The nose is elegant showing a subtle bitter almond note. The palate is full, elegant and harmonious underpinned by well-balanced acidity. Cellar for up to 3-5 years.
The fruit is sourced from vines planted between 500-650m asl on stony, fossil-rich, shallow alluvial soils containing diorite and quartz phyllite. Delicate crushing after a short period of skin contact followed by controlled temperature fermentation and ageing on fine lees in stainless steel tanks. No MLF (malolactic fermentation).
I swear you cannot go wrong with any white wine made in the Valle Isarco, a high-altitude subregion of the Dolomites that stretches from Bolzano to the Austrian border. From the cooperative Cantina Valle Isarco, the 2020 Alto Adige Valle Isarco Pinot Grigio is a terrific entry-level option with the heightened freshness and sharpness that you can expect of this beautiful mountainous territory. This vintage shows some extra ripeness with apricot and tropical tones that serve to round off and soften the linear approach of this straight-shooting grape. There are spicy hints of acidity on the finish.
91 points, Wine Advocate (September 2021)
For the often easy-going pinot grigio grape this has a ton of mountain-meadow character, plus apple and lime freshness at the finish that makes the medium-full palate feel lighter than it really is (13.5% alcohol). Very well crafted!
91 points, JamesSuckling.com (April 2021)
Eisacktaler Kellerei was founded in a traditional vine-growing area of the Alto Adige. Cantina Valle Isarco is the youngest wine-making cooperative in the region. Today, its premium white wines have already become famous both at home and abroad.
The Cantina’s first site was located in the celebrated cellars of the Reinthalerhof estate. Anton Gfader, its owner, was named its first manager by the 24 founding members. After a fire ravaged the old Reinthalerhof estate in the winter of 1962, the executive office of the Cantina decided to purchase the ruins and set up a new, modern, efficient production facility.
In 1975, however, a major snowstorm crushed the production building at the facility, so the Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco moved to its current headquarters, which can be easily reached from the Chiusa motorway exit and from the Brennero state highway. In 2005, a new production facility was built at the Chiusa site, and the old plant was given a general restoration.
At present, the Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco has 130 members from 11 municipalities: Varna, Bressanone, Funes/Tiso, Velturno, Chiusa, Laion, Castelrotto, Villandro, Barbiano, Fié and Renon.
