaneous fermentation, Fórra remains on the lees for several months in wooden barrels. All this passion and love, all the experience and craftsmanship exudes Fórra - a wonderful, great pleasure. SUPERIORE.DE