Kellerei Meran - Cantina Merano

Indigenous and deeply rooted: the Merano Schiava has been grown around Merano for centuries as the area provides the very best growing conditions for it. Nevertheless, only a few grapes from old, selected vines make it into the zesty “Schickenburg”. Authentic, angular, yet elegant: a real Merano native.

The name “Segen”, or Blessing, tells you everything you need to know. Along the Tappeinerweg trail, above the roofs of the spa town of Merano, the Segenbühel, with its majestic steep slopes, rises up - simultaneously the warmest and driest spot in Merano. This spot is a real blessing for wine lovers, since the soils, which are cultivated by hand, possess a unique ability to store heat. The soils are able to radiate the heat absorbed during the day throughout the night and thus produce the ideal ripening conditions. The slow growth of the vines plays its part in delivering impressive quality. Striking, complex and fruity, this indigenous grape vine comes into its own in an elegant and powerful Riserva that is typical of the variety.

Rose petals, lychee, cloves and tropical fruits - this opulent range of fragrances and flavours describes in a nutshell what is South Tyrol’s best-known indigenous grape variety around the world - the Traminer Aromatico (Gewürztraminer). The full potential of this highly individual variety can only be truly exploited with the perfect interaction of microclimate, yield and soil composition. A true King of Fragrances.

Sauvignon Blanc is one of the oldest French grape varieties, which gained a foothold in South Tyrol over 100 years ago, and latterly has become the breakout variety. First and foremost, it unfolds its full potential on the steep east and west-facing slopes around Merano. A delicate, fruity temptation.

The Pinot Grigio is an extremely special wine. Its pale red berries with their grey sheen are vinified using traditional white wine production methods. The result is a white wine from reddish grapes. Above all, this variety of grape is at home in vineyards in the lower reaches of Merano and surrounding area.. A white wine that stands out from the crowd.

A fruit-packed combination of two charming, substantial and smooth red wines for a long-lasting and harmonious romance. The ripe tannins and fruity notes of the Bordeaux classic meet the zestiness and floral nuances of the Lagrein in the barrel. Raise a glass to this sensually soft, full-bodied love affair.

The King of Red Wines from Burgundy has found a second home south of the Alps here in South Tyrol. Thanks to the nurturing and meticulous care by the vintners in the steep estates around Merano and Val Venosta Valley it is possible to produce a multi-layered and elegant vintage from the most challenging Pinot grapes. The crème de la crème of red wines.

Schiava (Vernatsch) is the oldest indigenous red grape variety in South Tyrol and enjoys a particularly high status in in Merano and surrounding area. A genuine all-rounder when it comes to accompanying meals, especially traditional South Tyrolean dishes and Italian specialities. This light red wine is a popular appetizer when chilled. Pure tradition coupled with a fresh, fruity drinking experience.

Schiava is an authentic wine full of character that speaks of its origins: of warm, dry summer days, windy spring and autumn weeks, strong temperature fluctuations between day and night, plus snow and winter frosts. A notable addition to idiosyncratic South Tyrolean craftsmanship.

This blend of the great Bordeaux classic varieties, Merlot and Cabernet, sees the full-bodied, soft and elegant flavour of the Merlot married to that of the well-grounded, spicy Cabernet. The result is a wine that truly beguiles the palate.

As an indigenous, heavy red wine variety, the extract-rich, full-bodied Lagrein is among the leading varieties in our region. Essentially it only grows in the sandy soils in the warmest valley locations in South Tyrol. Consistent regulation of the yield of the old vines results in wines of an unmistakable, velvety fullness and elegance. A great, authentic South Tyrolean pleasure.

The combination of weather-beaten primitive soils, sunny steep slopes and the Val Venosta wind is ideally suited to growing fine white wines. This wine impresses thanks to its high mineral content, excellent acidity structure and mildly salty hints. The Val Venosta Pinot Bianco is a particularly fruity and expressive vintage. A little bit of local culture.

This fresh, fruity and expressive rosé wine with brilliant, slightly ruby-red nuances is produced from a range of different red wine grapes that are typical for the area. Its method of production is highly complex and requires all the instinctive feeling of our cellar master. A pleasure for the eyes, nose and palate.

Only grapes of the highest quality, from steep, high-altitude and sun-kissed vineyards around Merano find their way into a bottle of Graf Pinot Bianco. The combination of old vines and consistent yield regulation gives this substantial and multi-layered wine its final, extra-special polish. A true all-rounder.

An old French grape variety that is celebrating a renaissance. Only introduced to South Tyrol at the end of the 19th century, today it covers large areas of the east and west-facing slopes along the Val d'Adige Valley. Unique, delicate wines of extraordinary minerality, depth and longevity are obtained from the porphyry and quartz-rich earth. A fresh and fruity wine for all the senses.

The Müller-Thurgau grape variety, a cross between Riesling and Madeleine Royal, particularly enjoys the conditions at elevations above 500 m around the spa town of Merano which allow its multilayered bouquet to unfold. A minerally and multifaceted white wine.

