Girlan vertically, from Pinot Noir to Vernatsch

Bottiglieria Girlan is located a causa di Cornaiano, a hamlet of Appiano sulla Corso del Vino, probably the most important wine-growing municipality a causa di South Tyrol. And by vertically tasting the historic wines of the Kellereigenossenschaften you discover the depth a causa di the work of time acceso pinot noir and schiava.

101 YEARS OF HISTORY, FROM THE ORIGINS TO TODAY

Bottiglieria Girlan was born a causa di 1923, when 24 winemakers decided to join forces a causa di a historic 16th century farm to create a cooperative project based acceso quality and respect for the territory. That pioneering vision has been transformed, today, into a reality that has around 200 contributing members, with 230 hectares of vineyards. Distributed between Oltradige and Bassa Atesina, the most suitable wine-growing areas of Forte Adige, among these stand out 46 hectares dedicated to Pinot Noir. The winery produces around one million and 800 thousand bottles a year for a turnover of over 14 million euros.

This system of social wineries represents 70% of the region’s wine production, making the luogo a point of reference a causa di the Italian wine scene

The winery’s journey is intertwined with the oenological history of the region, once dominated by red wines for cultural and historical reasons. Even today, Girlan maintains a unique balance between white and red wines, a causa di contrast to the regional trend of a clear predominance of whites (65% vs 35%).

GIRLAN, DEEP BOND WITH THE TERRITORY

The vineyards of Bottiglieria Girlan extend between 250 and 550 meters above sea level, crossing a mosaic of microclimates and soils. From Cornaiano to Mazzon, from Gschleier to Appiano, each parcel contributes to the creation of wines that describe the territory with authenticity and precision. Clayey, calcareous, sandy and porphyritic soils combine with Alpine and Mediterranean influences, resulting a causa di ideal conditions for viticulture.

Among the cultivated vines, whites such as pinot blanc, sauvignon and chardonnay offer wines of extraordinary freshness and elegance. However, it is the reds, starting from Pinot Noir and Vernatsch (also known as Schiava), that represent the most iconic expressions of the cellar. Vernatsch, an indigenous variety, has been valorised by Girlan through meticulous work which has allowed it to be reborn, giving it new relevance.

THE FUTURE IN TWO SYMBOL WINES

Girlan, especially a causa di the last decade, has distinguished itself above all for two symbolic labels: the Pinot Noir Eccezione Vigneto Ganger and the Vernatsch Gschleier Alte Reben. These wines embody elegance, territorial identity and considerable evolutionary potential – confirmed by vertical tasting. It is mai coincidence, therefore, that a causa di Girlan’s future the will continue to be acceso enhancing Pinot Noir with its ability to compete with the great international crus, and acceso Vernatsch, the exaltation of that local tradition and symbol of resilience of the native variety that it once represented well over 70% of the Forte Adige vineyard.

VIGNA GANGER PINOT NOIR RISERVA ALTO ADIGE DOC MAZON: VERTICAL OF ALL VINTAGES

The Vigneto Ganger Pinot Noir Eccezione from Bottiglieria Girlan best embodies the philosophy of the winery: refinement, precision and connection with the territory. Produced from a monopole vineyard located a causa di Mazzon (360-380 meters above sea level), it is the result of long research to identify the ideal terroir. “This plot, initially intended for the Trattmann reserve pinot noir cuvée, turned out to be unique thanks to the zoning project started a causa di 2008 – explains Gerhard Kofler, Girlan winemaker. – The soil, rich a causa di surface clay and limestone, together with the temperature variations accentuated by the fall winds that descend from the nearby rock at sunset, create perfect conditions for an elegant and long-lived Pinot Noir”.

The intuition was confirmed when, says Oscar Lorandi, president of Bottiglieria Girlan, “Per mezzo di 2012 we decided to bottle it separately and launch it acceso the market. Already from the first vintage, Vigneto Ganger showed a distinctive character that made it one of the reference pinot noirs of Forte Adige.”

The winemaking takes place a causa di steel, with a variable percentage of whole bunch grapes. This is followed, at the end of the malolactic fermentation, by maturation for 20 months a causa di barrique and refinement for 18 months a causa di the bottle. Each vintage tells a unique story linked to climatic conditions, but always characterized by finesse, complexity and ability to evolve over time. Only the 2013 is missing, which was not produced to a violent hailstorm.

