Val Venosta

Val Venosta is Alto Adige’s newest and most extreme DOC - find out what makes it one of the most exciting places in Alto Adige.

What to expect from Val Venosta

Val Venosta, known as Vinschgau in German, has amazing terroir for apples. However, a few forward-thinking grape growers found that the extreme climate of Val Venosta is also great for red and white grapes.

Huge diurnal swings mean racy wines with intense aromatics, and ripe fruit flavors. It’s dry, with only 16 inches (400 mm) of rain - almost desert! This keeps yields low and flavor intense.

Val Venosta offers a treasure trove of varieties: Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Müller-Thurgau), Riesling, Kerner, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Schiava (Vernatsch), and Pinot Noir.

For excellent examples, look for “Alte Reben” on the label, which means old vines in German and leads to concentrated and intense wines.

Did you know?

Val Venosta was established in 1995 and is all about small, independent wineries such as Falkenstein and Rebhof.

Val Venosta has a hikeable wine route where you can visit several vineyards in about 2.5 hours walking.

The vineyards, starting at 1,640 feet (500 m) above sea level, low rainfall, and the largest diurnal shift in all of Alto Adige make Val Venosta a place of extreme Alpine viticulture. Piz Bernina, the highest peak in the Eastern Alps, at 13,283 feet (4,048 m) is just around the corner.

Switzerland is less than an hour to the west, potentially combining amazing ski and hiking trips with this up-and-coming wine region.