Alto Adige Sale! 11-3-24

Piana Rotaliana by Foradori

A few months ago I regaled you with the details of a recent trip to Alto Adige and a sale on Foradori’s wines…

On a recent trip to Italy for a friend’s wedding, my wife and I decided to stop in the Dolomites for some day hiking and of course…..wine. We don’t really take trips to Europe without that second part in mind. What I can tell you was that I was immediately reminded of the age old saying, ‘Wine only grows in beautiful places”. Traveling up from Milan through Trento all the way to Bolzano was a feast for the eyes; a kind of wild Jurassic green screen that you couldn’t believe to be real and yet it was right outside the train windows at all angles. Clinging to the steep cliffs on all sides were vineyards whose farming could only be a labor of love and passion given the extreme danger and difficulty of management. In the wines of Alto-Adige you taste this passion, and you taste the love of a beautiful people that feel just as Germanic as they do Italian.

This areas has indeed been occupied by both German and Italian peoples depending on the era in history. This ebb and flow of cultural exchange has resulted in unique nuances like bacon dumplings and kraut served alongside tomato pasta with sharp cheese. The wines of this region must perform a complex dance, holding up to the heavier foods of the Germanic and matching the acidity and lift of the Italian. You can find everything from Riesling to Pinot Grigio to Pinot Noir to Schiava in that grand landscape, and many more varietals only found there. One winery worth your immediate attention is focused on elevating the native grape varieties (they practically preserved their existence) and showing the deep connection between wine and earth: Foradori.

Foradori is renowned for its commitment to biodynamic farming and the revival of indigenous grape varieties. Established in 1901, the winery gained prominence under the stewardship of Elisabetta Foradori, who took over in 1984. She revolutionized the vineyard practices by shifting towards biodynamic agriculture, which emphasizes sustainability and harmony with nature. This approach has not only enhanced the quality of the wines but also ensured the preservation of the local ecosystem….

And now, as a result of some savvy shopping on our side, we’ve expanded our Alto-Adige selection and we’re putting the whole thing on sale to bring you numerous gems from Italy’s alpinous wine eden.

Through this coming Wednesday you can acquire 12 different Alto-Adige wines at 5-10% off.  A half-case is the threshold for the 10% discount, and this has never been easier to reach as 10 out of the 12 are priced under $30. Enjoy home runs from Foradori, Alois Lageder, Muri-Gries, and Kurtatsch and a variety of different grapes. I can think of fewer better wines to pair with the diversity of upcoming Thanksgiving meals and the heavier fare we’re all transitioning into as the weather cools down. Soup season anyone?

Be sure to not miss out on Lageder…I recently visited this winery as well on my travels and was blown away by the facility and the wines. I’ll leave you with a photo of my approach to the tasting room, just so you can appreciate the beauty which embodies this region and the people that live there.
 

Approach to Alois Lageder tasting room
 
 
5% off any 3-5 bottles of in-stock Alto-Adige wines
10% off any 6 or more bottles of in-stock Alto-Adige wines

 
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Discount ends Wednesday, November 6th at 9 am Pacific
 

In Stock and On Sale Now from Alto Adige:

Foradori Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.30 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points 
 “This is so perfumed and attractive with candied stone fruit, glazed tangerines, honey, dried flowers and beeswax. Full-bodied and layered with super polished texture and vivid fruit character, accompanied by vivid acidity and subtle floral undertones. Savory at the end with a lengthy finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”

Foradori Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $34.50, that’s $32.77 at 5% off and $31.05 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points 
 “Amazing aromas of white flowers, beeswax, tangerines and ripe apples. Full and intense with dried lemons and apples and fascinating honey and floral notes. Phenolic texture. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.”

Foradori Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $29, that’s $27.55 at 5% off and $26.1 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points 
 “Exquisite mix of dark fruit and earthy notes wrapped up with violets. Great fruit concentration and tension on the palate, with an extra dimension of blood orange fruit, a medium body and tight tannins that are polished on the finish. It shows sucrosity and is very crunchy. Drink or hold.”

Foradori Lezer Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $29, that’s $27.55 at 5% off and $26.1 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points 
 “Fresh and crunchy, with red berries, pomegranate, dried orange peel and hibiscus. Medium-bodied and dry, with crushed stone minerality. Slightly chalky in the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.”

