Cornaiano family estate, 11 hectares across three Oltradige sites. Pinot Nero specialist with single-vineyard Pinot Bianco. Around 50,000 bottles.
Tip: The Berger Gei single-vineyard Pinot Bianco and the Vom Kalk Pinot Nero are the estate's twin headlines. Cellar visits are by appointment and personal.
Address: Riva di Sotto 5, 39050 Cornaiano/Girlan, Italy, Alto Adige
Caldaro organic estate, certified-organic since 1993. Werner Morandell is a fungus-resistant variety pioneer. On-site South Tyrolean Vine Museum.
Tip: The Vino del Passo from Solaris is a singular dessert wine, rare in the Italian market because Solaris is a fungus-resistant variety (PIWI) not authorised in most Italian DOC rules. The South Tyrolean Vine Museum runs guided tours of the educational trail.
Small Eisacktal estate worked by Guenther Kerschbaumer and Gaby Tauber, 5 hectares at 700-800 m above Neustift Abbey, mineral-driven Sylvaner and Kerner.
Tip: Visits by appointment - the cellar is small. The Sylvaner Praepositus selection is bottled for 8-12 year ageing; a vertical at the cellar door is a rare treat.
Pliger family farmstead at Brixen, 12th-century origins; organic and biodynamic Sylvaner, Riesling and Gruener Veltliner from the steep Valle Isarco slopes.
Tip: Wines are tightly allocated and reach Italy and Germany via mailing-list and on-trade only. The Kaiton Riesling and the Lahner Sylvaner are the two flagship cuvees.
Vahrn-Neustift estate at 650-750 m altitude, first mentioned 1100 AD. Hannes Baumgartner's 5-hectare project, around 45,000 bottles, multi-export.
Tip: Cellar visits are intimate - Hannes typically pours himself. The Sylvaner Vinea Vera and the Riesling are the must-tries.
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.
Martin Gojer's natural-wine project west of Bolzano, biodynamic since 2009, 3.5 ha at 400 m. Long lees-ageing, minimal sulfur Schiava and Lagrein.
Tip: Wines are tightly allocated to natural-wine bars and importers. Bottle access through Tannico, Newcomer Wines, Wine Bohemians and Drops. Visits by appointment only.
