10 of the most typical phrases in wine which are good to know
Alto Adige in Italy’s northernmost nook has emerged as an more and more common area with wine lovers. Perhaps it’s the panorama with dramatic mountains and beautiful valleys that draws. Yes, not solely wine lovers but in addition nature lovers. Or may it’s that it’s a uncommon (sadly) place on the planet of wine the place high quality all the time comes earlier than amount?
Perhaps the unmistakable freshness of the wines, which is changing into more and more tough to discover – particularly in crimson varieties – because the local weather warms, entices. One factor is definite: Alto Adige is what many wine lovers have of their sights proper now.
It is tough to seize Alto Adige in an image. The dramatic peaks of the Dolomites tower like backdrops across the vineyards, and between mountain villages with each German and Italian names are clear, chilly lakes and rivers that mirror the clear blue hue of the sky.
The panorama is actually “breathtaking” – which all of us, wine journalists from world wide who’ve come to go to the Alto Adige Wine Summit, agree on as we wander across the vineyards. Writing about wine requires to the best diploma an understanding of the place the wine comes from. The local weather, the tradition – and the folks behind the labels. And for each producer we meet, it turns into clear that each bottle from right here carries a narrative.
A area with giant temperature variations
The alpine local weather units the tone for a way the wines sing within the glass. During the day the temperature can rise to 40 levels, however at evening cool alpine air strikes in and causes the thermometer to fall under the ten diploma mark. This temperature distinction, collectively with vineyards situated at an altitude of up to 1,000 meters, creates wines with a novel character.
The local weather in Alto Adige is definitely superb for viticulture. This is thanks to the assembly between the alpine local weather and the Mediterranean local weather. The Adige valley acts as a gateway for delicate air from the south, and each afternoon the nice and cozy wind, referred to as Ora, sweeps in from Lake Garda. The sunny days, cool nights and recent winds produce grapes with each solar-ripened fruit and high-quality freshness. Something that has turn into a little bit of the area’s signature.
The vineyards are small-scale, virtually familial in construction. With simply over 5,000 winegrowers on simply 5,500 hectares, this can be a area constructed on craftsmanship, not mass manufacturing. Most growers have round one hectare of land – generally much less. And that alone is exclusive in its variety.
Many small growers promote their grapes to one of many cooperatives that handle the harvest properly. Here, Cantina Kurtatsch and Kellerei Sankt Paul are the 2 main gamers who assist their small growers to handle agriculture in a sustainable method, but in addition to navigate them when the grapes are ripe for choosing. Or, as a wine-producing household, you handle your grapes your self. The result’s, each on a bigger and smaller scale, wines that breathe precision, character and satisfaction.
Pinot blanc – a traditionally essential grape
The cooperative Kellerei Sankt Pauls has 295 members and the best cultivations include Riesling at an altitude of 1000 meters. Due to local weather change, an increasing number of vineyards are being planted at altitude, the place the cooler air retains the ripening of the grapes in verify. However, Pinot blanc, weißburgunder in German, is one in all St. Paul’s most essential grapes – and traditionally it has additionally been a star within the vineyards round Alto Adige the place you get nice outcomes from rising this explicit grape.
At the Sankt Pauls cooperative, it will get to present its full vary – right here, clear, mineral-pushed and elegantly fruity wines are made out of the grape. An aged bottle from 2013 exhibits that wines are made that mature with dignity – the deep golden fruit and complexity resting within the glass may simply idiot any wine taster into guessing a double worth level. And then wines from Alto Adige nonetheless value, comparatively, a penny.
– We can’t compete with worth, solely with high quality, says Tobias Leimgruber, who’s answerable for advertising and marketing at Sankt Pauls. We stand in the course of a steep winery with a glass every of aged pinot blanc and look out over the postcard-lovely panorama.
Quality prices, and have to be allowed to achieve this.
Local heroes and worldwide stars
At this yr’s Alto Adige Wine Summit in September, wine journalists from everywhere in the world gathered to pattern the area’s treasures. Among worldwide classics reminiscent of chardonnay and pinot noir – right here additionally referred to as blauburgunder – it’s the native grapes that actually shine.
One of probably the most fascinating discoveries that wine lovers make whereas touring in Alto Adige is schiava, or vernatsch because the grape can be identified. The crimson wines made out of this grape are mild and energetic, however on the similar time carry a severe construction. It’s as if pinot noir and gamay met at excessive altitude and had a love little one – strawberries, rose petals, wild raspberries and a touch of alpine air attraction in each sip.
Drinks #3 – Grapefruit spritz with chili sugar
And let’s not overlook lagrein, one other native grape that produces dense, darkish wines with notes of blackberry, plum and spice, balanced by recent acidity and infrequently comfortable tannins.
Alto Adige in numbers
• The wines from Alto Adige account for lower than one p.c of Italy’s whole wine manufacturing. Here high quality is extra essential than amount.
• In complete, there are 4,800 winegrowers in Alto Adige distributed over 5,850 hectares.
• 20 totally different grape varieties are grown within the area. Among them, schiava/vernatsch and lagrein are probably the most native.
• 65 p.c white wines and 35 p.c crimson wines are produced. Around 600,000 bottles of glowing wine are additionally made right here per yr.
• Do you need to journey right here? Take the wine route. The South Tyrolean Wine Route has been winding by means of hills, lakes and picturesque vineyards for practically sixty years. It is one in all Italy’s oldest wine routes and connects sixteen wine villages that collectively account for round 80% of Alto Adige’s whole wine manufacturing.