Kurtatsch Cortaccia Pinot Grigio, Trentino-Alto Adige 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.2 at 5% off and $14.41 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
North Berkeley Imports Note
 “Located in the foothills of the Italian Alps, Cantina Kurtatsch has produced wines guided by the unique terroir of Alto Adige since 1900. While Friuli has long claimed Pinot Grigio as its primary grape, here in Alto Adige, with more altitude and more just about everything, this riveting white grape reaches its true potential. Bold aromas of lime, gooseberry and acacia, with balanced alcohol and thirst-quenching acid. A deliciously serious Pinot Grigio that deserves a second look.
“There are mountain wines, and then there are wines from wind-swept peaks so high they seem to be grown in the sky. This is the glory of Alto Adige, a dramatic wine region in the northeast Italy, and the home to the century-old cantina of Kurtatsch. Here on the border with Austria, it is white grapes that reign supreme, grown at altitudes that top 3,000 feet. The village of Kurtatsch (Cortaccia in Italian) is particularly blessed when it comes to terroir, with a wide range of soils that suit perfectly both native and international grapes. Kurtatsch since the early 1900s has been the representative for the area’s best growers and the source of its finest, most expressive wines.”
 
Alois Lageder Terra Alpina Chardonnay Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $19, that’s $18.05 at 5% off and $17.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now

Alois Lageder Terra Alpina Pinot Bianco Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $19, that’s $18.05 at 5% off and $17.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now

Alois Lageder Terra Alpina Pinot Grigio Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.41 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Notes “Aromatically the wine has notes of wildflowers, melons, orchard fruits and a hint of warm spices. On the palate the wine surprisingly medium bodied with a slightly waxy mouth feel, with ripe fruit flavors and a lingering flavor of white pepper.”

Alois Lageder ‘Gaun’ Chardonnay Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $26.50, that’s $25.17 at 5% off and $23.85 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “This wine strikes a terrific balance between primary fruit and integrated oak. You get a fresh and contemporary interpretation of the versatile Chardonnay grape that is nothing like the heavier wines you may remember from just a few years back. The Alois Lageder 2022 Chardonnay Gaun is bright and luminous. Its creamy texture is layered with lemon meringue pie, peachy mousse and golden apple. There is a ripe, slightly candied quality (from the hot vintage) that is well synchronized, with almond biscuit, pie crust and baking spice. The wine ferments with spontaneous yeasts, it ages on the lees and sees partial oak and partial stainless steel aging (for nine months). Production is 33,000 bottles.”

Alois Lageder Versalto Pinot Bianco Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $24, that’s $22.80 at 5% off and $21.60 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “The well-priced Alois Lageder 2020 Pinot Bianco Versalto is a new organic and biodynamic submission (with 13,000 bottles produced). The wine is slightly closed on first nose, but it eventually reveals crisp apple, lychee fruit, honeydew melon and crushed limestone. It delivers high-elevation freshness and crystalline sharpness that reflects these snow-capped mountain surroundings. It is fermented in steel but aged on the lees in both steel and oak. Fruit is sourced across three vineyards: Tirolo (in Merano), Pochi and Penone ranging from 480 and 660 meters in elevation.”

Alois Lageder Versalto Pinot Bianco Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $26.50, that’s $25.17 at 5% off and $23.85 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “This is a highly versatile wine both in terms of its approachable drinking style and its affordable price tag. The Alois Lageder 2022 Pinot Bianco Versalto shows crisp aromas of unripe pear and orchard-fresh apple. The primary fruit is followed by tea biscuit and macadamia nut. Versalto reveals a very crisp and direct personality, thanks to lees aging in stainless steel and oak barrel (for nine months). This 20,000-bottle release definitely showcases that luminous and crisp Dolomitic quality that you want to see in an Alto Adige white.”

Muri-Gries Sudtirol St. Magdalener, Trentino-Alto Adige 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.41 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The name comes from the village of St. Magdalena above Bolzano. An attractive cuvée of Schiava and Lagrein, combining fruit and freshness with intensive color and clear structure. Our St. Magdalener does justice to a wide range of dishes, from roast beef and savory dumplings to pizza and pasta dishes.”