Alto Adige
JUNE 2023
From the above photo, you'd think you were in a village in Austria... and you would have been prior to World War I. But in the re-writing of borders after the first World War, this part of Austria (known as Südtirol in German), became the northernmost region in Italy: Alto Adige.
Today, Austria's cultural influence continues in this bi-lingual part of Italy, with 62% of the locals speaking German as their first language. You'll see dirndls and other forms of traditional dress from the Südtirol. You can easily order yourself up some knödel. And you are surrounded by the mountains of the southern Alps. It would be easy to get confused!
The region's strategic, historic position is on display with castles and fortress ruins high on surrounding hilltops as you wind your way through the river valley, steep vineyards on either side. It's a magical place featuring delicious, interesting, native grapes that you may be meeting for the first time.
The 2-bottle club members get two indigenous reds: Lagrein & Vernatsch. Our 3-bottle club members will have the pleasure of a Pinot Bianco, a minerally white traditionally grown in this area as well. We have been big fans of the wines from Südtirol since we opened 20 years ago. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
2-BOTTLE CLUB
Muri-Gries Abbey
"In 1845 the Benedictines moved from Muri in Switzerland to Gries in South Tyrol, where the order took over the Augustinian monastery. In so doing, they inherited a long tradition of wine-growing, which they nurtured in the spirit of a symbiosis of monastery, winery and estate that is still very much in evidence today. The result, in the 21st century, is a range of top-quality wines from MURI-GRIES like the Abtei Muri line, which has been produced from selected grapes from the very best sites since 1989." --notes from the winery which is run as a part of the monastery
The winery makes a whole line of varietals, but the autochthonous grape Lagrein is their specialty, saying that they have a "clear long-standing commitment to Lagrein as a native grape variety. It is a commitment to sustainable working with a variety that feels very much at home in our monastery vineyards and flourishes accordingly." The have Lagrein vines that are approaching 100 years old.
Muri-Gries 2021 Lagrein
Alto Adige, Italy // Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
100% Lagrein with a short maturation in oak casks. Violet perfume on the nose with some earth & sand. Flavors of black raspberries, blackberries, blueberries with spicy notes. Peppery, spicy, earthy finish. Medium-bodied. Good acid. Not super dry. Delicious now. Great in 2 years. The winery suggests pairing this wine with all kinds of roasted & grilled meats or a juicy entrecôte with herbed butter.
Photo: Walter Bernard, viticulturist & Christian Werth, enologist
Weingut Castelfeder
Thirty kilometers down the valley from the Muri-Gries Abbey is the Castelfeder Winery, run for three generations by the Giovanett family. Similar to Muri-Gries, they produce wines from a wide range of their estate grapes including whites (Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Müller Thurgau, Kerner, Gewürztraminer & Sauvignon) and reds (award-winning Pinot Nero, Lagrein, Vernatsch & more). Their winery is located in the village of Cortona with its tiny village square pictured top with the local band.
Weingut Castelfeder 2021 Schiava Alte Reben
Alto Adige, Italy // Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
100% Vernatsch (Schiava in Italian) from old vines (some more than 80 years old) grown in limestone/gravel soils. Harvest pictured above. Stainless-steel aged. No oak.
Lots of je ne sais quoi with this delicious wine which is so fun! Wild strawberries, red forest berries on the nose. More cherries, blackberries on the palate. Silky smooth, light, flavorful fruit. Soft earthy depth. A note of blood orange rind acidity on the fresh finish.
Drink now to 2 years. Served slightly chilled in summer. Enjoy as an aperitif or with speck & other charcuterie, appetizers, summer pasta dishes, rotisserie chicken.
3-BOTTLE CLUB
Muri-Gries 2021 Pinot Bianco
Alto Adige, Italy // Reg $25.99 | Mixed Case $20.79
100% Pinot Bianco. Aromas of wildflowers, apple, chamomile. Apple, pear, citrus, nectarine on the palate. Tongue-tingling acidity. Fresh finish with minerals & hazelnuts. Superb wine!
We have been huge fans of this little known region since we opened 20 years ago! Hope you enjoy these wines as much as we do!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop & J. Strecker Selections