Quality wines in the spotlight

VINOLITY

South Tyrol is renowned far beyond its borders as a wine-growing region. This is partly due to its unique topography and microclimates, which are ideal for viticulture. It is also down to a long-standing tradition and authenticity in production. The result: almost all wine produced in South Tyrol is a quality wine with a guarantee of origin.

One of the most traditional wine producers south of the Alps is the Terlan Winery in the Adige Valley. Founded as a cooperative towards the end of the 19th century, great importance was placed on the quality of its own wines from the very beginning. And the winery has remained true to this philosophy over the decades.Well aware that the cooperative’s vineyards, situated on porphyry and mineral-rich soils, provide the foundation for exciting and long-lasting wines. Today, the classifications of the estate’s own bottles speak for themselves, divided into the Promo, Rarity, Selection and Tradition ranges.

Naturally, the global market recession in the wine industry is also being felt in Terlan. Caused by climate change and shifting consumer behaviour, economic pressure due to price sensitivity, as well as the confusing and vague political situation. However, it has also become clear that the problems tend to affect products in the low-price segment and mass production; for quality wines, the situation remains relatively stable.

Vinolity

The name says it all. Vinolity – a portmanteau of the words ‘Vino’ and ‘Quality’ – perfectly reflects the concept with which the Terlan Winery positions itself in the market. To this end, it has brought significant partners on board, primarily the neighbouring cooperative of the Andrian Winery, with which it merged back in 2008 and has maintained close cooperation ever since. In addition, there are also some big names from the Italian wine industry. “With Vinolity, the Terlan Winery has created a platform that enables us to promote our products efficiently together with our partners,” says Alex Infante, who is responsible for sales in the Pustertal and the Wipptal.

There is no competition among Vinolity’s partners, but rather many commonalities. They are primarily producers from various regions of Italy who focus on quality. With many years of experience and hard work in the vineyard and cellar, they create unique wines. They stand out thanks to their own terroir, which in Italy, from north to south, is as diverse as its culture, cuisine and agricultural produce. Regionality is more in demand than ever in the wine industry; these wines are unique, influenced by microclimate, grape varieties and vinification methods.

Vinolity Day

Recently, the Terlan Winery invited its partners to an industry event in South Tyrol to present its products to local operators. Invited were experts from the wine industry, restaurateurs, sommeliers and tourism professionals, who were offered the rare opportunity to network with selected producers and wineries. When else does one get the chance to meet prominent winemakers such as Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari, Tenuta La Massa, Mario Marengo, Livio Felluga or Laurent-Perrier, to name but a few.

In addition to the tasting area, there was a rush for two special highlights: the masterclasses featuring exclusive rarities from the Terlan winery and the vertical tasting of the La Massa estate in Tuscany, showcasing different vintages of the ‘Giorgio Primo’ label. The rush was immense; not everyone managed to secure a place in the masterclass.

The fact that Vinolity Day was a resounding success is due in no small part to the venue chosen by the organisers. The hotspot was the “Miil” restaurant in Cermes, with the sensory gardens of the Kränzlhof estate. “Miil” is one of South Tyrol’s trendiest restaurants, having won multiple awards and received high ratings. Head chef Othmar Raich, himself a wine lover, is renowned for his creativity and use of top-quality ingredients. The guests at Vinolity Day were, in any case, absolutely delighted.