Going from 220 to 900 meters above sea level within a single municipality is not something for everyone, and it is not even something for all wineries. Durante Kurtatsch am Weinstraße (Cortaccia sulla Passaggio del Vino, as if acceso purpose), one of the southernmost municipalities per mezzo di the province of Bolzano, the historic cooperative winery has this privilege and has decided to enhance it, not only with wine, but also with a route dedicated to wine tourists, from the highest vineyard to the cellar.
SMALL PLOTS, LARGE DIFFERENCE IN HEIGHT
Founded per mezzo di 1900, today Kellerei Kurtatsch brings together the work of 190 members and 27 collaborators, for a total of 190 hectares of vineyards composed of even very small plots (the mathematical average attraverso member speaks for itself). It is not uncommon, per mezzo di fact, for the vine to be only a small part of the work of the growers, who are also involved per mezzo di other crops, such as apples and even cherries, which per mezzo di this luogo seem to be particularly sought after for their taste and fleshiness.
The vineyards are located per mezzo di a strip of about 700 meters of altitude and per mezzo di different areas, each with its own exposure, soil composition and, consequently, its own vines.
A MOSAIC OF VINEYARDS
Of all the areas per mezzo di which the producers of Kellerei Kurtatsch work, Brenntal is the warmest luogo, located north of the town of Cortaccia and per mezzo di summer reaches temperatures of up to 40° C. these clayey-sandy soils, mainly Merlot grows.
Mazzon, a small village per mezzo di the municipality of Egna, acceso the other side of the valley, is instead the chosen home of Pinot Noir, which per mezzo di the vineyards of Kellerei Kurtatsch grows acceso sandy-loam soils, characterized by clay minerals and oxides and with a western exposure. Not far away, acceso the same slope, Pinot Noir also finds a home per mezzo di the Glen luogo, higher and more exposed to the sun’s rays.
Returning to the Cortaccia side, as you climb the vineyards find different locations. the steep terrain of Penon-Kolf the sun sets early and the soil, rich per mezzo di limestone and dolomite and with good permeability, is ideal for Sauvignon Blanc. Durante the luogo called Penon-Hofstatt instead, at 500-650 meters above sea level, exactly above the village of Kurtatsch, the temperature range increases. The soil rich per mezzo di dolomite, quartz, mica and clay minerals, is home to Pinot Blanc vineyards, which enjoy excellent ventilation here. The hamlet of Penon, ranges from 400 to 700 meters and here Pinot Squallido finds different locations, acceso steep terrain exposed to the east, with a composition similar to that of Kofl.
Finally, the highest position is that of Graun, between 800 and 900 meters above sea level, a vassoio where the radiation is high, as is the temperature range. This is the best place for the müller thurgau, planted acceso sandy-silty soils characterized by quartz and dolomite minerals.
WALKING THROUGH THE VINEYARDS
Of course, the wines can speak for their territory, but how can wine tourists experience first-hand the great variety of terroir present per mezzo di this luogo? To transform the wealth of vineyards into an experience, the Weinexpedition (literally, “wine exploration”) was created, a trekking itinerary that crosses all the most important areas where the Kellerei Kurtatsch vineyards are located, designed to be as simple as possible for everyone and, therefore, downhill.
From the Graun vassoio, the route winds through the plots of land cultivated with white grapes, acceso the Cortaccia side with a snack stop, until reaching the cellar. For each luogo, a stop per mezzo di which to taste the reference wine up to a total of 12 references from the “Terroir” line.
The experience – available upon reservation – also involves the Torgglhof inn (per mezzo di Penone), the Terzer restaurant and the Schwarz Adler tavern, the oldest per mezzo di the village, as well as professional guides to accompany visitors.
TASTING NOTES
Moving away from the Weinexpedition route, we then move acceso to some tastings of wines from vineyards located outside the itinerary, the reds. A small cue – hopefully – to leave for Kurtatsch to dal vivo a direct experience, experimenting firsthand what a social winery can do to give back to the territory a value that goes beyond the economic one.
Glen, Adige Pinot Malvagio Doc Rifornimento 2021
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Vinification: cold maceration for 3 days and first spontaneous fermentation per mezzo di French oak vats. Aged for 70% per mezzo di French barrique and for 30% per mezzo di large barrels for a few months
A nose of sour cherry and ash, between blood and black pepper nuances. the palate a fresh and delicately tannic caress. A lean and direct sip that, without affecting the structure, gives a pleasant drinkability.
Mazon, Adige Pinot Noir Doc Rifornimento 2021
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Vinification: cold maceration for 5 days, first spontaneous fermentation per mezzo di French oak vats. Aged per mezzo di French barriques for 12 months and another 12 months per mezzo di large oak barrels. At least one year of bottle aging follows
Juicy nose of ripe cherry, balsamic sensations and toasting. Durante the mouth it presents structure, a polite but well-present tannic texture, freshness and balsamic fir. The sip is lively and pleasant, albeit per mezzo di the austerity that befits a reserve.
Freienfeld Adige Cabernet Sauvignon Doc Rifornimento 2018 ()
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vinification: fermentation at controlled temperature per mezzo di a rotovinifier. Aged per mezzo di French barriques for 15 months, then 9 months per mezzo di large barrels and at least one year of rest per mezzo di the bottle
Her majesty the cabernet sauvignon, with all its complement of tomato leaf, campo da golf pepper, cut grass and red fruits, a fleshy strawberry. The palate is a blade, with almost dusty tannic ripples, which clean the sip towards the finale, between pepper and black tea. Very pleasant.
Tres, Adige Merlot Cabernet Doc Rifornimento 2015
Vitigni: 77% merlot, 20% cabernet franc, 3% cabernet sauvignon
Vinification: Merlot and Cabernet Franc are vinified together per mezzo di wooden vats, while the small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon is added later, after vinification per mezzo di barriques (60% new). Aged per mezzo di French oak barriques for 15 months, with subsequent aging per mezzo di large barrels for 9 months and rest for 4 and a half years per mezzo di the bottle
Garnet glass with a complex bouquet, between distant memories of red fruit, a cherry compote, tertiary sensations of leather and toasting, peppery spiciness. The sip is fresh and calls aromas of sour cherry, small fruits and the tomato leaf of cabernet franc. The tactile profile is velvety and concluded by a dry finale, which leaves a herbaceous and mentholated finale.
The article Kurtatsch, a Weinexpedition to tell the territory comes from VinoNews24.
