sign in sign up
<<
Home , Adige, Lagrein

Diversity in ’s Peak Alto Adige - Südtirol April 25, 2018

Seminar Overview

Exploration of the region’s unique history, climate, and altitudes Comparative tasting of six signature varieties will illuminate the discussion Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer Schiava, Pinot Nero, Lagrein Moderator and Panelists Tim Gaiser, MS Judith Unterholzner, Cantina Kaltern and Erste+Neue Harald Cronst, Cantina Kurtatsch Overview Location Germany France

Alto Adige - Südtirol

Slovenia

Croatia

Italy Key Facts

Vineyard Area 13,300 acres — smallest in Italy 600-3,300 ft. elevation range 7 growing zones 8 DOC/DOPs 2 IGTs Strength in Unity 70% produced by 12 cooperatives 25% produced by 65 estates 5% produced by ~98 independent wine growers Multifaceted Alpine Peaks & Mediterranean Influences Italian & German & Ladin Languages Key Facts

20+ varieties 60% white, 40% red Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Bianco, , , Müller- Thurgau, Kerner, Moscato Giallo, Sylvaner, , Grüner Vetliner Schiava, Lagrein, Pinot Nero, , , and Moscato Rosa Small but Mighty <1% of Italy’s wine production 98% DOC/DOP Highest % of Gambero Rosso Three Glass distinctions in relation to total area Key Dates

500 BC: Archeological finds of pruning hooks and ladles show wine being grown

15 BC: The Romans build upon the wine culture advanced by the Rhaetians (local Alpine inhabitants)

700: Bavarian and Swabian monasteries acquire in the region

ca. 1850: Introduction of Burgundy varieties by Archduke Johann as well as Bordeaux varieties Key Dates

1893: First Cooperative Founded in Andriano

1896: First Festival, which remains an important event today

1919: Alto Adige - Südtirol becomes a region of Italy, after being part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire for centuries

1972: The region becomes autonomous, meaning it has larger control over local laws and funds which helps preserve their unique cultural and linguistic heritage Key Dates

1975: Recognition of Alto Adige - Südtirol DOC

Since 1980: Transition to Quality Focus Modern technologies & methods Drastic reduction of yields

2007: The Consortium Alto Adige founded

Today: Alto Adige - Südtirol is the leading region in Italy in awards and ratings—in relation to total vineyard area Environment Topography and Climate Topography and Climate Terroir Volcanic porphyry

Primitive rock composed Sandy marl of quartz and mica

Limestone and dolomite Growing Zones Growing Zones Val Venosta

Vineyard Acreage: 187 (2%) Elevations: 1,600-2,600 ft. Soils: slate, gneiss and sand 46% white, 54% red Main varieties: Riesling, Pinot Bianco, , Schiava Val Venosta () DOC Val Venosta

Vineyard Acreage: 971 (7%) Elevations: 1,000-2,600 ft. Soils: gravel and sand 46% white, 54% red Main varieties: Schiava, Pinot Noir, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc Meranese (Meraner) DOC Merano Val d’Adige

Vineyard Acreage: 652 (5%) Elevations: 800-3,000 ft. Soils: porphyry and limestone 71% white, 29% red Main varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Schiava, Lagrein Terlano (Terlaner) DOC Val d’Adige Oltradige

Vineyard Acreage: 4,161 (31%) Elevations: 1,000-2,300 ft. Soils: limestone, porphyry and moraine 61% white, 39% red Main varieties: Schiava, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer Lago di Caldaro (Kalterersee) DOC Oltradige Bassa Atesina

Vineyard Acreage: 4,626 (35%) Elevations: 600-3,300 ft. Soils: limestone, dolomite, loam, sand and marl 66% white, 34% red Main varieties: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Schiava, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Nero Bassa Atesina Bolzano

Vineyard Acreage: 1,747 (13%) Elevations: 800-3,000 ft. Soils: porphyry, gravel and alluvial 37% white, 63% red Main varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Schiava, Lagrein Santa Maddalena (St. Magdalener) DOC; Colli di Bolzano (Bozner Leiten) DOC Bolzano Valle Isarco

Vineyard Acreage: 981 (8%) Elevations: 1,300-2,600 ft. Soils: mica schist (quartz phyllite) and sandy gravel 91% white, 9% red Main varieties: Müller Thurgau, Sylvaner, Kerner, Gewürztraminer Valle Isarco (Eisacktaler) DOC Valle Isarco Regional Specialities Regional Specialties

