Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This shows deep red and dark berry character with peppery notes, dark chocolate, hibiscus and grapefruit peel. Just a touch of cedar and smoked herbs. Full and concentrated, so steady and dense with vibrant, finely polished tannins and vivid acidity, giving nerve to the wine, highlighting the savory fruit and minerality. Very long and tense. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.
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Vinous
So youthful yet utterly beautiful, the 2020 Teroldego Granato lifts from the glass with an infectiously spicy bouquet, at times autumnal, savory at others, mixed with depths of dark red fruits. This floods the palate with a wave of intense raspberry and wild berries, quickly saturating yet with a hint of sour citrus that provides a lovely balance. A pretty inner sweetness is left to linger, as this finishes structured and remarkably long with a refreshing air of inner rose and wild strawberry that carries on. This is powerful, yet elegant as well, and perfectly balanced for a long evolution.
Beyond the usual suspects, there are hundreds of red grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines, while others are better suited for use as blending grapes. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles, offering much to be discovered by the curious wine lover. In particular, Portugal and Italy are known for having a multitude of unique varieties but they can really be found in any region.
A mountainous northern Italian region heavily influenced by German culture, Trentino-Alto Adige is actually made up of two separate but similar regions: Alto Adige and Trentino.
Trentino, the southern half, is primarily Italian-speaking and largely responsible for the production of non-native, international grapes. There is a significant quantity of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Merlot produced. But Trentino's native and most unique red variety, Teroldego, while still rare, is gaining popularity. It produces a deeply colored red wine rich in wild blackberry, herb, coffee and cocoa.
The rugged terrain of German-speaking Alto Adige (also referred to as Südtirol) focuses on small-scale viticulture, with great value placed on local varieties—though international varieties have been widely planted since the 1800s. Sheltered by the Alps from harsh northerly winds, many of the best vineyards are at extreme altitude but on steep slopes to increase sunlight exposure.
Dominant red varieties include the bold, herbaceous Lagrein and delicate, strawberry-kissed, Schiava, in addition to some Pinot Nero.
The primary white grapes are Pinot grigio, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot blanc, as well as smaller plantings of Sauvignon blanc, Müller Thurgau. These tend to be bright and refreshing with crisp acidity and just the right amount of texture. Some of the highest quality Pinot grigio in Italy is made here.