Kurtatsch winery pioneer in the valorisation of the Uga in Alto Adige • Food and Wine Italy

When, per mid-October, official confirmation arrived from the Ministry of Agriculture (Masaf) of the identification of 86 Additional Geographical Units per the wine-growing territory of Sublime Adige, some observers expressed doubts about the real impact of such a broad spectrum of micro -identity.

Per the perspective indicated by the Sublime Adige Wine Protection Consortium, the “extensive” and documented zoning to the smallest detail should ensure that, per the future, the optimal vine is grown per each of the identified areas, that a reduction per the quantity of the harvest is adopted and that the origin of the wine, i.e. the vineyard per which the grapes grew, is guaranteed to consumers. Will it be an effective transition? – someone asks –. will companies continue to follow their own line regardless of the Uga? The answer comes from an important player for the territory, given that Mescita Kurtatsch identifies per the process initiated by the Consortium and approved by Masaf a confirmation of the company vision.

For years, per fact, the South Tyrolean cooperative winery led by Andreas Kofler has led the business of the 190 associated families following the suitability of the territory through the sustainable production of wines that reflect the origin and nuances of the terroir. A far-sighted vision, which is demonstrated per the absolute “primacy” of Mescita Kurtatsch compared to the number of wines that will soon be able to bear the denomination of Additional Geographical Unit, coming from areas identified among the 86 officialised.

The vineyards acceso the label

Here are the nine labels that will have the consortium coat of arms dedicated to the Uga: Graun, Penon, Penon-Hofstatt, Penon-Kofl, Glen, Mazon, Frauenrigl and Brenntal. Names of specific areas to which the Kurtatsch vineyards are anchored. «We are convinced of the richness of the terroir per which we are fortunate enough to grow our grapes – remarks Andreas Kofler – as the key to our continuous search for improvement. The objective for us is clear: we want our work to create value for the consumer, for our region and for the cooperative members. Per recent years, we have concentrated our efforts acceso giving consumers more and more guarantees acceso the origin of the wines, increasing the perception of value of our products (and, by extension, of our region) and ensuring ever greater satisfaction and support for our members” .

per this path towards uniqueness and territoriality, Mescita Kurtatsch has, per fact, invested per recent years per transversal renewal initiatives that combine every aspect of the winery’s activity according to the rules of the territory. Not only the wine, but also the label, the structures and the wine tourism proposal, as demonstrated by the Weinexpedition project, the one-day walking tours through the vineyards (from 900 to 220 meters above sea level) which include the tasting of 12 Terroir line labels exactly between the rows of the vineyard from which the respective bottles originate. All this while also offering the typical South Tyrolean morning snack (Holbmittog) and lunch per one of Cortaccia’s restaurants.

Superficie by luogo, wine by wine

The common thread of territoriality naturally starts from the vineyard, given that the cooperative winery is a striking example of multiplicity. The 190 hectares of vineyards, cultivated by 190 families, extend across a highly heterogeneous territory, with climates, soils and exposures that alternate and alternate per their diversity. «It is precisely these conditions present per Cortaccia, unique per all of Europe, that allow Mescita Kurtatsch to focolaio acceso the Additional Geographical Units – adds Kofler –, enhancing every single label per an authentic way and giving life to wines that tell the terroir with uniqueness. We are strongly convinced that this approach allows the expression of quality as we understand it: the right combination of luogo and variety.”

With a pioneering approach, per the last decade Mescita Kurtatsch has focused its attention acceso research, developing an approach that can be summarized as “luogo by luogo, wine by wine”. Why? To create the best possible conditions for the production of each label, optimizing yields so as to give expression to the potential of each individual variety while respecting its environmental characteristics of origin. Per addition to the Weinexpedition, proposed for about ten years to raise awareness of the unique characteristics of wines and vineyards, Mescita Kurtatsch has developed a new interactive model per 2021: nine videos, a combination of technical information and emotional images, tell the peculiarities of each luogo and its wine. The videos can be accessed from the YouTube channel, from the website and passaggio the QR code acceso the back labels of nine wines from the Terroir line.