Bolzano, city of wine

In the region of Bolzano, on the fertile gravelled flood plains at the confluence of Adige, Isarco and Talvera, the Lagrein grape benefits from perfect growing conditions. This ancient, native variety is a vigorous vine with a high yield. The vine bears cone-shaped, black grapes that produce an essence-rich and storable wine. Outside South Tyrol small pockets of Lagrein grow also in Trentino. In all other wine-producing regions in the world this grape is virtually unknown.

Since time immemorial wine has been grown in the scattered rural settlements of Santa Maddalena, Santa Giustina and Coste. Only some 100 years ago the name of “St. Magdalena”, after the small church at the top of the hill, became established for red wines from this region. In 1923 the small wine growing village of St. Magdalena near Bolzano founded Italy’s first voluntary wine-growing consortium, the Consorzio di Tutela del Santa Maddalena. This proprietary trademark that is displayed together with a control number on every bottle, guarantees the origin of the wine. The wine must be made from Schiava grapes and may contain a maximum of 10% Lagrein or Pinot Noir. Wine from the core zone of the region may use the designation “classico”: This includes the growing region St. Magdalena on the hill and also Santa Giustina, Rencio, Coste and San Pietro.