DOC Alto AdigeCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Lagrein, Gewuerztraminer, Mueller-Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio190 haFounded 1900Cooperative of approximately 190 grower familiesCortaccia
Founded in 1900 in Cortaccia, the southernmost Wine Road commune. 190 members farm 190 hectares from 220 to 900 metres altitude; the Brenntal vineyards (warm valley floor) yield Merlot and Gewuerztraminer Riserva, while the higher Penon and Kofl crus give precise Sauvignon and Pinot Bianco.
Tasting: Reservation tastings at the historic cellar in Cortaccia, including the Brenntal and Penon-Kofl cru ranges.
Signature wines: brenntal-merlot-riserva, brenntal-gewurztraminer-riserva, sonntaler-alte-reben-vernatsch, penon-kofl-sauvignon, penon-hofstatt-weissburgunder
Tip: Cortaccia Rossa is the village's Cabernet collective; ask which Cortaccia producers participate.
DOC Alto Adige Lago di Caldaro ClassicoSchiava, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Lagrein, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Grigio420 haFounded 1900Cooperative of approximately 530 grower familiesLago di Caldaro
Founded in 1900 around Lake Caldaro, the warmest lake in the Alps. Around 530 grower families farm 420 hectares; the Quintessenz selection line includes the Kalterersee Classico Superiore. Kellermeister Thomas Scarizuola took over in March 2023 after Andrea Moser's nine-year tenure.
Tasting: Cellar tastings on reservation; the Quintessenz Kalterersee Classico Superiore is a long-standing cooperative Schiava expression.
Signature wines: quintessenz-kalterersee, quintessenz-pinot-bianco, saltner-lagrein-riserva, punkt-rosato
Tip: Combine the cellar tasting with a swim in Lake Caldaro and lunch in Kaltern village; the lake-side vineyards are walking distance from the cellar.
DOC Alto AdigeMueller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Lagrein, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir77 haFounded 1675Tiefenbrunner family (5th and 6th generation)Cortaccia
A castle estate in Entiklar (Cortaccia) run by the Tiefenbrunner family for 5 to 6 generations on grounds dating back over 800 years. 77 hectares of vineyard culminate in the Feldmarschall von Fenner Mueller-Thurgau, planted on the high Penon-Fennberg plateau at around 1000 metres.
Tasting: Reservation tastings at Castel Turmhof in Entiklar, including the Linticlarus and Vigna ranges and the high-altitude Feldmarschall.
Signature wines: feldmarschall-von-fenner, linticlarus-cabernet-riserva, linticlarus-pinot-nero-riserva, vigna-rachtl-sauvignon, linticlarus-chardonnay
Tip: Castel Turmhof has a restaurant and Wein-Stube; book lunch alongside the tasting for the full Cortaccia experience.
DOC Alto Adige Lago di CaldaroSauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gewuerztraminer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Lagrein50 haFounded 1608Goess-Enzenberg familyBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDLago di Caldaro
Founded in 1608 by Hieronymus Manincor Ehrenhausen; the residence and 50 hectares of vineyards above Lake Caldaro have been farmed biodynamically since 2005 and certified biodynamic under respekt-BIODYN since 2009 by the Goess-Enzenberg family. Lieben Aich Sauvignon Blanc and Mason Pinot Nero are the cellar's defining cuvees. Count Michael Goess-Enzenberg founded the respekt-BIODYN biodynamic association in 2007.
Tasting: Reservation tastings at the 1608 Manincor Residence above Lake Caldaro; the cellar is partly carved into the rock.
Signature wines: lieben-aich-sauvignon, mason-pinot-nero, reserve-della-contessa, castel-campan-cabernet-merlot, moscato-rosa-le-petit
Tip: The cellar is partly underground; combine the tour with a swim in the lake just below the residence.
DOC Alto AdigeSauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon7 haFounded 1987Dipoli family (Peter Dipoli)Bassa Atesina
Founded in 1987 by Peter Dipoli, the Laives-born Laimburg-trained pioneer who replanted a 1.2-hectare parcel in Penon (Cortaccia) to Sauvignon Blanc and bottled the first Voglar in 1990. The estate now farms 7 hectares across Egna, Magre, Termeno and Cortaccia, producing only three wines: Voglar (Sauvignon Blanc), Iugum (Merlot-Cabernet) and Fihl (Merlot).
