St. Michael-Eppan

Lake Kaltern is the warmest lake in the Alps. This is not a tourist exaggeration, but a geological fact – and of crucial importance for the vineyards around its shores. The water stores the heat of the summer and gives it back in the cooler autumn nights. This microclimate has made the area the most famous growing region for Vernatsch grapes for centuries. The St. Michael-Eppan winery, founded in 1907 and now run by 340 member families, sources its grapes for this wine from the Sattel vineyard site – those gently sloping vineyards between Eppan and the lake, at 420 to 480 metres, south-east to south-west exposure, on moraine debris soils from the last ice age. The vines are up to 50 years old. Harvesting takes place at the beginning of October, by hand – and the word "Auslese" in the name says it all: Only the ripest grapes go into this wine, vinified separately from the rest of the harvest. Only steel, no wood – the fruit should speak for itself.

The steep slopes of St. Magdalena near Bolzano, between 300 and 350 metres above sea level, are home to this legendary South Tyrolean red wine speciality. The autochthonous Vernatsch grape thrives here in ideal climatic conditions on moraine debris soils facing south and south-east. The cuvée of 90% Vernatsch and 10% Lagrein is vinified by the renowned St. Michael-Eppan winery, which has been one of the leading co-operatives in South Tyrol since 1907. The grapes are hand-picked at the beginning of October and carefully selected. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation before being matured in steel tanks.

Pagis" becomes "Fallwind". The Fallwind wines are ambassadors of their terroir and reflect the strengths of the growing region in a unique way. Most of them are selected sites where viticulture has been practised for centuries. Strict quality guidelines, low yields, intensive manual work in the vineyard as well as gentle and individual maturation in the cellar make them what they are: Wines full of character, precise and unique, which convince every connoisseur with their varietal characteristics.

Pinot Grigio has an image problem. Somewhere between mass-produced Veneto wine and an international run-of-the-mill wine, the impression has been created that it is a wine without ambition. If you want to correct this impression, look to South Tyrol. In the Alto Adige, the variety – originally from Burgundy – has found a terroir that gives it what it doesn't get elsewhere: cool nights, altitudes between 300 and 500 metres, calcareous soils, alpine precision. Cellar master Hans Terzer, who has been one of the defining figures of South Tyrolean white wine for decades, has clearly formulated the line: clean, varietally pure, clear in tonality. The St. Michael-Eppan winery, founded in 1907 and supported by 340 member families, has turned it into one of its best-selling wines – and rightly so. 100% Pinot Grigio, fermented and matured exclusively 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 evening fall winds of the Mendel Mountains characterise the entire terroir of the St. Michael-Eppan winery. They ensure cool nights and give the grapes the extraordinary characteristics that characterise the aromas, unmistakable freshness and longevity of the wines. The fall wind is the natural force that blows over the vineyard every day, positively influencing the climate and supporting the valuable work of the winegrowers at the cooperative winery.

In the vineyards of Eppan and Kaltern, between 350 and 500 metres above sea level, Pinot Noir finds the alpine conditions that allow it to mature into an elegant interpretation of the Burgundian grape variety. The grapes thrive on moraine debris with limestone and gravel in a temperate climate with cooling winds, which give the variety its characteristic freshness and aromatic clarity. The St. Michael-Eppan winery, one of the leading cooperatives in South Tyrol since 1907, cultivates its vineyards with respect for the grape and favours environmentally friendly cultivation with targeted yield regulation. After temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine matures for six months in large Slavonian oak barrels. This ageing method preserves the fruitiness and varietal elegance, while the wood adds subtle spice and structural depth without masking the fine varietal aromas.

The evening fall winds of the Mendel Mountains characterise the entire terroir of the St. Michael-Eppan winery. They ensure cool nights and give the grapes those extraordinary characteristics that characterise the aromas, unmistakable freshness and longevity of the wines. The fall wind is the natural force that blows over the vineyard every day, positively influencing the climate and supporting the valuable work of the winegrowers at the cooperative winery.

The evening fall winds of the Mendel Mountains characterise the entire terroir of the St. Michael-Eppan winery. They ensure cool nights and give the grapes the extraordinary characteristics that characterise the aromas, unmistakable freshness and longevity of the wines. The fall wind is the natural force that blows over the vineyard every day, positively influencing the climate and supporting the valuable work of the winegrowers at the cooperative winery.

The Fallwind wines are ambassadors of their terroir and reflect the strengths of the growing region in a unique way. Most of them are from selected vineyards that have been cultivated for centuries. Strict quality guidelines, low yields, intensive manual labour in the vineyard and gentle and individual ageing in the cellar make them what they are: Characterful, precise and unique wines with varietal characteristics that will win over every connoisseur.

