DOC Alto AdigePinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Lagrein, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gewuerztraminer160 haFounded 1932Cooperative of approximately 138 grower familiesOltradige
Formed by the 1985 merger of the Nals (1932) and Margreid cooperatives. 138 grower families farm 160 hectares across 14 vineyard parcels between Nals in the central Adige valley and Magre in the south, giving an unusually wide altitude and exposure spread.
Tasting: Cellar tastings on reservation, including the Baron Salvadori Pinot Bianco and Sirmian crus.
Signature wines: sirmian-pinot-bianco, baron-salvadori-pinot-bianco-riserva, mantele-sauvignon, berg-cassiano-pinot-nero-riserva
Tip: Berg Cassiano Pinot Nero from the southern Magre vineyards is a value alternative to the Mazon icons.
DOC Alto Adige Valle IsarcoSylvaner, Kerner, Mueller-Thurgau, Gewuerztraminer, Riesling, Gruener Veltliner, Pinot Grigio140 haFounded 1961Cooperative of approximately 130 grower families across 11 communesValle Isarco
Founded in 1961 in Chiusa, a Valle Isarco cooperative for white wine. 130 grower families across 11 communes farm 140 hectares between 300 and 900 metres on glacial-gravel soils; Sylvaner and Kerner are the historic specialities, with Aristos and Praepositus the selection lines.
Tasting: Cellar tastings on reservation in Chiusa, with focus on the Aristos and Praepositus selection ranges.
Signature wines: aristos-sylvaner, aristos-kerner, aristos-gewurztraminer, praepositus-sylvaner, praepositus-kerner
Tip: The Aristos Sylvaner is the easiest cellar-door introduction to the grape's mineral profile; book the Sylvaner-themed tasting that adds Pacherhof and Strasserhof comparisons.
DOC Alto Adige MeraneseSchiava, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Lagrein, Pinot Noir260 haFounded 2010Cooperative of approximately 400 grower familiesMeranese
Formed in 2010 by the merger of Cantina Vini Merano (1952) and Cantina Burggraefler (1901). Around 400 grower families farm 260 hectares of vineyard on the porphyry slopes around Merano, producing about 1 million bottles annually; the panoramic cellar at Marlengo is a marquee Wine Road visit.
Tasting: Reservation tastings at the Marlengo panoramic Enoteca; second tasting point at the Merano City.Vinothek under the Portici arcades.
Signature wines: festival-pinot-bianco, graf-von-meran-pinot-bianco, schickenburg-schiava, graf-von-meran-pinot-grigio
Tip: The panoramic Enoteca at Marlengo has a roof terrace with full Texel-range views; pair the Schickenburg Schiava with Speck and local apple cake.
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 AdigePinot Noir, Gewuerztraminer, Pinot Bianco, Lagrein, Mueller-Thurgau, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc50 haFounded 1907Foradori-Hofstaetter family (Martin Foradori Hofstaetter)Bassa Atesina
Founded in 1907 in Tramin and run by Martin Foradori Hofstaetter, the family produces Italian Pinot Noir from the Mazon plateau. Vigna S. Urbano is the single-vineyard flagship; the estate also bottles Gewurztraminer from the Kolbenhof vineyard.
Tasting: Reservation tastings at the historic cellar in Tramin's main square; Pinot Noir verticals featuring Mazon and Vigna S. Urbano are the headline.
Signature wines: barthenau-vigna-s-urbano-pinot-nero, mazon-pinot-nero-riserva, kolbenhof-gewurztraminer, yngram-pinot-bianco-riserva, barthenau-vigna-roccolo-pinot-bianco
Tip: Hofstaetter introduced the Vigna single-vineyard designation to Alto Adige in 1987; their Mazon and Vigna S. Urbano verticals are an essential tasting.
DOC Alto AdigePinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewuerztraminer, Lagrein55 haFounded 1823Lageder family (Alois Clemens Lageder)Demeter CertifiedDEMETERBassa Atesina
Founded in 1823 in Bolzano and based at Toer Loewengang in Magre since 1934. The Lageder family farms 55 hectares biodynamically (Demeter-certified since 2008) and sources additional Demeter and organic grapes from around 60 partner growers across 85 hectares. Cor Roemigberg Cabernet and Krafuss Pinot Nero are the flagship reds; Porer Pinot Grigio brought skin-contact orange-style winemaking into the regional mainstream.
Tasting: Reservation tastings at Toer Loewengang in Magre; the Paradeis bistro adjacent to the cellar pairs the wines with seasonal cuisine.
Signature wines: krafuss-pinot-nero, cor-romigberg-cabernet, lehenhof-sauvignon, porer-pinot-grigio, beta-delta-cuvee
Tip: The Paradeis bistro shares the cellar building and is open for lunch most days; book the biodynamic-focused vineyard walk that visits the Loewengang vineyard.
