Producer: Cantina Kurtatsch
Region: Alto Adige
Appellation: Alto Adige
Country: Italy
Classification: DOC
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 2.2 g/l
Soil: Sand and gravel with dolomite
Farming Practices: Sustainable
CELLAR PROFILE
This organic winery is situated in the picturesque village bearing its name in Alto Adige, nestled in the Southern Alps and Dolomite mountain ranges. Its hand-crafted mountain wines are painstakingly made with as little intervention as possible to best exemplify the unique terroir of the region. These red wine vineyards have some of the hottest daytime temperatures in all of Italy, rising to 40℃ during the summer months, but with a significant drop in temperature in the evening to retain freshness. The whites come from the hamlets of Hofstatt and Penon, with heroic vineyards planted on exceedingly steep mountainsides at elevations up to 2500 ft above sea level. These rocky outcrops have a multitude of geological peculiarities, giving their wines intense, saline-like minerality. These are amongst the most aromatic and flavourful white wines on earth, ranging in style from steely dry to lusciously sweet.
REGION
The region of Trentino-Alto Adige is bordered by East and North Tyrol (Austria) to the northeast and north respectively, by Graubünden (Switzerland) to the northwest and by the Italian regions of Lombardy to the west and Veneto to the south and southeast. It covers 13,607 square kilometres, is extremely mountainous and includes a large part of the Dolomites and the southern Alps. Südtirol (where Cantina Kurtatsch is located) has an area of 7,398 square kilometres, all of it mountainous land covered by vast forests. The climate here is Mediterranean (hot summer, cold winters) owing to the influence of the many mountain ranges (> 3,000 metres above sea level) and the wide valleys through which flow the main river, the Adige, and its numerous tributaries.
VINEYARD
Kofl Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from some of the steepest slopes of Kurtatsch’s white-wine terroirs (480–650 masl). The vines are planted in calcareous alluvial soil with excellent drainage. Streams and rockfalls have carried a rich array of minerals from prehistoric and sedimentary rocks into the clayey soil. The vineyard’s proximity to the overlying mountain range guarantees a comparatively early sunset in the beginning of autumn. The katabatic winds that arise during the evening also ensure continual, natural cooling of the delicate grapes.
WINEMAKING
Hand-harvested from the steep slopes of Kofl, the grapes are macerated on the skins for a few hours before being pressed into stainless steel for a temperature-controlled fermentation. The wine is then transferred into large, neutral oak barrels for aging on its fine lees before release.
TASTING NOTES
Typical aromas of tart white berry with grassy and herbaceous undertones, but there are New World tropical fruit scents as well. The palate is medium-bodied with a fairly good tingle of acidity. Grapefruit, honeydew, elderflower and grassier flavours predominate, all framed by stony minerality. Chill and serve with Chèvre, white asparagus with beurre blanc or tuna salad sandwiches and potato chips.
VARIETIES
Sauvignon Blanc originates from the French regions of Loire Valley and Bordeaux. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words sauvage (“wild”) and blanc (“white”) due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France. Sauvignon Blanc often buds late but ripens early, which allows it to perform well in sunny climates when not exposed to overwhelming heat. This popular and unmistakable white is loved for its “green” herbal flavors and inherently high acidity. Sauvignon Blanc grows nearly every wine making region on earth and is produced in a variety of methods resulting in a wide spectrum of styles that range from lean to bountiful.
