Key Grapes Grown in Alto Adige:
The key grape varietals grown in Alto Adige find their dominate roots in one of three prevailing wine cultures: Italy, France and Germany/Austria. Italy’s obvious varietal contributions include: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Lagrein, Schiava, Moscato and the not-so-obvious, Gewurztraminer (from the village of Tramin in Alto Adige, “Gewurz” – translates to “spice” in German). France brings Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Pinot Noir to the varietal table. While, the German/Austrian grape heritage includes: Riesling, Sylvaner, Muller-Thurgau, Kerner and Grüner Veltliner. The dominant regional varietals broken out into white and red wines are as follows:
White Wines: Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Moscato, Gewruztraminer, Saugivnon Blanc, Muller-Thurgau, Sylvaner, Gruner-Veltliner and Kerner.
Red Wines: Lagrein, the indigenous Schiava, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.
Top Wine Recommendations from Alto Adige:
Northern Italy’s Alto Adige region enjoys international recognition for its outstanding white wine offerings. These wines offer true to form varietal character - focusing on highly aromatic, fresh, flavorful white wines, that bring both caliber and consistency to today's market. Though Alto Adige may be known first and foremost for its white wines, keep in mind that they actually plant more red grape vines. Consequently, the region offers several compelling red wines sourced from local grapes, Lagrein and Schiava. Check out these Top 20 Wines from Alto Adige at your local wine merchant, favorite restaurant, or through an online wine retailer.
Key Wine Producers from Alto Adige: There are over 150 producers in the Alto Adige wine region, comprised of cooperatives, family-estates and independent growers. While the net quality for the region remains quite high, there are key producers that are worth seeking out for consumer availability and consistent bottle quality. At the top of the list are: Elena Walch, J. Hofstatter, Weingut Niklas, Tiefenbrunner, St. Michael-Eppan, Abbazia di Novacella, Cantina Terlano, Manincor, Alois Lageder and Santa Margherita.
Alto Adige Wine Country in Pictures: Alto Adige is one of those rare gems, where the real, in-person, pictures of Alto Adige captured in moment by moment views, veritably surpass every picture postcard on the souvenir shop spinners. It is a place where the landscape in every direction whether immediate, in a tranquil vineyard, or distant, via the surrounding grandeur of the Italian Alps, is instantly captivating, any way you slice it.
Alto Adige Wines Website:
If you are interested in learning more about the fascinating wine region of Alto Adige, then check out the “Wines of the Italian Alps” Alto Adige website, where you’ll find further information on the wineries, events, news and vintage details. Or if you are planning a trip to tour the Italian wine country in person, then make visiting the Alto Adige wine region a top priority.
Alto Adige continues to build an enviable reputation by offering consistent quality at affordable price points, that boast both varietal presence and palate persistence. So, the next time you encounter a wine from Alto Adige, one of Italy's smallest wine growing regions, rest assured that it will likely be big on value and strong on varietal versatility.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary travel for the purpose of reviewing the region. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
