Up to 1,800 hours of sunshine per year ensure grapes of excellent quality along the South Tyrolean Wine Road
Image gallery: Winegrowing
As findings prove, already 3,000 years ago vines were planted along the Wine Road. Nowadays, the Oltradige area and the Bassa Atesina area, featuring a total vineyard area of 3,500 ha, represent the heart of the wine country South Tyrol. Estimated 78% of the regional wine production are attributed to the municipal areas along the South Tyrolean Wine Road, located at an altitude ranging between 300 and 700 m a.s.l.
Among the grape varieties along the Wine Road there are the white ones, such as Chardonnay, which originates in Burgundy in France, Pinot blanc, which has been known since the 14th century, Riesling, included in the “top three” white wine varieties worldwide and Gewürztraminer, which made the wine village of Termeno famous beyond the border. Furthermore there are the red grape varieties such as Vernatsch, which results in the famous “Kalterersee Auslese” wine, Pinot noir, the “King of red wines”, Merlot, which originates in the area of Bordeaux, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the world’s most widely recognised red wine grape variety.
The nature on the Wine Road offers excellent conditions: the right amount of rainfall, loose, aerated soils that are easily heated and up to 1,800 hours of sunshine per year at an average temperature of 18 degrees C, sometimes even up to 22 degrees C. The work in the vineyard starts already in February when the vines are cut and finishes with the grape harvest in September and October. Afterwards, the “new wine” is celebrated at the traditional “Törggelen”.
