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Alto Adige Red Wines

About 35% of South Tyrol's total vineyard area is planted with red grape varieties.

In addition to the two authochthonous vines Vernatsch and Lagrein, also other important classic vines are grown in South Tyrol: Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet too grow in the region.

Almost 35 percent of South Tyrolean wine areas are planted with red varieties. The Vernatsch is still one of the most important vines. It is a typical, fruity-fresh South Tyrolean red wine. However, the big red wines from South Tyrol have been achieving international fame on different occasions: from the full-bodied Lagrein to the expressive Cabernet.

Pinot Noir

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 617 ha

Production area / Mainly the South of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley, Vinschgau.

Description / Pinot noir, known locally as Blauburgunder is ruby to garnet in colour with a firm backbone of tannin, a concentrated aroma and flavour reminiscent of woodland berry fruits and impressive length.

Goes well / With richly flavoured meat dishes, game and piquant hard cheeses.

Serve / 14 - 16° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Blauburgunder, Südtirol Vinschgau Blauburgunder

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 617 ha

Production area / Mainly the South of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley, Vinschgau.

Description / Pinot noir, known locally as Blauburgunder is ruby to garnet in colour with a firm backbone of tannin, a concentrated aroma and flavour reminiscent of woodland berry fruits and impressive length.

Goes well / With richly flavoured meat dishes, game and piquant hard cheeses.

Serve / 14 - 16° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Blauburgunder, Südtirol Vinschgau Blauburgunder

Lagrein

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 545 ha

Production area / Mainly the Bozen valley basin, South of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Adige Valley

Description / Lagrein Kretzer or Rosé is a rose-coloured to light ruby wine, delicately fruity on the nose. On the palate it is delicious with fresh, mouth-watering fruit.

Goes well / With full-flavoured first courses, smoked fish and white meats.

Serve / 16 - 18° C

DOC designation / Südtiroler Lagrein Kretzer or Rosé

Description / Made as a red wine Lagrein is full ruby to dark garnet in colour, with a nose reminiscent of violets and blackberry. On the palate it is full-bodied, velvety and pleasantly bitter.

Goes well / With game, red meat and piquant cheeses.

Serve / At room temperature, 16 - 18° C

DOC designation / Südtiroler Lagrein

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 545 ha

Production area / Mainly the Bozen valley basin, South of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Adige Valley

Description / Lagrein Kretzer or Rosé is a rose-coloured to light ruby wine, delicately fruity on the nose. On the palate it is delicious with fresh, mouth-watering fruit.

Goes well / With full-flavoured first courses, smoked fish and white meats.

Serve / 16 - 18° C

DOC designation / Südtiroler Lagrein Kretzer or Rosé

Description / Made as a red wine Lagrein is full ruby to dark garnet in colour, with a nose reminiscent of violets and blackberry. On the palate it is full-bodied, velvety and pleasantly bitter.

Goes well / With game, red meat and piquant cheeses.

Serve / At room temperature, 16 - 18° C

DOC designation / Südtiroler Lagrein

Vernatsch

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 468 ha

Production area / Alto Adige's entire vineyard area

Description / The Vernatsch grape yields uncomplicated, delicious pale to full ruby red wines low in tannin. The wines are eminently quaffable, mild and fruity often with a delicious almondy aftertaste.

Goes well / With typical Tyrolean afternoon snacks (speck, sausage etc); it is also a favourite 'tavern wine', a perfect match for pasta dishes, pizza, white meats and mild cheeses.

Serve / 12 - 14° C

DOC designations / Kalterer or Kalterersee, Südtirol St. Magdalener, Südtirol Bozner Leiten, Südtirol Meraner, Südtiroler Vernatsch, Südtiroler Grauvernatsch

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 468 ha

Production area / Alto Adige's entire vineyard area

Description / The Vernatsch grape yields uncomplicated, delicious pale to full ruby red wines low in tannin. The wines are eminently quaffable, mild and fruity often with a delicious almondy aftertaste.

Goes well / With typical Tyrolean afternoon snacks (speck, sausage etc); it is also a favourite 'tavern wine', a perfect match for pasta dishes, pizza, white meats and mild cheeses.

Serve / 12 - 14° C

DOC designations / Kalterer or Kalterersee, Südtirol St. Magdalener, Südtirol Bozner Leiten, Südtirol Meraner, Südtiroler Vernatsch, Südtiroler Grauvernatsch

Merlot

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 198 ha

Production area / South of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley

Description / Merlot is originally from Bordeaux in France. In Alto Adige it yields elegant, lightly herbaceous red wines, garnet to dark garnet in colour with an aroma of wild cherry and blackcurrant. On the palate it is full-bodied, velvety and lightly tannic.

Goes well / With game birds, venison and piquant cheeses.

Serve / 14 - 16° C

DOC designation / Südtiroler Merlot

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 198 ha

Production area / South of Alto Adige, Überetsch, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley

Description / Merlot is originally from Bordeaux in France. In Alto Adige it yields elegant, lightly herbaceous red wines, garnet to dark garnet in colour with an aroma of wild cherry and blackcurrant. On the palate it is full-bodied, velvety and lightly tannic.

Goes well / With game birds, venison and piquant cheeses.

Serve / 14 - 16° C

DOC designation / Südtiroler Merlot

Cabernet

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 163 ha

Production area / South of Alto Adige, Überetch, Adige Valley, Bozen valley basin

Description / Cabernet is a full-bodied red wine, garnet to dark garnet in colour, earthy in character, concentrated and lightly tannic on the palate with a complex aroma and flavour embracing blackberry, dried fruits, chocolate, green capsicum, cedar and tobacco.

Goes well / With red meat, game and piquant cheeses.

Serve / At room temperature, 16 - 18° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Cabernet, Südtiroler Cabernet Sauvignon

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 163 ha

Production area / South of Alto Adige, Überetch, Adige Valley, Bozen valley basin

Description / Cabernet is a full-bodied red wine, garnet to dark garnet in colour, earthy in character, concentrated and lightly tannic on the palate with a complex aroma and flavour embracing blackberry, dried fruits, chocolate, green capsicum, cedar and tobacco.

Goes well / With red meat, game and piquant cheeses.

Serve / At room temperature, 16 - 18° C

DOC designations / Südtiroler Cabernet, Südtiroler Cabernet Sauvignon

Rosenmuskateller

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 7 ha

Production area / Überetsch, south of Alto Adige, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley

Description / This variety of Muscat was introduced to Alto Adige from Sicily. It is an elegantly aromatic red dessert wine with a distinctive scent of roses, concentrated and almost always sweet but with good acidity.

Goes well / With a range of puddings and Tyrolean desserts, i.e. poppy-seed strudel and doughnuts.

Serve / 8 - 12° C

DOC designation / Südtiroler Rosenmuskateller

Total area planted in Alto Adige / 7 ha

Production area / Überetsch, south of Alto Adige, Bozen valley basin, Adige Valley

Description / This variety of Muscat was introduced to Alto Adige from Sicily. It is an elegantly aromatic red dessert wine with a distinctive scent of roses, concentrated and almost always sweet but with good acidity.

Goes well / With a range of puddings and Tyrolean desserts, i.e. poppy-seed strudel and doughnuts.

Serve / 8 - 12° C

DOC designation / Südtiroler Rosenmuskateller

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The following red vines grow along the Alto Adige Wine Road

/ all grape varieties /