Cantina Bolzano Lagrein 2022

The Lagrein grape originates from South Tyrol and is mainly grown in this area. The history of Lagrein cultivation in South Tyrol (Alto Adige) dates back to the fourteenth century. Today it is one of the best red wines of this region.

South Tyrol (or Alto Adige) is a predominantly German-speaking region that was occupied until the end of W.W. I still belonged to Austria (the Habsburg Empire). If you cross the Brenner Pass and descend into Italy, you will quickly end up in this area. Located at the foot of the Dolomites, it owes its name to the Adige (Etsch) river. The vineyards here are mainly located on relatively high slopes, which are often so steep that it is necessary to build terraces. Alto Adige is a relatively warm area, especially in summer it can be very hot during the day. Due to its location near the Alps, the nights are relatively cool and this ensures slower ripening in the vineyards, pleasant acidity and better aroma retention. Alto Adige produces relatively many DOP wines compared to other regions. The focus here is more on the rest of Europe than elsewhere in Italy; the culture here can be called Central European rather than Mediterranean. This is also evident from the fact that considerably more international grapes such as Pinot Blanc, Pinot Nero and Sauvignon are grown here than in other Italian wine regions.

Kellerei Bozen (or Cantina Bolzano in Italian) is the quality cooperative of the city of the same name in South Tyrol and is a merger of two previous cooperatives: that of Gries from 1908 (particularly famous for their wines from the Lagrein grape on clay soils along the river the Eisack (Isarco)) and that of St. Magdalena, anno 1930 (with a specialty of vernatsch wine (also called schiava)). They make a wide range of typical regional wines, from 'village' style to cuvées from a specific terroir. Most wines from the Kellerei are consumed regionally, which can be considered a great compliment to the quality delivered.