The evening fall winds of the Mendel Mountains characterise the entire terroir of the St. Michael-Eppan winery. They ensure cool nights and give the grapes the extraordinary characteristics that characterise the aromas, unmistakable freshness and longevity of the wines. The fall wind is the natural force that blows over the vineyard every day, positively influencing the climate and supporting the valuable work of the winegrowers at the cooperative winery.

The evening fall winds of the Mendel Mountains characterise the entire terroir of the St. Michael-Eppan winery. They ensure cool nights and give the grapes those extraordinary characteristics that characterise the aromas, unmistakable freshness and longevity of the wines. The fall wind is the natural force that blows over the vineyard every day, positively influencing the climate and supporting the valuable work of the winegrowers at the cooperative winery.

The name St. Valentin has long stood for more than just a top-quality line in South Tyrol – it is a promise. For precision, loyalty to origin and the will to get the maximum expression out of well-known grape varieties. With Pinot Grigio, this is achieved in an almost quiet way – without drama, but with depth and poise. The vines for the St. Valentin Pinot Grigio grow on selected, higher-altitude plots around Eppan, where calcareous gravel soils, alpine altitude and long hours of sunshine create an extraordinary interplay. This is a Pinot Grigio that does not aim for quick fruit or arbitrariness, but for structure, minerality and longevity. After the harvest, fermentation takes place partly in stainless steel and partly in large wooden barrels – the subsequent ageing on the fine lees gives it substance and a touch of creamy noblesse.

Since 1986, Gewürztraminer has been one of the founding wines of the legendary Sanct Valentin line – the top collection with which cellar master Hans Terzer once raised the bar for South Tyrolean premium wines. The winery selects only the best grapes for this wine from carefully chosen vineyards in the municipality of Eppan, where the grape variety finds ideal conditions on calcareous gravel between 450 and 600 metres above sea level. What characterises it, apart from its aromatic intensity, is its remarkable longevity – a characteristic that sets it apart from many other Gewürztraminer wines and promises a great drinking experience even after years of ageing in the bottle. The grapes are harvested by hand with rigorous selection. A short maceration is followed by gentle pressing before temperature-controlled fermentation begins. The wine is matured in stainless steel tanks – a deliberate decision to preserve the varietal aromas in all their splendour.

Sauvignon Sanct Valentin is probably the best-known white wine from the St. Michael-Eppan winery. It has been vinified from carefully selected single vineyards at the foot of the Mendelstock since 1989. Yellow-green in colour, dense bouquet of yellow fruit, gooseberry, elderflower and ripe redcurrant, smooth on the palate with elegant, floral fullness and crisp acidity. A great and very savoury top wine and probably the most award-winning white from the internationally highly respected winegrowers' cooperative. SUPERIORE.DE

At the Wangger farm in Leitach, where moraine debris and sandy alluvial soil characterise the south-eastern slopes between 260 and 300 metres, Lagrein grows on the kind of soil that turns strength into stability. Here, in the classic growing area near Bolzano, where the indigenous variety has found its deepest expression for generations, Hans Terzer hand-selects the grapes that have the potential to age for more than a decade. Twelve months in barriques, then the assemblage – only when the true architecture of the wine is revealed. A further six months in large oak barrels to complete the harmony.

Pinot Nero has always been a challenge for every winemaker. It is a grape variety that places the highest demands on soil, climate and winemaking expertise. The Burgundian noble grape has been cultivated in South Tyrol since 1850, where it has become the region's most important red wine under the name Blauburgunder. Only the best and oldest vineyards in Eppan and the surrounding area are selected for the Sanct Valentin Pinot Nero, which has been part of the winery's prestige line since 1995 – sites between 400 and 550 metres on moraine debris and calcareous gravel. Minimal yields and meticulous care in the vineyard form the basis for a wine of exceptional finesse. The grapes are harvested by hand from the end of September to the beginning of October. After three days of cold maceration, fermentation begins in stainless steel tanks, followed by gentle pressing. Malolactic fermentation and subsequent maturation take place in barriques and tonneaux. After around twelve months, the wine is blended before maturing for a further six months in large wooden barrels – a combination that combines structure with Burgundian class.

Eppan-Berg Schulthaus Pinot Bianco is a true classic among South Tyrolean Pinot Blancs. Its success began in 1982, when it was first vinified and bottled. A perfect, delicately fruity and fresh wine that is a pleasure to savour with its creamy softness and racy acidity. Smells of fresh spring green, the generous palate is characterised by mirabelle plum, nectarine and a vibrant freshness that leads to a refreshing finish with lemon and minerals. SUPERIORE.DE