Source: Alto Adige Wines
Tradition meets innovation
At Schloss Englar, one of many area’s famend producers, the grapes are nonetheless grown in basic pergola methods – a way that each protects towards the solar and favors air circulation. A white coating is usually seen on the skins of the grapes, a pure combination of clay and limestone that protects towards the warmth of the solar. Sustainable, conventional and fully in line with the area’s philosophy: nature leads, man follows.
Three languages, one ardour
Traveling by means of Alto Adige is like shifting between totally different worlds. Here, German, Italian and, on a small scale, Ladin (an area dialect) are spoken interchangeably – generally all three in the identical sentence. But when the glasses are raised, no phrases are wanted. Wine is the common language, and in Alto Adige it speaks with a transparent and resonant voice.
A style of the long run
What makes Alto Adige so thrilling is that the area is already residing the long run that the remainder of the wine world aspires to: small scale, sustainability and uncompromising high quality. Here, every winery is a microcosm, every bottle a narrative of place, ardour and precision.
When the night solar turns the Dolomites pink and the temperature drops, we sip a glass of cool schiava and understand that the long run tastes recent, elegant – and hopeful.
Wines from Alto Adige to purchase & order
1. Pinot noir with nice freshness
Cantina Kurtatsch Pinot Noir 2024, Italy, Alto Adige (20154), NOK 189.
This wine exhibits precisely why Alto Adige, situated in northernmost Italy on the border with Austria, is likely one of the wine world’s most fun areas proper now. Here we get a chic and energetic pinot noir with an Alpine nerve that solely this area can supply. The fruit is crimson, high-quality-limbed and targeted, with a lightweight herbaceousness and nice freshness. A wine nearly as good to take pleasure in by itself, cool in giant glasses, as to serve with the oven-grilled hen with roasted potatoes.
2. Fruity pinot bianco from a household producer
Elena Walch Selezione Pinot Bianco 2024, Italien, Alto Adige (51687), 199 kr, BS.
This shiny yellow glowing wine smells of inexperienced apple, citrus and herbs. The style is recent and stylish with high-quality steadiness, energetic acidity and mineral precision. Elena Walch is a household-owned producer in Alto Adige run by Elena and her daughters Julia and Karoline.
3. Juicy and berry-wealthy wine from a novel grape
Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT Schiava Sofi 2024 Franz Haas, 179 kr by way of Vino.com
A juicy and simple-to-like wine! Refreshing crimson with notes of cherries, crimson currants and scalded almonds. The wine is made out of 100% schhiava, an area blue grape. The wine has a low tannin construction and is ideal once you need one thing clunky. Franz Haas is a household producer within the seventh era, identified for his precision and terroir focus.
4. Pink bubbles with high quality
A deliciously good bubbly shock! Here we get a glowing rosé wine from the basic “champagne grapes” chardonnay and pinot noir. The wine is made in accordance to the normal technique with a second fermentation within the bottle and has been left on the lees for no less than 22 months. You get good depth of taste and tones of strawberries, brioche, grilled lemon and energetic bubbles that carry the style for a very long time.
4. Fruity & concentrated wine from native grapes
Elena Walch Lagrein 2023, Italy, Alto Adige (50472), NOK 229, BS.
Lagrein is one other native grape in Alto Adige – and this can be a sensible instance of the kind of wine the grape produces. We get dense garnet crimson shade and aromas of darkish berries, cherries and delicate chocolate spice. The style is full-bodied however elegant, with comfortable tannins and an extended, juicy end – good for autumn’s savory dishes.
5. Complex mix with quite a lot of aromatics
An fragrant white mix of assorted inexperienced grapes from the producer Blumenfeld in Alto Adige. A wine with a lightweight floral profile: assume white rose, citrus, apples and grapefruit with a splash of nutmeg. Elegant, recent and simple to like – good as an aperitif or with seafood.
6. Fruity pinot grigio with character
South Tyrol – Alto Adige DOC Pinot Grigio Unterebner 2023 Cantina Tramin, 349 kr by way of Vino.com
Fruity and good – however with a severe backside. Here, the pinot grigio grape invitations you to dance: pear, inexperienced apple and a lightweight herbiness are rounded off by spicy oak and an extended, mineral-wealthy end. The producer Cantina Tramin in Alto Adige is a best choice for these searching for wines with an ideal steadiness between class and character.
7. Gewürztraminer at its peak
South Tyrol – Alto Adige DOC Gewürztraminer 2024 Alois Lageder, 219 kr by way of Vino.com
Really good and stylish white wine from the gewürztraminer grape, which is usually a little bit of a watershed within the wine world due to its massive aromatics however right here it exhibits completely balanced fruit, spice, florality with an orangey contact and a minerally recent end. Nothing however scrumptious!
Elin Grube, vinjournalist
Elin Grube is a journalist specializing in food and drinks. She is educated as a sommelier and works as an editor at ELLE Mat & Vin, the place she writes about wine and meals. In the spring of 2023, she revealed the e book “Wine for a bad date – and 49 other occasions” collectively with her husband, the wine journalist Andreas Grube. Privately, she loves to add a golden edge to life by making an attempt new wines, testing new eating places – and discovering thrilling journey locations.
Photo: Alto Adige Wine/Florian Andergassen, Tiberio Sorvillo, Elin Grube, Andreas Grube