Alto-Adige

Stemming from a region coloured by cross-pollination of German and Italian culture, Alto-Adige wines are unique, complex and indicative of their cross-cultural heritage – and a mosaiced, meteorological location. The most northerly region of Italy, Alto-Adige, also known as the South Tyrol, or Sudtirol, lies in the Alps, with vineyards dotted between valleys and sun-drenched slopes from 200 to 1,000 metres above sea level. Each is blessed with a microclimate that changes from one kilometre to the next, each perfectly suited to one of the twenty grape varieties that thrive in this breathtaking landscape. Despite its modest size, the mountainous region is home to indigenous varieties – Lagrein and Schiava are cultivated for floral Alto-Adige red wines, alongside internationals, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir which, at home in the region since 1890, produce a range of Alto-Adige red wines that are, at times, fruity, at times, multi-layered, but always enchanting.

Meanwhile, Alto-Adige white wines sit undisputedly atop the peak of quality in Italy. Expect crispy, fresh wines thanks to cool nights, mild sunny days and strong Alpine winds. These whites celebrate the region’s multi-faceted roots – with varieties including Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Kerner, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc. Making up over 60% of Alto-Adige wine production, these whites are, put simply, radiant and reeling with ageability – like our favourite examples from Cantina Terlano, one of the oldest and most highly-renowned Alto-Adige cooperatives. 

Alto-Adige wines are shaped not only by their unique geological and geographical heritage but by people. Alto-Adige wine producers – nearly all 5000 of them - live, work and produce according to three key pillars: Quality – Alto-Adige produces the most prizewinning wines in all of Italy; Sustainability - The Alto-Adige Wine Agenda 2030 prioritises the future from vine to wine; People – hard-working, stubborn and tied to the earth, lending Alto Adige wine its character and personality. It’s the people of Alto-Adige who continue to confirm our love for this region. We work with the very best so we’re excited for you to try the results of their tradition-steeped (and endearingly stubborn) approach to winemaking.