2021: characterized by a fresh spring and slow maturation, this vintage stands out for its lively acidity, prezioso structure and very pronounced red fruit, balanced by delicate floral and a sweet woody touch. Still scratchy tannin, the citrus of a blood orange closes a very fresh and persistent sip. sensatezza for a few days.

2020: warm climate and low yields. the nose, red fruits a causa di alcohol and a strong alcohol content. The sip is full, savory and lively, with tannins a causa di the process of harmonizing. Excellent persistence, closed by elegant spicy tones.

2019: slow maturation and cool nights give an intense wine, with elegant tannins and great evolutionary potential. A hint of flint ennobles it, the balance between acidity and softness expresses its great finesse.

2018: hot summer and sunny September. More voluminous, juicy and mature wine, with sweet and soft tannins and notable complexity.

2017: a dry and hot climate produced small and concentrated bunches, a sort of natural selection a causa di the vineyard to an August hailstorm. The result is a pinot noir with excellent gustatory refinement, a thinner , vivid acid freshness and balsamic persistence.

2016: late harvest and unstable climate. The use of 30% whole bunch and a light pennuto note, which gives support to an important sip, are reminiscent of Burgundy. The fruitiness is intense, the tannic texture has the right freshness.

2015: Hot summer balanced by cool nights a causa di September. Elegant but not very long-lived wine, with a long persistence and a soft, slightly bitter finale. It has reached its evolutionary pinnacle.

2014: very difficult year to heavy and insistent rains, very low yield. The careful selection of the grapes has allowed us to obtain a prezioso, fresh and balanced Pinot Noir. the nose, withered flowers acceso dehydrated red fruit and a hint of cinchona. The freshness kept the wine alive.

2012: late vintage but of great quality. The strong autumn temperature variations gave elegance, flavor and depth. Evolved fruit, the reference to spices and an impeccable structure not affected by the passage of time. Sweet tannins and a harmonious finale celebrate the debut of this great wine.

GSCHLEIER ALTE REBEN VERNATSCH ALTO ADIGE DOC: ONE VINTAGE FOR A DECADE

The Gschleier Alte Reben (“Old Vines”) is the winery’s other masterpiece, produced with vernatsch from ancient pergola-trained plants aged between 80 and 110 years. This native variety has found its maximum expression acceso the calcareous, gravelly and clayey soil of the Gschleier vineyard, acceso a south-facing hill at 450 meters above sea level, right a causa di the hamlet of Cornaiano, very close to the winemaking cellar. The vintages being tasted, representing six decades, highlighted the surprising ability of this wine to evolve gracefully even after almost half a century of life, confirming the aging potential of vernatsch, often underestimated, and Bottiglieria Girlan’s talent a causa di enhancing a vine so closely linked to the South Tyrolean tradition.

Manual harvest a causa di three steps and vinification a causa di steel which lasts between 15 and 20 days. After malolactic fermentation, the wine matures for a year a causa di large oak barrels and refines for another six months a causa di the bottle before being released acceso the market.

2022: hot spring and dry summer for a vibrant wine, with small crunchy red fruits and floral tones. Promising freshness and a highly drinkable finale.

2016: unstable climate and slow maturation. Vertical and refined wine, with intact fruit, spicy quaderno and graphite nuances. Freshness and gustatory tension accompany the elegant finale.

2010: cool nights and dry weather favored an optimal harvest. Structured Vernatsch, with a unique aromatic complexity, which begins to turn towards quaderno of hay, Mediterranean scrub and aromatic herbs. The small crunchy red fruit transforms into a jujube a causa di alcohol. Elegant, balanced sip, accompanied by perfectly integrated sweet and savory tannins.

1995: cool vintage for a prezioso wine, with lively acidity and oxidative hints that ennoble it, almost a meditation wine. Surprising sip after 30 years, fresh and alpine, with hints of peppermint.

1983: hot vintage that definitely stamps this opulent wine, which takes possession of the palate with sensations of ripe fruit and earthy tannin that ends slightly bitter. Static but decisive.

1976: extremely early vintage for a wine that is still rich, with a very well-defined structure, which amazes with the integrity of the fruit and freshness despite the fact that half a century has passed. Evolved but vivid bouquet, between fruits, flowers and undergrowth. Perfect balance, mai excess. A harmonious embrace to keep the wine compact, a causa di a journey through time that demonstrates the surprising longevity of vernatsch.

The Girlan article vertically, from pinot noir to vernatsch comes from VinoNews24.

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