So Tastes South Tyrol

North Meets South

Culturally, the heart of the Alps lies at the intersection of the Germanic and Romance language and cultural areas. South Tyrol has always drawn inspiration from both, and thus the best of two worlds flows into the wines: the craftsmanship, precision, and reliability from the north, as well as the charm, art of living, and wine tradition from the south.

The diverse mountain wines reflect their grape variety as well as their terroir. In South Tyrol, around two dozen grape varieties are cultivated, and the locations also vary significantly. They range from rugged, well-ventilated vineyards on the steep slopes of the Vinschgau or the Eisack Valley to Mediterranean-like, sun-drenched, mild vineyards in the south, such as in the Bolzano basin, in Überetsch, or in Unterland.

So it is no wonder that South Tyrol offers the entire range of wine types: from primarily fruity varietal wines and sophisticated top wines to impressive sweet wines and sparkling wines. Combined with a consistent quality policy, this diversity ensures that South Tyrol has worked its way to the top of wine production – as confirmed by the most important wine guides.

South Tyrolean Quality Offensive

South Tyrol's winemakers and cellar masters have worked hard over decades to gain the attention of the wine world. Every detail has been put to the test and aimed at the highest possible quality. This starts with the choice of varieties, which is now optimally adapted to the respective location.

In this process, the variety spectrum has fundamentally changed. The once Vernatsch-dominated wine country now produces white wines on two-thirds of the vineyard area. This is particularly due to the expansion of vineyards into higher altitudes and northern regions. The most important white varieties are Weißburgunder, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio. Among the red grapes, Blauburgunder and Lagrein play a significant role. At the same time, Vernatsch remains important, especially as the demand for light, lively red wines is increasing again.

The key success factors for South Tyrolean winemakers are manual labor, centuries of experience, community, and innovation spirit. Most vineyards can only be cultivated without mechanical assistance. The history of many wineries spans several generations. A sense of tradition, long-term thinking and acting, as well as openness to innovations shape the people. The winemakers are deeply rooted in their homeland, and often the whole family is involved in the business. The approximately 150-year-old cooperative system forms a strong cultural and economic force.

Lived Diversity

The largest wine-growing community in South Tyrol is Eppan, which, together with Kaltern and Lake Kaltern, forms the heart of the wine region. Here, Vernatsch, Weißburgunder, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc thrive. Gewürztraminer derives its name from Tramin.

In the mild south between Kurtatsch and Salurn, late-ripening varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon prevail, while in the hillside areas around Montan, Blauburgunder is mainly at home.

The area in and around the state capital Bolzano is known for St. Magdalener, which mainly grows on the hill of the same name and is considered a particularly noble Vernatsch. In the southwestern district of Gries, the strongest Lagrein Crus grow on easily warmable alluvial soils with a lot of sand and gravel.

The grape variety spectrum in the Merano area is characterized by Vernatsch, Blau- and Weißburgunder, and Sauvignon Blanc. The soils of red porphyry sandstone, which dominate the Etschtal between Merano and Bolzano, produce top-quality white wines with a mineral character.

The Vinschgau in the northwest is a relatively dry valley due to its east-west orientation, where Riesling, as well as Weiß- and Blauburgunder, are mainly cultivated. The Eisack Valley in the north is a stronghold of white wines made from Kerner, Sylvaner, or Müller-Thurgau.