#Italy #Alto Adige #Wine Enthusiast #Cantina Terlano #Bolzano

Alto Adige Wines Earn Exceptional Recognition

The Alto Adige wine region of Italy is celebrating an impressive milestone, having received a record-breaking 145 top ratings in prominent wine guides such as Wine Enthusiast, James Suckling, and Falstaff Weinguide. This is a remarkable increase from 99 top scores the previous year, indicating a growing recognition of Alto Adige's quality and diversity in winemaking.

Celebrating Diversity
Andreas Kofler, President of the Consorzio Alto Adige Wines, expressed delight over this upward trend, stating, “The broadening of our top scores reflects the ongoing excellence in our wine production. More producers from Alto Adige are garnering accolades, signifying our region's strength.” This year, 38 producers achieved the highest ratings compared to just 29 the prior year, showcasing an expanding base of excellence among local wineries.

An astonishing 105 different wines received top scores, a remarkable increase from last year's 68, illustrating the region’s rich varietal diversity with 15 different grape varieties highlighting the best of what Alto Adige has to offer.

A Balanced Portfolio
Predominantly known for its white wines, Alto Adige also showcases a variety of reds with Pinot Noir leading the charge, earning 20 top-rated wines. Following behind are Chardonnay with 18 and Sauvignon Blanc with 13. Among the total ratings, 80 marks were awarded to 58 different white wines, while 55 ratings were granted to 42 red varieties, all evidencing the region's dynamic wine capabilities. Furthermore, even sweet wines made their presence felt with ten top ratings across five different selections.

Leading the accolades is Cantina Terlano, earning 19 top scores, while Cantina Tramin follows closely with 11, and St. Michael-Eppan Winery rounds out the top three with ten top ratings. Other notable wineries gaining recognition include Alois Lageder, Cantina Girlan, and Nals Margreid, each demonstrating a consistent output of quality wines. This achievement reaffirms the significant impact of cooperative wineries in the Alto Adige region, which collectively account for approximately 70% of the total wine production.

Commitment to Quality
Unlike traditional cooperatives that focus primarily on volume, the cooperative approach in Alto Adige emphasizes meticulous vineyard management and small-lot winemaking. This level of care ensures each wine produced authentically expresses the unique terroir of the region, validating the combined expertise and commitment to quality among winemakers.

One standout wine, the 2021 Terlano Primo Grande Cuvée Alto Adige DOC, achieved a perfect 100 points from Falstaff, earning the title of