DOC Alto Adige Valle IsarcoSylvaner, Riesling, Gruener Veltliner, Gewuerztraminer5 haFounded 1990Pliger family (Peter and Brigitte Pliger)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDValle Isarco
Peter and Brigitte Pliger bottled their first vintage in 1990 above Brixen at Kuenhof, the Valle Isarco grower-estate. 5 hectares of organic vineyards on Eisacktal slopes produce Sylvaner Kaiton, Riesling Kaiton and the rare Gewuerztraminer from the valley's far north.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the family Hof above Brixen; very limited release sizes.
Signature wines: sylvaner-kaiton, riesling-kaiton, gruner-veltliner, gewurztraminer
Tip: The Kaiton Sylvaner consistently lands at the top of Eisacktal Sylvaner tastings; allocations are minimal so buy what you can at the cellar.
DOC Alto Adige Valle IsarcoSylvaner, Kerner, Gruener Veltliner, Mueller-Thurgau, Gewuerztraminer7 haFounded 1981Baumgartner family (Hannes Baumgartner)Valle Isarco
Hannes Baumgartner farms 7 hectares on the slopes around Novacella, with cellar walls dating back to the 11th century. The estate produces principally white wines from Eisacktal classics: Sylvaner, Kerner, Gruener Veltliner and Mueller-Thurgau.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the Hof in Unterrain near Novacella; white-wine focus.
Signature wines: sylvaner, kerner, gruner-veltliner, muller-thurgau
Tip: Strasserhof's Kerner shows the Valle Isarco's signature steel-fruited style; ask about the cooperative cellar tour they sometimes run with Novacella.
DOC Alto Adige Valle IsarcoSylvaner, Kerner, Mueller-Thurgau, Gruener Veltliner, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Gewuerztraminer8 haFounded 1142Huber family (Andreas Huber)Valle Isarco
A 1000-year-old Hof on the south-facing slopes above Brixen near Novacella, family-run for 800 years. Winemaker Andreas Huber farms 8 hectares between 620 and 700 metres for eight white varieties; Sylvaner Alte Reben is the flagship. The estate also runs a hotel within the historic walls.
Tasting: Reservation tastings and an attached hotel at Pacherhof in Neustift; combined wine + hospitality stay is the signature.
Signature wines: sylvaner-alte-reben, kerner, muller-thurgau, veltliner, riesling
Tip: Combine a multi-day stay at the Pacherhof hotel with cellar tastings; the historic 11th-century vaulted cellar is open to overnight guests.
DOC Alto Adige Valle IsarcoGruener Veltliner, Sylvaner, Mueller-Thurgau, Kerner, Gewuerztraminer, Pinot Noir4 haFounded 2002Kerschbaumer family (Christian Kerschbaumer)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDValle Isarco
Christian Kerschbaumer farms 4 organic hectares in Feldthurns above the Eisacktal, producing five whites and the only Pinot Noir made in the South Tyrolean Eisacktal valley. UK critic Stuart Pigott has highlighted the Veltliner in his Eisacktal coverage.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the Hof in Feldthurns above Chiusa.
Signature wines: gruner-veltliner, gruner-veltliner-leichtigkeit, sylvaner, blauburgunder
Tip: Small allocations and a panoramic view of the Eisacktal; book several weeks ahead and ask for the Veltliner-and-Sylvaner comparison.
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.
