Alto Adige White Wines

White wines grow on more than 55% of South Tyrolean vineyards. With increasing tendency. Ruländer/Pinot Grigio, White Burgundy and Chardonnay make up about 60% of the white wine production in South Tyrol. However, nowhere else in Italy, the white varieties like Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Sauvignon, Veltliner or Kerner result in such fruity-fresh, typical and characteristic wines. These vines provide the base for high-quality South Tyrolean sparkling wine too. The future of South Tyrolean wine can therefore especially be seen in white wines. Cellar masters and wine experts strongly believe in this development.

Pinot Blanc

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 518 ha

Production area / Whole of Alto Adige vineyard area apart from the Eisack Valley

Description / Pinot blanc is a fresh-fruity white wine, greenish to pale yellow in colour with an aroma lightly reminiscent of green apple. On the palate it is dry, full, nutty and appley. Mature, concentrated wines may become buttery.

Goes well / With light starters and fish; also makes an excellent aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Weissburgunder, Südtirol Terlaner Weissburgunder, Südtirol Vinschgau Weissburgunder

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 518 ha

Production area / Whole of Alto Adige vineyard area apart from the Eisack Valley

Description / Pinot blanc is a fresh-fruity white wine, greenish to pale yellow in colour with an aroma lightly reminiscent of green apple. On the palate it is dry, full, nutty and appley. Mature, concentrated wines may become buttery.

Goes well / With light starters and fish; also makes an excellent aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Weissburgunder, Südtirol Terlaner Weissburgunder, Südtirol Vinschgau Weissburgunder

Chardonnay

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 528 ha

Production area / Mainly the south of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley

Description / Chardonnay enjoys universal appeal, greenish-yellow in colour with a delicately fruity aroma, dry, fresh and racy on the palate reminiscent of pineapple, banana, apple, pear, citrus fruits, caramel, vanilla and butter.

Goes well / With starters and fish, or on its own as an aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C (Barrique up to 12 - 14° C)

DOC designations / Südtiroler Chardonnay, Südtirol Terlaner Chardonnay, Südtirol Vinschgau Chardonnay

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 528 ha

Production area / Mainly the south of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley

Description / Chardonnay enjoys universal appeal, greenish-yellow in colour with a delicately fruity aroma, dry, fresh and racy on the palate reminiscent of pineapple, banana, apple, pear, citrus fruits, caramel, vanilla and butter.

Goes well / With starters and fish, or on its own as an aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C (Barrique up to 12 - 14° C)

DOC designations / Südtiroler Chardonnay, Südtirol Terlaner Chardonnay, Südtirol Vinschgau Chardonnay

Pinot Gris

Pinot grisTotal area planted in Alto Adige / 478 ha

Production area / South of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Meran, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley, Vinschgau, Eisack Valley

Description / Pinot gris is a full-bodied, rich white wine, straw-yellow in colour, flowery and broad; made from very ripe grapes it becomes nutty and honyed.

Goes well / With mushroom-based dishes, fish and seafood; makes an excellent aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 11 - 13° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Ruländer, Südtirol Eisacktaler Ruländer, Südtirol Terlaner Ruländer, Südtirol Vinschgau Ruländer

Pinot grisTotal area planted in Alto Adige / 478 ha

Production area / South of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Meran, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley, Vinschgau, Eisack Valley

Description / Pinot gris is a full-bodied, rich white wine, straw-yellow in colour, flowery and broad; made from very ripe grapes it becomes nutty and honyed.

Goes well / With mushroom-based dishes, fish and seafood; makes an excellent aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 11 - 13° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Ruländer, Südtirol Eisacktaler Ruländer, Südtirol Terlaner Ruländer, Südtirol Vinschgau Ruländer

Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer Total area planted in Alto Adige / 572 ha

Production area / Mainly the south of Alto Adige and Überetsch; Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley, Eisack Valley, Vinschgau, Meran

Description / Gewürztraminer has become one of Alto Adige's most sought-after white wines, straw- to golden-yellow, aromatic and full-bodied, discreet to pungent on the nose, agreeably dry and spicy with hints of clove, roses and lychee.

Goes well / With fish based appetisers, pâtès, foie gras. It also makes an excellent dessert wine.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 11 - 13° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Gewürztraminer, Südtirol Eisacktaler Gewürztraminer, Südtirol Vinschgau Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer Total area planted in Alto Adige / 572 ha

Production area / Mainly the south of Alto Adige and Überetsch; Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley, Eisack Valley, Vinschgau, Meran

Description / Gewürztraminer has become one of Alto Adige's most sought-after white wines, straw- to golden-yellow, aromatic and full-bodied, discreet to pungent on the nose, agreeably dry and spicy with hints of clove, roses and lychee.