Tasting: Tastings by appointment with the founder; small-allocation cellar in Egna.
Signature wines: voglar-sauvignon-blanc, iugum, fihl-merlot
Tip: Voglar (first vintage 1990) was the wine Peter Dipoli built the estate around; ask about the 1.2-hectare Penon parcel and the 1988-1991 replant from Schiava to Sauvignon Blanc.
DOC Alto Adige Santa Maddalena, DOC Alto AdigeLagrein, Schiava, Gewuerztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot8 haFounded 1979Loacker family (Rainer and Hayo Loacker)Biodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDBolzano
Established in 1979 by Rainer Loacker on the Schwarhof and Kohlerhof estates at 500 to 550 metres in the Santa Maddalena zone above Bolzano. The family pioneered biodynamic farming in Alto Adige (treatments by biodynamic and homeopathic protocols since the late 1970s); the Gran Lareyn Lagrein Riserva is the flagship red.
Tasting: Reservation tastings at Schwarhof above Bolzano in the Santa Maddalena zone.
Signature wines: gran-lareyn-lagrein-riserva, morit-santa-maddalena, atagis-gewurztraminer, tasnim-sauvignon
Tip: The Loacker family also farms in Montalcino and Maremma; ask about the trans-estate vertical tastings when visiting Schwarhof.
DOC Alto Adige Lago di CaldaroSchiava, Lagrein, Pinot Bianco, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscato Rosa, Merlot30 haFounded 1851Counts of Kuenburg (since 1851)Lago di Caldaro
An historic estate above Lake Caldaro, owned by the Counts of Kuenburg since 1851. The 30 hectares span three vineyards (Preyhof, Leisenhof, Seehof); the Moscato Rosa is a regional speciality and the Bischofsleiten Lagrein Riserva the structured red flagship.
Tasting: Reservation tastings at the historic castle estate above Lake Caldaro; also hotel + event venue.
Signature wines: bischofsleiten-lagrein-riserva, moscato-rosa, kalterersee-classico, imperial-cabernet-merlot
Tip: Stay overnight at the Castel Sallegg estate hotel; the Moscato Rosa makes an unusual after-dinner pairing with apple strudel.
DOC Alto Adige Lago di CaldaroPinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Schiava, Merlot, Syrah, Lagrein12 haFounded 1989Niedrist family (Ignaz Niedrist)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDCornaiano
Ignaz Niedrist's family has been growing grapes since 1870; he started home-pressing in 1989. 12 organic hectares between 450 and 650 metres across Girlan, Eppan Berg, Caldaro and Gries supply Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Schiava, Merlot, Syrah and Lagrein for a low-intervention small-production range.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the Hof in Rungg above Cornaiano.
Signature wines: berger-gei-pinot-nero, berger-gei-sauvignon, ries-lagrein, lago-di-caldaro-superiore
Tip: The Berger Gei single-vineyard cuvees show what 600 metres of altitude does to Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc; book the comparison flight.
DOC Alto Adige Santa MaddalenaLagrein, Schiava, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Bianco5 haFounded 1898Berger family (Andreas Berger)Bolzano
Andreas Berger farms 5 hectares on the Castel Flavon slopes south of Bolzano, with the cellar building dating to 1898. Classic Santa Maddalena alongside a structured Lagrein Riserva Stierle and Bordeaux blends.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the historic Hof above Bolzano; small-grower St. Magdalener and Lagrein focus.
Signature wines: santa-maddalena-classico, lagrein-riserva-stierle, merlot, cabernet-merlot
Tip: Easier to reach by car than the city-centre Bolzano cellars; the Hof terrace has views back across the Adige valley.
Alto Adige DOC / Santa Maddalena DOCLagrein, Schiava (Vernatsch), Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, CabernetFounded 1979Loacker family (Rainer Loacker bought Schwarhof 1979; Hayo Loacker has managed since 1998)Biodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDSanta Maddalena (St Magdalena) DOC, Bolzano
Biodynamic St Magdalena estate above Bolzano, Schwarhof farmhouse from 1334, biodynamic since 1979. Lagrein and Schiava are the Alto Adige core.
Tip: The Loacker family also runs Corte Pavone (Brunello di Montalcino) and Valdifalco (Maremma); Schwarhof tastings sometimes include cross-property comparison flights. Booking ahead recommended.