Apples: 8,000 growers; 2 million pounds a year Speck: Combines Mediterranean (air-drying) and Northern European (smoking) techniques; 29 authorized producers Cheese: 90+ types of cheeses, including Dolomiti, Alta Badia, Pustertaler and Stelvio Regional Specialties

Cuisine combines Germanic and Italian influences, popular dishes include Knödel, Canederli and Strudel Skiing and Spas 30 ski trails covering 1,221 miles Top destination for spas and wellness retreats, traditional treatments include hay and wine baths Tasting Whites

Wine 1: Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco Haberle 2016, Alto Adige DOC Wine 2: Nals Margreid Pinot Bianco Sirmian 2016, Alto Adige DOC Wine 3: Peter Zemmer Pinot Grigio 2017, Alto Adige DOC Wine 4: Cantina Tramin Pinot Grigio Unterebner 2016, Alto Adige DOC Wine 5: Elena Walch Gewürztraminer Vigna Kastelaz 2016, Alto Adige DOC Wine 6:Cantina Kurtatsch Gewürztraminer Riserva Brenntal 2015, Alto Adige DOC Pinot Bianco

Acreage: 1,334 (10.2%)

Primary Cultivation Zones: Oltradige, Bassa Atesina and Val d’Adige

Pinot Bianco was first planted in the region in 1852 in Bressanone in Valle Isarco

Also known as Weissburgunder Pinot Bianco - Tasting

Wine 1: Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco Haberle 2016, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Pinot Bianco Avg Vine Age: 21-49 y.o. Soil: Stone and sand with a high limestone content Altitude: 1,500-1,710 feet Vinification: Fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for 1 to 3 weeks. Aged up to 8 months in contact with fine lees in a mix of wooden casks and tonneaux (85%) and stainless steel tanks (15%). RS: 0.8 g/l ; TA: 5 g/l ; ABV: 13%

Pinot Bianco - Tasting

Wine 2: Nals Margreid Pinot Bianco Sirmian 2016, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Pinot Bianco Avg Vine Age: 20+ y.o. Soil: Moraine with porphyry, marble, gneiss, mica and chalk Altitude: 1,969 feet Vinification: Fermented for 3 weeks, and aged for 8 months, in large barrels. RS: 3.9 g/l ; TA: 6.2 g/l ; ABV: 13.5%

Pinot Grigio

Acreage: 1,554 (11.9%)

Primary Cultivation Zones: Bassa Atesina and Oltradige

Most planted white variety

First planted in the region in 1848 in Appiano-Monte in Oltradige

Also known as Ruländer or Grauburgunder Pinot Grigio - Tasting

Wine 3: Peter Zemmer Pinot Grigio 2017, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio Avg. Vine Age: 10-40 y.o. Soil: Sand, chalk and loam Altitude: 820-984 feet Vinification: Fermented for 20 days, and aged for 7 months, in stainless steel tanks. RS: 1 g/l ; TA: 5.45 g/l ; ABV: 13.5%

Pinot Grigio - Tasting

Wine 4: Cantina Tramin Pinot Grigio Unterebner 2016, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio Avg. Vine Age: 20 y.o. Soil: Calcareous gravel with loam, partially with porphyry bedrock Altitude: 1,411 feet Vinification: Fermented for 2 weeks, and aged for 14 months,in a mix of 30-40hl wooden casks and 500L tonneaux. RS: 1.8 g/l ; TA: 5.7 g/l ; ABV: 14%

Gewürztraminer

Acreage: 1,418 (10.7%)

Primary Cultivation Zones: Bassa Atesina, Oltradige and Val d’Adige

Originates from the region’s winegrowing village of Tramin (Termeno)

Traminer was a term known throughout the German speaking world as early as the 13th century; Gewürz translates to spice

Old plantings are pergola trained; new are guyot method Gewürztraminer - Tasting

Wine 5: Elena Walch Gewürztraminer Vigna Kastelaz 2016, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Gewürztraminer Avg. Vine Age: 18-25 y.o. Soil: Limestone, interspersed with post-glacial sand, granite and porphyry Altitude: 1,115-1,247 feet Vinification: 6 hour . Fermented for 9 days, and aged for 7 months on fine lees, in stainless steel tanks. RS: 7.2 g/l ; TA: 5.1 g/l ; ABV: 14.5%

