ALTO ADIGE

Location

Technically the same region but in reality they have little in common in terms of wine, culture and indigenous population. Alto Adige is a fiercely independent German speaking enclave with its own politics, economy, cuisine, DNA and just about everything else. Known by locals as Sudtirol or South Tyrol. Austrian up until 1919. Its breathtaking scenery is one of the most exciting winegrowing areas in Italy, where quality has exploded over the past 20 years and viticulture and winemaking have become an art. Trentino, Italian speaking, is the place for excellent value wines and spumante, Trentino, being further south than Alto Adige has warmer temperatures and although share some varieties such as the international one and Schiava also have very different ones such as Marzemino, Teroldego and Nosiola. Alto Adige has Lagrein. As one follows the Adige River north, veritable cru sites emerge for particular grapes such as Gewurztraminer on the left, Pinot Nero on the right, Lagrein around Bolzano, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon on the left fork.

Climate

Surprisingly, being so far north, it is one of the sunniest places of Italy, with more sunshine days a year than any other region. Its summer average daytime temperature is on a par with Palermo as the hot Mediterranean air becomes trapped by the wall of the Alps. The quality determining factor, however, is the cool, fresh nights as cold air descends from the mountain tops.

Topography

One of the most dramatic and beautiful world wine areas as the Adige winds its way through the Dolomites to Verona. The area is blessed with various expositions where growers have been able to identify the best sites for individual varieties

Soils

Through millennia of tectonic upheaval and activity, the soils are very mixed. There are predominant areas of mainly calcareous soils or mainly porphyry soils

Production

1.162.000 HL

Our producers

Featured

Nals Margreid

Tiefenbrunner

Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
See Veneto
Principle Wines
See Veneto
Description
Indigenous because its name comes from the town of Tramin on the left back of the Adige river ust south of Bolzano. Gewurz menaing "spice" and the "er" the possessive in German "of". Italian then for the last 100 years but, I suppose, strictly speaking Tyrolean. Recently, interest and quality have surged, making their own particular style of Gewurztraminer, less scented and fermented dry – perhaps more drinkable than the more famous Alsace versions. There seems to be different clonal versions: bianco, rosa and rosso, colour of the wine depending on skin contact when fermenting.
Principle Wines
Alto Adige DOC Gewurztraminer and some blends
Description
The Kerner grape is an aromatic white grape variety. It was bred in 1929 by August Herold by crossing Trollinger (a red variety also known as Schiava grossa) and Riesling
Principle Wines
Kerner and some Bianco blends
Description
Considerable depth of color and extract without excessive tannin. Its notable bitter aftertaste has been tamed using new oak. Improving as every year passes, it is the red indigenous grape of quality in the Alto Adige (as opposed to volume whose claim can be made by Schiava)
Principle Wines
Lagrein DOC Alto Adige Lagrein Grieser from the Bolzano area
Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
Marzemino is a red Italian wine grape that is primarily grown around Isera, south of Trentino. The wine is most noted for its mention in the opera Don Giovanni of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ("Versa il vino! Eccellente Marzemino!"). The vine ripens late and is susceptible to many grape diseases including oidium. Wine produced from the grape has a characteristic dark tint and light plummy taste – some relation top Refosco
Principle Wines
Marzemino and some blends
Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
Aka Goldmuskateller. Scented dry and sweet versions – perfumes reminiscent of orange blossom. Can be very delicate and classy when produced with care giving ethereal perfumes and chrystalline acidity
Principle Wines
Moscato Giallo
Description
Aka Rosenmuskateller. Intense and unmistakeable, hedonistic aromas of rose petals, rose water, rose perfume (anything to do with roses) and hence aptly named. Usually in its sweet form, an almost syrupy palate, saved by a firm line of acidity.
Principle Wines
Alto Adige Moscato Rosa
Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
A sub-variety of Schiava Aka Grauvernatsch – some say a superior quality.
Principle Wines
Alto Adige DOC
Description
Aka Trollinger in Germany. The local term "Vernatsch" coming from the Italian Vernaccia – meaning "local" indicates that the Sud Tyroleans consider it their own. By a long way the most widespread of varieties cultivated in Sud Tyrol but of declining importance. Some old vine versions (pre phylloxera) can be of considerable quality, with luscious texture, cranberry fruit but low tannin. However, the vast majority is quaffing wine, on similar lines to a serious and dry rosé, excellent with your speck.
Principle Wines
Alto Adige Schiava, Santa Magdelena
Description
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Principle Wines
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Description
Blue grape earlier found more around the lake of Garda. Now almost exclusively found on the Rotaliano-field, where it seems to thrive very well and makes a great wine. Genetically it has some relations to lagrein, marzemino and syrah which probably has a common origin. Teroldego can give a wine with great fruit which evoloves well over 10-15 years. For an Italian red grape it has low acids, but can extract some tannins. It is highly sensible to high yields, which gives very poor results
Principle Wines
Teroldego Rotalian

Major Appellations DOCG/DOC

Description
Bianco - Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Müller Thurgau, Sauvignon, Riesling, Silvaner, Gewürztraminer, Kerner.
Principle Wines
Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Müller Thurgau Sauvignon, Riesling, Silvaner, Gewürztraminer, Kerner, Moscato Giallo, Malvasia. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Lagrein, Pinot Nero, Schiava (Vernatsch), Moscato Rosato, Schaiva Grigia Subdenominations Colli di Bolzano - Schiava Meranese di Collina - Schiava Santa Maddalena - Schiava Valle Isarco - Varietal wines Valle Isarco Klausner Leitacher - Schiava, Portoghese, Lagrein, Pinot nero, Terlano - Varietal wines Terlano Bianco - Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Riesling Italico, , Sauvignon, Sylvaner, Müller Thurgau
Description
A popular wine in the Italian sense… with the locals. Easy drinking with cranberry fresh fruit and low tannins
Principle Wines
Schiava (Grossa, Grigia, Gentile), Lagrein, Pinot Nero
Description
Some say has as a relation, Grenache, and some of its pepperiness can attest to this. However, its colour and structure may indicate otherwise
Principle Wines
Teroldego
Description
Rosso - Cabernet franc and/or Cabernet sauvignon and/or Merlot Rosso Superiore - Cabernet Franc, Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Lagrein, Rebo Bianco - Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Müller Thurgau, Manzoni Bianco Bianco Superiore - Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Traminer, Riesling, Manzoni Bianco Rosato or Kretzer - at least two of the following: Enantio, Schiava, Teroldego, Lagrein, Vino Santo - Nosiola, Trento
Principle Wines
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Lagrein, Rebo, Marzemino, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Muller Thurgau, Manzoni Bianco, Traminer, Rielsing
Description
A huge area stretching from the just north of Lake Garda up the Adige valley to the Austrian border, covering 3 different provinces (Verona, Trento and Bolzano) and two distinct cultures (Italian and German). This is therefore a catch all DOC that comprises wines of varying different styles.
Principle Wines
Trebbiano Toscano, Nosiola, Suavignon, Garganega, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Riesling Italico, Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau, Lambrusco a Foglia Frastagliata (Enantio), Schiava, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Lagrein, Teroldego, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon