Lighter, elegant, fashionable wines emerge after a difficult rising season in Alto Adige
June 17, 2025 (Bolzano, Italy) — With the discharge on the US market of the 2024 classic of many Alto Adige wines, the Consorzio Alto Adige Wines has not too long ago gathered some attention-grabbing information in regards to the classic and its distinctive traits.
The general 2024 classic in Alto Adige introduced appreciable challenges for winegrowers, leading to diminished yields in a number of areas. But, regardless of these difficulties, expectations for this classic stay exceptionally excessive. The wines promise to be lighter, elegant, and distinctly fashionable, showcasing the area’s longstanding dedication to high quality.
A Yr Marked by Climate Extremes
Climate information affirm that 2024 was one of the crucial difficult rising seasons in latest reminiscence. An unusually gentle winter gave option to an early bud break round March 20, however this was quickly adopted by a pointy frost a month later, inflicting widespread harm throughout vineyards. The spring continued to check growers with cool, cloudy situations that restricted photosynthesis, resulting in fewer grape clusters and smaller berry measurement.
“The lowest yields have been recorded for Lagrein, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Grigio, whereas Schiava, Merlot, and Riesling have been extra resilient throughout flowering,” famous Hansjörg Hafner of Alto Adige’s Advisory Council for Fruit and Winegrowing. In Valle Isarco, Andreas Huber of Pacher Hof in Novacella close to Bressanone, reported yield losses starting from 15 to 70 %, whereas Martin Lemayr, cellar grasp at Cantina Colterenzio, shared that some plots skilled complete crop losses.
Difficult Yr, Delayed Harvest
The meteorological challenges of 2024 meant that the harvest in Alto Adige befell later than ordinary, with frequent interruptions as a consequence of rain. “The delay gave us a little bit of respiratory room,” mentioned Huber with a smile. “It was a demanding yr that required persistence, flexibility, and fixed vigilance within the vineyards.” In hail-affected areas, grapes have been fastidiously sorted by hand to make sure solely the most effective fruit made it to the cellar.
Frost and humidity added to the yr’s challenges. Veronika Pfeifer of Pfannenstielhof in Bolzano confirmed the difficulties growers confronted: “This classic required not solely exact and cautious handbook labor within the winery, but in addition flexibility and well timed decision-making.”
Pinot Varieties Shine
Due to cautious cover administration and rigorous sorting, grape high quality remained excessive regardless of the quantity losses. Pinot varieties—significantly Pinot Nero—stood out, reaching perfect ripeness and well being. Martin Lemayr‘s evaluation of the Pinot Nero from the 2024 classic was subsequently correspondingly optimistic:”It’s characterised by contemporary fruit aromas similar to raspberry and bitter cherry and has a really clear, vibrant and luminous color. The wines are decrease in residual sugar and present nice freshness, class, and a high quality tannin construction.”
Alternatively, late-ripening, tannin-rich reds confronted the best challenges. Reaching full maturity required impeccable timing and distinctive care throughout harvest. “Some 2024 particular Reserves weren’t produced this yr, as just a few vineyards reached full ripeness,” Lemayr added.
Deal with Native Grapes
Amongst Alto Adige’s native reds, Schiava wines carried out comparatively effectively, displaying barely decrease alcohol ranges than in earlier years. Veronika Pfeifer summarized the classic’s profile as “contemporary, fruity, and high quality.” The area’s second most vital native purple selection, Lagrein, was extra affected by opposed climate situations—significantly frost and poor flowering—which led to considerably diminished yields. Nonetheless, Pfeifer described the wines as “harmonious, easy, and velvety.”
White Wines Profit from Cool Situations: Recent Fruit and Finesse
In distinction to reds, Alto Adige’s whites seem to have benefited from the season’s cooler situations. “Cool September climate enhanced taste improvement, leading to freshness, fruit and finesse,” mentioned Andreas Huber. Noble rot and damp climate contributed to distinctive high quality, particularly for Riesling, Kerner, and Sylvaner from Valle Isarco. “We’re very assured in regards to the 2024 classic”, Huber added, “Low yields and prolonged ripening laid the inspiration for wines with distinctive finesse and ageing potential.”
Lemayr echoed this optimism: “Whites like Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc reveal high quality, contemporary fruit and a chic, delicate construction. Fragrant varieties similar to Sauvignon Blanc present exact, cool, barely greenish aromas and a well-integrated, balanced acidity. Decrease alcohol ranges make these wines even extra approachable and pleasing.”
About The Consorzio Alto Adige Wines
The Consorzio Alto Adige Wines was shaped in 2007 to advertise and strengthen the picture of the wines from Alto Adige. Considered one of Italy’s smallest wine-producing areas, Alto Adige can be one in every of its most multifaceted. Twenty grape varieties are cultivated on vineyards stretching from Mediterranean-influenced valleys to Alpine hillsides, tended by particular person growers, small family-wineries, and cooperatives alike.
