Our last stop in Alto Adige was at Kellerei Cantina Terlan. Alto Adige wine country in northeastern Italy, near the Austrian border was a new discovery for me.
Kellerei Cantina Terlan is a unique Alto Adige winery, which produces 70% white wines and 30% red wines. They produce three wine series, all with D.O.C. status. What is particularly unique about Terlan is that it specializes in old vintage white wines. Its rare wine cellar has over 18,000 bottles, with vintages for every year from 1955, and some older vintages. The Terlan winery was founded in 1893. Today it has 120 members in the co-operative.
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Kellerei Cantina Terlan © Spaswinefood
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During our visit Klaus Gasser provided us with an overview of Cantina Terlan. This was followed by an introduction to each wine tasted. At Kellerei Cantina Terlan we did a vertical tasting of vintages from 1959 to 2010.
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All set up for wine tasting at Kellerei Cantina Terlan © Spaswinefood
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Pinot Bianco: Pinot Bianco 2010, Vorberg Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva 2009, Vorberg Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva 2006 (Magnum bottle), Vorberg Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva 2004 (Magnum bottle), Vorberg Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva 1999 (Magnum bottle), Terlano Pinot Bianco 1987 and Terlano Pinot Bianco 1959
What an amazing tasting of Pinot Bianco it was. Katie Meyers talked about the wines in this impressive fifty year range of Pinot Bianco (see photo). It was a new experience for me to taste old vintage white wine wines. I always had the impression that white wines do not age well. My visit to Terlan has challenged that conception. I have only recently heard it said that you can not talk about Italian white wines, without using Vorberg in the sentence. Now, I have done it. Check out this video of Victor Rallo and Anthony Verdoni treking in Terlan's vineyards and tasting Terlano Pinot Bianco 1959.
Terlaner (a traditional blend of 60% Pinot Bianco, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc): Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 2008, Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 2005 (Magnum bottle), Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 2003 (Magnum bottle), Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 1999 (Magnum bottle) and Terlaner 1986
Gewürztraminer: Lunare Gewürztraminer 2009
Pinot Noir: Montigl Pinot Noir Riserva 2009
I remembered the Montigl Pinot Noir Riserva 2009 from lunch at Seehofkeller.
Lagrein: Indengious, red grape variety unique to this region: Porphyr Lagrein Riserva 2008 and Porphyr Lagrein Riserva 2002 (Magnum bottle)
Chardonnay
Kreuth Terlano Chardonnay 2009, Terlano Chardonnay 1998, Terlano Chardonnay 1996 and Terlano Chardonnay 1994
Sauvignon: Quarz Terlano Sauvignon 2009, Quarz Terlano Sauvignon 2008 (Magnum bottle), Quarz Terlano Sauvignon 2006 (Magnum bottle) and Terlano Sauvignon 1991
The above vertical tasting was a great introduction to Terlan wines. Alexandra Corvo did excellent tasting notes on the wines tasted during our during European Wine Bloggers Conference visit. Above all, for me it was a unique experience to taste the Terlano Pinot Bianco 1959. Valerie at WineDog Review shared a similar perspective. What a way to end a wine tasting tour of Alto Adige!
What an amazing tasting of Pinot Bianco it was. Katie Meyers talked about the wines in this impressive fifty year range of Pinot Bianco (see photo). It was a new experience for me to taste old vintage white wine wines. I always had the impression that white wines do not age well. My visit to Terlan has challenged that conception. I have only recently heard it said that you can not talk about Italian white wines, without using Vorberg in the sentence. Now, I have done it. Check out this video of Victor Rallo and Anthony Verdoni treking in Terlan's vineyards and tasting Terlano Pinot Bianco 1959.
Terlaner (a traditional blend of 60% Pinot Bianco, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc): Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 2008, Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 2005 (Magnum bottle), Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 2003 (Magnum bottle), Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 1999 (Magnum bottle) and Terlaner 1986
Gewürztraminer: Lunare Gewürztraminer 2009
Pinot Noir: Montigl Pinot Noir Riserva 2009
I remembered the Montigl Pinot Noir Riserva 2009 from lunch at Seehofkeller.
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| Montigl Pinot Noir Riserva 2009 © Spaswinefood |
Chardonnay
Kreuth Terlano Chardonnay 2009, Terlano Chardonnay 1998, Terlano Chardonnay 1996 and Terlano Chardonnay 1994
Sauvignon: Quarz Terlano Sauvignon 2009, Quarz Terlano Sauvignon 2008 (Magnum bottle), Quarz Terlano Sauvignon 2006 (Magnum bottle) and Terlano Sauvignon 1991
The above vertical tasting was a great introduction to Terlan wines. Alexandra Corvo did excellent tasting notes on the wines tasted during our during European Wine Bloggers Conference visit. Above all, for me it was a unique experience to taste the Terlano Pinot Bianco 1959. Valerie at WineDog Review shared a similar perspective. What a way to end a wine tasting tour of Alto Adige!
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The pouring of Terlano Pinot Bianco 1959 © Spaswinefood
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Terlano Pinot Bianco 1959 © Spaswinefood
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A post by Wolfgang M. Weber in San Francisco Chronicle talks about wines from Alto Adige, as does Jordan MacKay and K Salon. Alto Adige wine country produces some of the most impressive DOC white wines in Italy. It also produces some reds and sparkling wines as well. An article by The Institute of The Masters of Wine talks about the significance of this wine region, only one third the size of Napa. Specifically, the institute notes that 98% of the wines from this small region, has been given DOC status. Also, worthy of note is that 70% wines are produced by family cooperatives, with the remaining 30% by wine estates and independent growers.
Not only does this region have great wines, you will also find excellent restaurants and hotels in Alto Adige. This makes Alto Adige a popular area for agritourism.
Not only does this region have great wines, you will also find excellent restaurants and hotels in Alto Adige. This makes Alto Adige a popular area for agritourism.
Special thanks to Judith Unterholzner and our Alto Adige hosts at Kellerei Cantina Terlan for introducing us to their wine world. Check out my other posts on Alto Adige and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
Sharon!
ReplyDeleteThis post is like wine-porn for me! Great post about Old White Wine. I really love hearing about the greatness that white wine can show with age, but a 1959 Pinot Bianco!?! I am so jealous!
Looks like I'm going to have to get myself up to Terlan since it "specializes in old vintage white wines" and do a little diggin for my blog, OldWhiteWine.com!
Yes, it is an amazing wine. In fact this region has some impressive wines!!
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