In the Valle Isarco, where glaciers meet the gentle hillside landscapes of the Mediterranean, grapes of remarkable quality are grown. Here, precious minerals and nutrients in the soil endow the wine with a truly characteristic flavor and bouquet. Observance of stringent quality standards and constant improvement of wine-making techniques - aiming at highlighting the character of the grapes even more - ensure that only excellent wines are produced. Such as the ones in our Aristos line.

The Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco

cellars are devoted to the production of quality white wine
Founded in a traditionally vine-growing area, the Cantina Valle Isarco is the newest wine-making cooperative in South Tyrol; yet, its premium white wines have already become famous both at home and abroad.
Because the Valle Isarco enjoys the ideal climate for growing white grapes, the Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco specialized in the production of white wine. Thanks to the ideal climate, grapes of remarkably high quality, and flawless processing techniques the white wines from the Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco are now among the most celebrated wines produced in South Tyrol... Our modern facility at Chiusa produces one million wine bottles every year, of which 80% are DOC (quality wines from specific vine-growing areas). The elegance and character of the wines reflect the philosophy of the Cantina and of its 130 members: Quality without Compromise!

Harvest/wine making

Painstaking care is given to the vineyards over the summer months, before the grape harvest begins in early September.
First to be harvested are the early white varieties Müller Thurgau and Sauvignon, followed by the other white grapes.
The last to be picked are the red grapes, in late September/early October.
Ripening is effectively promoted by the late summer climate and its beautiful warm days and cool nights, that give grapes of excellent quality and with high sugar content.
Essential prerequisites for producing a great wine are grapes of excellent quality, skilful processing of the marcs, careful pressing, and close supervision of the fermentation process by the cellarman.
After the grapes are picked (by hand, of course), they're immediately sent to the cellars, where each individual lot is checked for quality and evaluated for health and sugar content.
The must is then fermented at a controlled temperature in steel tanks or wooden barrels.
After refining and aging for a period of time that depends on the variety and quality of the grapes, the wine is bottled.

Vine-growing areas with the finest wine producing conditions

With great enthusiasm and commitment, the 130 members of the Cellars grow grapes in the northernmost production areas on the southern side of the Alps; vine-growing is carried out on steep sunny slopes up to 900 meters above sea level. Here, the ideal conditions are found for producing fresh, aromatic wines with a pleasant fruity note.
The soft, well-ventilated terrain and rather dry climate in the period when the grapes ripen, with numerous sunny days and broad temperature swings from day to night, create white wines of exceptionally high quality. Although mostly red wines were produced in the early 1960s, the Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco is now famous for its excellent whites.
Thanks to the ideal climate, grapes of remarkably high quality, and flawless processing techniques the white wines from the Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco are now among the most celebrated wines from South Tyrol.

Quality without compromise

Thanks to their elegance and distinctive character, the wines made by the Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco are widely appreciated.
The success of the Cantina is due to the typical regional quality of its wines and to the high quality maintained during production, where traditional wine making skills are combined with modern, innovative techniques.
Special care has been taken to employ natural methods that respect the grapes. Controlled, limited production, as well as the great support offered to wine producers through dependable consulting services and training courses, ensure that wines of the very highest quality are obtained.
Thus it's no accident that these flavorful, elegant white wines have received broad recognition from celebrated sommeliers and specialized guides?

Recent tradition and a venerable heritage

The Valle Isarco boasts an extremely old wine making tradition. The earliest evidence dates back to 500 BC and consists of grape seeds and implements for wine production. And as early as the Middle Ages, poets and singers such as Oswald von Wolkenstein and Walther von der Vogelweide decanted wines produced in the Chiusa and Bressanone area.
From the late 19th Century to the end of World War II, wine making in the Valle Isarco was virtually abandoned, only to blossom once again with the foundation of the Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco in 1961.
The Cantina's first site was located in the celebrated cellars of the Reinthalerhof estate (see photo). 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.

A wide selection for connoisseurs of great wine

Taking advantage of an ideal climate and soil rich in nutrients, wine makers in the 1960s began specializing in the production of top-quality wines with an unmistakable flavour, including Sylvaner, Müller Thurgau, Traminer Aromatico, Veltliner, Pinot Grigio (Ruländer), Kerner, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco (Weißburgunder), Sauvignon. A unique aroma, sensuous fragrance, hint of minerals and elegant character make these ten whites from the Valle Isarco truly unmistakable. And this already broad selection of wines is completed by five reds and a rosé: Schiava (Vernatsch), Klausner Laitacher, Santa Maddalena (St. Magdalener) and Lagrein Rosé are fresh and pleasant, while Pinot Nero and Lagrein are full-bodied and robust. Our signature products are the Aristos and Dominius lines, made under stringent production procedures from grapes of premium quality grown in select areas. Two dessert wines with an exceptionally fruity sweet aftertaste in the Nectaris line splendidly top off the selection of wines from the
Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco.

The 10 white wines

The special microclimate of this region, with hot summer days and fresh nights at vintage time, makes sure that the grapes reach maturity with a high sugar content. The light and gravelly soils, containing a great deal of minerals, provide these wines with strong character and incomparable typicality and elegance. This is why the vine-growers of the Valle Isarco have specialized in the cultivation of white grapes.
Unlike with red wine vinification, where the skins are left to ferment together with the must, during white wine vinification, only the must is allowed to ferment in order to transform the sugar into alcohol.
Only three of the ten whites produced by the Cantina Valle Isarco winery come exclusively from the southernmost "registered designation of origin" (DOC) area of Valle Isarco and bear the "Alto Adige" DOC mark (Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon), while all the others can also boast the "Valle Isarco" designation.

5 red wines and a rosé with superb bouquets

Although mainly white grapes are cultivated in the Valle Isarco, there are several areas with the ideal climatic and geographical conditions for producing very fine reds featuring pleasant and unique characters.
During red wine vinification, the must is left to ferment together with the skins, thus allowing the latter to release colourings and tannins, providing these wines with firm body and intense colour.
Our repertoire of red wines boasts 5 noble red wines and a rosé. Schiava, Klausner Laitacher (the only red bearing the "Valle Isarco" designation), Santa Maddalena, featuring pleasant character and special freshness, Pinot Nero, and Lagrein, full-bodied and robust. The Lagrein rosé is pleasant and fruity.
All these wines are an excellent match for South Tyrolean cuisine.

The special wines of the Cantina Valle Isarco winery

In addition to fine reds and whites, the winery also features several select wines: small gems with exclusive character. Both wines in the Dominius line are world class products. This white and red are obtained from grapes of superior quality that are grown in Lagen, selected and then vinified using carefully controlled production procedures.
The two dessert wines of the "Nectaris" line - made with naturally partially dried white grapes - have seductive and typical fruity notes and sugar finish, while the elegant "Harmonie" white, obtained from selected grapes from the mid Valle Isarco, carefully fermented in small stainless steel vats, develops a slightly aromatic taste with typical fruity associations.
Acclaimed in both the domestic and international markets, these wines are especially renowned for being "absolutely top quality, top class wines [...]" with unique and unmistakable taste and aroma.