In the glass
Aroma: mango, papaya, lime, lemongrass
Palate: red grapefruit, gooseberry, salty minerality, flint
Cantina Terlano's single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from sandy quartz-rich soils above Terlano, first vintage 1991. Full-bodied, exotic-fruited and intensely saline, with nine months on the lees split between large oak and stainless steel.
What it pairs with
-
Grilled Mediterranean white fish
Quarz's saline minerality and citrus echo grilled sea bass or branzino; full body suits firm fish. -
Thai green curry
Lemongrass, lime and tropical fruit notes mirror the curry's aromatics; high acidity cuts the coconut. -
Asparagus risotto
Sauvignon Blanc is asparagus's natural pairing; the wine's full body and salinity match the risotto's creaminess.
History
Cantina Terlano launched Quarz in the early 1990s as the cellar's flagship Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from a single parcel on sandy quartz-rich porphyry. The wine's name references the quartz inclusions in the volcanic soils that give it its mineral signature.
- 1991 — First Quarz Sauvignon Blanc vintage released
Facts
- Producer
- Cantina Terlano
- Grapes
- Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
- Classification
- DOC Alto Adige Terlano Sauvignon
- Oak
- Nine months on the lees, partly in large oak barrels (50%) and partly in stainless steel (50%)
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 50 to 75 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5 to 20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1991
Frequently asked about Quarz Sauvignon Blanc
What does Quarz Sauvignon Blanc taste like?
Mango, papaya, lime and lemongrass on the nose; red grapefruit, gooseberry, salty minerality and flint on the palate. Full-bodied, dry, with high acidity and a long mineral finish.
When should I drink Quarz?
Drink between 5 and 20 years from vintage. Quarz is unusual among Sauvignon Blancs in its ageing capacity; mature bottles develop honey, beeswax and intense saline complexity.
Why is it called Quarz?
The Quarz vineyard sits on Terlano's sandy quartz-rich porphyry soils. The quartz inclusions in the volcanic bedrock give the wine its distinctive flint and saline mineral character.
What food pairs with Quarz?
Grilled Mediterranean white fish, Thai green curry, or asparagus risotto. The wine's full body, exotic fruit and salinity suit rich seafood and aromatic Asian dishes.