Cantina Andrian

Gant is synonymous with excellence. For years, this Merlot Riserva has been Andrian's flagship wine. A wine that demonstrates what this international grape variety is capable of at South Tyrolean altitudes. Whilst Merlot often becomes too opulent elsewhere, here, between 250 and 300 metres above the Adige Valley, it reveals its elegant side. The vineyard sites are perfectly chosen: medium-textured, sandy loam soil ensures good drainage and prevents the Merlot from becoming too rich. The cooler microclimate slows down ripening, preserves the acidity and ensures finer tannins. This is exactly what this grape variety needs to develop character rather than just power. The vinification follows classic methods: fermentation of the must in stainless steel tanks with gentle agitation of the must. After alcoholic fermentation, the wine is transferred to barriques for malolactic fermentation and further ageing. The oak integrates elegantly, providing structure without being overpowering. Time and patience are two of the secrets behind the Gant.

Merlot is a newcomer to South Tyrol, but one that has settled in well. It grows here at altitudes of 250 to 300 metres in medium-textured, sandy loam and enjoys a climate with a fair range of temperatures: The estate records 40.7 degrees in August 2003 as the highest temperature, minus 13 degrees as a rare low, with an annual average of 12.2 degrees and 550 to 650 millimetres of rainfall. The vineyard is sheltered from the wind; only a light northerly breeze sweeps through the vines in spring and summer. The yield is 45 hectolitres per hectare, and during the harvest – which is still carried out exclusively by hand – it is the winemaker who decides which grapes go into this wine. The must ferments in stainless-steel tanks, where it is monitored and gently stirred; malolactic fermentation and ageing then take place in barriques. This is nothing new in Andrian: Lagrein was already one of the first wines to be aged in barriques there.

Tor di Lupo, the Wolf's Gate – a name that inspires respect. The flagship of Andrian was one of the very first premium Lagrein in South Tyrol. You could say that it is a primeval rock of South Tyrolean quality winegrowing. Since the early days, the winery has produced this Riserva from grapes from Gries near Bolzano, the classic home of Lagrein.