Winemaker Notes
Terlan Winkl Sauvignon Blanc is an intensive straw yellow with a delicate green shimmer. Ripe fruit aromas of apricot, mandarin and passion fruit mingle with elements of elderberry, gooseberry and mint. The fruitiness continues on the palate in combination with a fine acidity. The wine scores with a good structure and a minerally but at the same time aromatic finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Always a great buy, the Cantina Terlano 2021 Alto Adige Terlano Sauvignon Winkl is fragrant and floral with punchy aromas that pop from the glass. You definitely know that you are in front of a Sauvignon Blanc, but unlike some of the New Wold expressions that focus on green notes of kiwi and tomato leaf, this wine has a very crystalline or white personality with limestone, lychee and crisp pear. If you love this grape, you get your money's worth here. The wine is made mostly in stainless steel, with a tiny 20% that goes into barrel for eight months. Best after 2022.
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James Suckling
A very classic Alto Adige sauvignon blanc with tons of yellow-grapefruit aroma, but also many herbal and sweet vegetal (think green bean, asparagus, etc.) notes. Juicy and vibrant, but also well-structured, this has impressive depth at the bright finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of candied lemon and orange zest lead the way on this vibrant alpine Sauvignon Blanc. As the wine develops in the glass, aromas of wild mint, jalapeño and crush rocks interplay with the fruit fragrances. The palate is juicy, driven by mandarin orange, lime, and tropical fruit flavors, finishing with bright acidity and distinct mineral undertones.
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Vinous
The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Winkl is intense, with a boisterous mix of sour grapefruit, tangerine, ginger and savory herbs. It's juicy yet salty in character, with vibrant acids accelerating its notes of tart melon and sour apple. This tapers off with a bitter twang of citrus and exotic floral tones and leaves the palate crisply refreshed.
Located in the Dolomite Mountains in the foothills of the Alps, Terlano's distinctive location and extraordinary terroir are key to the development of their stunning, world-renowned wines. Situated in a sheltered hollow, Terlano benefits from an ideal south-facing exposure. Vineyard slopes ranging from 250m-900m ASL provide perfect conditions for the cultivation of grapes, especially Lagrein, a variety that is indigenous to the Alto Adige region. In the vineyard, red porphyry rocks with high mineral content retain the day's warmth, while the porous soil creates an environment with just enough moisture for the roots to extend deeper into this mineral-rich soil. In combination with cool evening temperatures, these factors create wines of incredible depth and potential for aging.
Founded in 1893, Cantina Terlano has grown into one of the leading wine growers' cooperatives in the Alto Adige region of northeastern Italy. With a current membership of 143 growers farming a total area of 165 hectares, Terlano ensures the highest standards of quality by compensating growers for the quality of their grapes not the quantity. The emphasis in the vineyard is on reducing yield in favor of producing more concentrated fruit.
Terlano produces 70 percent white wines and 30 percent red wines, all of them of DOC quality designation. Following a winery renovation in 2009, the cellars now include a total of 18,000m of storage space, which ensures that the wines can develop undisturbed. On the outside, the building has a natural exterior of red porphyry, the stone that gives the wines in the area their typical character. The roof of the winery is planted with vines so that the building blends in completely with the surrounding countryside.
Terlano wines are classified in four distinct quality lines: Tradition, Selection, Rarity and Primo. Terlano wines are famous for their incredible depth and complexity and their stellar reputation continues to make these wines highly sought after both at home and internationally.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
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.