Gewürztraminer - Tasting

Wine 6: Cantina Kurtatsch Gewürztraminer Riserva Brenntal 2015, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Gewürztraminer Avg. Vine Age: 16-18 y.o. Soil: Clay Altitude: 820-1,148 feet Vinification: 3.5 hour cold soak maceration. Fermented for 2.5 weeks in stainless steel tanks. Aged for 12 months in stainless steel and an additional 6 months in large oak barrels. RS: 7.8 g/l ; TA: 5.7 g/l ; ABV: 15%

Reds

Wine 7: Erste + Neue Lago di Caldaro Classico Superiore 2017, Alto Adige DOC Wine 8: Castel Sallegg Lago di Caldaro Scelto Classico Bischofsleiten 2017, Alto Adige DOC Wine 9: Colterenzio Pinot Nero Riserva St. Daniel 2015, Alto Adige DOC Wine 10: Castelfeder Pinot Nero Riserva Burgum Novum 2014, Alto Adige DOC Wine 11: Franz Haas Lagrein 2015, Alto Adige DOC Wine 12: Cantina Bolzano Lagrein Riserva Taber 2015, Alto Adige DOC Schiava

Acreage: 1,972 (13.7%)

Primary Cultivation Zones: Bolzano, Oltradige, Merano and Bassa Atesina

First documented in the Middle Ages, this indigenous has played a central focus since the 16th century

Most grown variety; pergola trained

Also known as Vernatsch or

In lieu of variety, it is common to find traditional geographic indications Santa Maddalena, Lago di Caldaro (Kalterersee), and Merano (Colli) Schiava - Tasting

Wine 7: Erste + Neue Lago di Caldaro Classico Superiore 2017, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Schiava Avg. Vine Age: 20-50 y.o Soil: Loam, limestone, gravel with a small proportion of sand Altitude: 750-1,500 feet Vinification: Macerated for 6-8 days. Fermented for 6-8 days in stainless steel. Aged for 4 months in a mix of stainless steel tanks and large oak casks. TA: 4.4 g/l ; ABV: 12.5%

Schiava - Tasting

Wine 8: Castel Sallegg Lago di Caldaro Scelto Classico Bischofsleiten 2017, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Schiava Avg. Vine Age: 50 y.o. Soil: Sandy loam Altitude: 755-919 feet Vinification: Fermented for 2 weeks with gentle punch downs, followed by . Aged for 4 months in stainless steel tanks. TA: 4.7 g/l ; ABV: 13.18%

Pinot Nero

Acreage: 1,095 (8.4%)

Primary Cultivation Zones: Bassa Atesina and Oltradige

Grown in the region since the middle of the 19th century

Also known as Blauburgunder Pinot Nero - Tasting

Wine 9: Colterenzio Winery Pinot Nero Riserva St. Daniel 2015, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Pinot Nero Avg. Vine Age: 15-20 y.o. Soil: Volcanic with an overlay of morainal deposits Altitude: 1,148-1,476 feet Vinification: Fermented for 14 days in stainless steel tanks. Aged for 12 months in large 35 hl casks (2/3) and barriques (1/3). TA: 4.3 g/l ; ABV: 13.5%

Pinot Nero - Tasting

Wine 10: Castelfeder Pinot Nero Riserva Burgum Novum 2014, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Pinot Nero Avg. Vine Age: 25 y.o. Soil: Loam Altitude: 1,312-2,789 feet Vinification: 12 hour cold maceration. Fermented in open tonneaux for 10 days. Aged 6 months in steel tanks, 18 months in barrique and and 12 months in bottle. TA: 5.3 g/l ; ABV: 14%

Lagrein

Acreage: 1,156 (8.8%)

Primary Cultivation Zones: Bolzano and Bassa Atesina

Indigenous grape that is deeply rooted in Bolzano, where the high summer temperatures allow for proper ripening Lagrein - Tasting

Wine 11: Franz Haas Lagrein 2015, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Lagrein Avg. Vine Age: 5-20 y.o. Soil: Alluvial origin with a high proportion of gravel Altitude: 722-820 feet Vinification: 7-10 day maceration. Fermented for 10 days in tonneaux. Malolactic fermentation and aging for 10-12 months in oak barrels. Aged an additional few months in bottle. TA: 6.1 g/l ; ABV: 13%

Lagrein - Tasting

Wine 12: Cantina Bolzano Lagrein Riserva Taber 2015, Alto Adige DOC Variety: 100% Lagrein Avg. Vine Age: 90 y.o. Soil: Sandy and porphyry Altitude: 820 feet Vinification: Fermented on the skins for approximately 14 days. Aged for at least 12 months in new, one and two year-old French oak barriques. ABV: 14%

Q&A