Goes well / With fish based appetisers, pâtès, foie gras. It also makes an excellent dessert wine.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 11 - 13° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Gewürztraminer, Südtirol Eisacktaler Gewürztraminer, Südtirol Vinschgau Gewürztraminer

Müller Thurgau

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 219 ha

Production area / Eisack Valley, Bozen valley basin, Überetsch, south of Alto Adige, Vinschgau, Adige Valley

Description / Müller Thurgau is a delicately aromatic white wine, greenish to pale yellow in colour, flowery, lightly herbaceous with a hint of Muscat, dry fresh and aromatic on the palate.

Goes well / As an aperitif and with light appetisers and fish.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Müller Thurgau, Südtirol Eisacktaler Müller Thurgau, Südtirol Terlaner Müller Thurgau, Südtirol Vinschgau Müller Thurgau

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 219 ha

Production area / Eisack Valley, Bozen valley basin, Überetsch, south of Alto Adige, Vinschgau, Adige Valley

Description / Müller Thurgau is a delicately aromatic white wine, greenish to pale yellow in colour, flowery, lightly herbaceous with a hint of Muscat, dry fresh and aromatic on the palate.

Goes well / As an aperitif and with light appetisers and fish.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Müller Thurgau, Südtirol Eisacktaler Müller Thurgau, Südtirol Terlaner Müller Thurgau, Südtirol Vinschgau Müller Thurgau

Sauvignon Blanc

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 381 ha

Production area / Mainly the south of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley, Vinschgau

Description / Sauvignon is an elegant, lightly aromatic-grassy white wine, greenish yellow in colour, racy with an aroma and flavour reminiscent of green capsicum and gooseberry.

Goes well / With asparagus, onion soup, snails, fish and as an aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Sauvignon, Südtirol Terlaner Sauvignon, Südtirol Vinschgau Sauvignon

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 381 ha

Production area / Mainly the south of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley, Vinschgau

Description / Sauvignon is an elegant, lightly aromatic-grassy white wine, greenish yellow in colour, racy with an aroma and flavour reminiscent of green capsicum and gooseberry.

Goes well / With asparagus, onion soup, snails, fish and as an aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Sauvignon, Südtirol Terlaner Sauvignon, Südtirol Vinschgau Sauvignon

Sylvaner

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 70 ha

Production area / Mainly the Eisack Valley, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley

Description / Sylvaner is a delicious and fresh white wine, pale yellow to greenish in colour, characerised by an aroma reminiscent of freshly mown hay and a hint of gooseberry on the palate.

Goes well / With asparagus, fish or as an aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Sylvaner, Südtirol Eisacktaler Sylvaner, Südtirol Terlaner Sylvaner

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 70 ha

Production area / Mainly the Eisack Valley, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley

Description / Sylvaner is a delicious and fresh white wine, pale yellow to greenish in colour, characerised by an aroma reminiscent of freshly mown hay and a hint of gooseberry on the palate.

Goes well / With asparagus, fish or as an aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Sylvaner, Südtirol Eisacktaler Sylvaner, Südtirol Terlaner Sylvaner

Riesling

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 65 ha

Production area / Vinschgau, south of Alto Adige, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley, Eisack Valley

Description / Riesling originated in Germany, and in Alto Adige yields elegant white wines, greenish to pale yellow in colour, lightly flowery, lively on the palate with a delicate flavour reminiscent of peach, apricot, quince and green apple.

Goes well / With prawn cocktail, seafood, lobster or as an aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Riesling, Südtirol Terlaner Riesling, Südtirol Eisacktaler Riesling, Südtirol Vinschgau Riesling

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 65 ha

Production area / Vinschgau, south of Alto Adige, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley, Eisack Valley

Description / Riesling originated in Germany, and in Alto Adige yields elegant white wines, greenish to pale yellow in colour, lightly flowery, lively on the palate with a delicate flavour reminiscent of peach, apricot, quince and green apple.

Goes well / With prawn cocktail, seafood, lobster or as an aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Riesling, Südtirol Terlaner Riesling, Südtirol Eisacktaler Riesling, Südtirol Vinschgau Riesling

Kerner

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 90 ha

Production area / Eisack Valley and Vinschgau

Description / Kerner is a racy, spicy white wine, straw-yellow in colour with green reflexes, discreet on the nose, dry and full on the palate with a hint of Muscat.

Goes well / With light appetisers, grilled fish and as an aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Kerner, Südtirol Eisacktaler Kerner, Südtirol Vinschgau Kerner

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 90 ha

Production area / Eisack Valley and Vinschgau

Description / Kerner is a racy, spicy white wine, straw-yellow in colour with green reflexes, discreet on the nose, dry and full on the palate with a hint of Muscat.

Goes well / With light appetisers, grilled fish and as an aperitif.

Serve / Lightly chilled, 10 - 12° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Kerner, Südtirol Eisacktaler Kerner, Südtirol Vinschgau Kerner