DOC Alto Adige Val VenostaRiesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Gewuerztraminer, Pinot Noir12 haFounded 1995Pratzner family (Franz and Bernadette Pratzner)Vinschgau
Founded in 1995 in Naturno on the threshold of Val Venosta when Franz and Bernadette Pratzner gave up apple cultivation for wine. 12 hectares between 550 and 900 metres are planted to Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Gewuerztraminer and Pinot Noir; the Riesling is widely cited as the best south of Germany.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the Naturno estate; the ageing cellars are dug into the rock.
Signature wines: riesling, riesling-alte-reben, riesling-anaduron, sauvignon-blanc, pinot-noir
Tip: Anaduron and Alte Reben Riesling are the limited Riesling library bottlings; buy what is available at the cellar door.
DOC Alto AdigePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewuerztraminer, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Kerner60 haFounded 1880Haas family (Maria Luisa Manna and son Franziskus Haas, after Franz Haas Sr d. 2022)Bassa Atesina
Founded in 1880 in Montagna; Pinot Nero is the focus, with the Schweizer single-vineyard cuvée from Mazzon-area vineyards and Pondedrei from higher elevations. Manna is the signature white blend of Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Kerner and Sauvignon Blanc. Run by Maria Luisa Manna and son Franziskus after Franz Haas Sr's death in February 2022.
Tasting: Reservation tours and tastings at the Montagna cellar, including the Manna and Schweizer cuvees.
Signature wines: schweizer-pinot-nero, manna, pinot-nero-pondedrei, moscato-rosa, lagrein
Tip: The Schweizer Pinot Nero from the Mazzon zone is the cellar's headline red; ask for the side-by-side with Pondedrei.
DOC Alto Adige Pinot NeroPinot Noir, Lagrein, Gewuerztraminer, Chardonnay, Manzoni Bianco5 haFounded 1894Rottensteiner family (Kurt and Johanna Rottensteiner)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDMazon
A historic 5-hectare estate on the Mazzon plateau, certified organic since 2011 and run by Kurt and Johanna Rottensteiner. The flagship Pinot Nero Riserva Mazzon DOC sits among the canonical Italian Pinot Noirs and is sourced exclusively from the Mazzon limestone-sandstone plateau.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the Mazzon Hof; focused Pinot Noir flights.
Signature wines: mazzon-pinot-nero-riserva, pinot-nero, lagrein, gewurztraminer
Tip: Brunnenhof's Mazzon Riserva is a quieter alternative to Hofstaetter's Vigna S. Urbano at a more accessible price; allocations are small.
DOC Alto AdigePinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Gewuerztraminer, Lagrein, Mueller-Thurgau12 haFounded 1861Pfitscher familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDBassa Atesina
Three generations of the Pfitscher family have made wine in Montagna since 1861, with current production led by Klaus Pfitscher across 12 organic hectares. Matan Pinot Nero Riserva is the flagship; the Sauvignon Mathias rounds out the white range.
Tasting: Reservation tastings at the contemporary cellar in Montagna; the Matan Pinot Nero Riserva is the flagship flight.
Signature wines: matan-pinot-nero-riserva, fuxleiten-pinot-nero, mathias-sauvignon, stoffhof-gewurztraminer, saxum-pinot-bianco
Tip: The cellar building itself is a ClimateHouse-certified showcase of low-impact winery design; book the cellar architecture tour alongside the tasting.
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 Adige Lagrein di GriesLagrein, Schiava, Pinot Bianco, Gewuerztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc12 haFounded 1956Rottensteiner family (Hannes Rottensteiner)Bolzano
Founded in 1956 in Bolzano and now run by the third-generation Hannes Rottensteiner. The estate's Lagrein and St. Magdalener bottlings, especially the Select Lagrein Gries Riserva, are the cellar's signature.
Tasting: Reservation tastings at the cellar on Via Sarentino in Bolzano; focused Lagrein and Santa Maddalena flights.
Signature wines: select-lagrein-gries-riserva, lagrein-riserva, premstallerhof-santa-maddalena, cresta-pinot-bianco
Tip: Easy walking distance from central Bolzano; pair the tasting with a Lagrein-and-Speck Stube lunch in Gries.