The Gewürztraminer is South Tyrol’s indigenous white wine grape variety and really flourishes at the lower elevations around Merano. Records from as long ago as the 11th century mention this extraordinary, unique and extremely aromatic white grape. Our King of Fragrances.

This truly successful cross between Schiava and Riesling - named after the German poet, Justinus Kerner - is a frost-resistant vine variety from Germany, which enjoys the ideal growth conditions of the Merano region at elevations above 500 metres. Strict yield reduction measures and an appropriate choice of site creates a multifaceted, minerally and fruity white wine with a beautifully distinctive acidity structure. Wine meets poetry!

This white wine variety is really multi-talented. Whilst when aged in a steel tank it is the freshness of the wine that takes centre stage, its complex variety of aromas and longevity are really only brought to bear through storage in oak barrels. Only grapes from the very highest quality old vines from selected vineyards are suitable. A truly special aroma profile.

The Pinot Bianco grape feels especially at home on the poor soils and sunny slopes of the Merano region and Val Venosta Valley. For over 150 years it has been grown with extraordinary success in South Tyrol and in recent years has risen to become a leading white grape variety. A genuine all-rounder.

For many years, this highly coloured, tannin-rich and powerful red wine variety from Bordeaux in France has been feeling increasingly at home in the warmest vineyards in South Tyrol. However, only consistent yield reduction enables it to develop into a profound, substantial red wine with the zesty aromas typical of its variety. A wine that, as a “Riserva”, is developing into a genuine charmer.

An incredibly special, south-facing vineyard with a long, extraordinary history is to be found nestling like a true gem high above Lagundo. For generations already vines of the indigenous Schiava variety have flourished here, grown using the traditional pergola system on these steep slopes and hidden between ancient stone walls. Over the years their roots have driven metres deep into the soil and today, thanks to the naturally limited yield, enable the production of a multifaceted, soft and juicy red wine with fine grippy tannins. Thanks to the conscious employment of wood, the “Fürst” Schiava need fear no comparison at all with a good Pinot Noir.

Some of the pioneering wine makers on the sun-kissed east-facing slopes 500 m above sea level around Lebenberg Castle, which overlooks the village of Cermes, discovered early on how to plant vines from the primitive rock of France. The credo was, and still remains: “only the best Sauvignon Blanc clones in the best locations with low yields”. Morning sunshine, downslope winds, plus a shale and quartz-rich soil provide the ideal conditions for a minerally, delicate and fiery white wine with a pleasing acidity structure. The unique palate feel is rounded off by a discreet hint of wood.

“I had the idea many years ago of creating a great white wine Riserva that would spend five years maturing on fine yeast in the cellar. It was always important to me to test the winemaking possibilities of our leading white grape variety,” says cellar master, Stefan Kapfinger. The grapes for this graceful meditation wine come from a single estate below Tyrol Castle. Great emphasis is placed on care and a love of detail during its production. The very best clones, meticulous yield regulation and the most elaborate craftsmanship are the credo here. After careful whole-cluster pressing and with natural sedimentation, this masterpiece is left to rest for one year in oak barrels and a further 4 years in steel barrels on fine lees. Only after over 5 years - as the name suggests - does this special wine find its way into the bottle.

No other wine is able to describe its homeland of South Tyrol more aptly than the Pinot Bianco “Tyrol”. This fine wine comes from a single, very old vineyard with naturally limited yields, situated beneath the “cradle of Tyrol” - the famous Tyrol Castle. This extremely dry and nutrient-poor south west-facing slope, with gradients of up to 50%, is bordered at the sides by very dense woodland and thus protected from heavy storms. At the same time, the downslope winds of the Texel Group cause the temperatures to fall very low during the night. Aged in steel and oak barrels, this multi-layered wine impresses with its delicate mellowness, extraordinary fruit, concentrated minerality and notable development potential.

RIESLING ALTO ADIGE SOUTH TYROL A.A. RIESLING "GRAF" The fastidious Riesling loves the sun-exposed locations and sparse, sometimes shale soils high above Merano and in the Val Venosta Valley. Only a few grapes from selected vineyards succeed in satisfying the quality standards of the cellar master. This unique dry wine is produced extremely carefully using the whole-cluster pressing method followed by spontaneous fermentation. A majestic wine.

The Chardonnay grape is at home all over the world. The Merano region also provides this renowned white grape variety with excellent conditions in which to flourish and when grapes from a range of different altitudes are blended, it unfolds its own unique variety of aromas. A white wine with charm.

This expressive and very robust Chardonnay Riserva is at home on the west-facing slopes of the village of Scena. On this dry, deep, quartz-rich soil with isolated pockets of marble, the old Chardonnay vines have to send their roots deep into the earth, unfolding their most complex aromas of ripe and tropical fruits as a result. Aged over several months in tonneaux barrels, this fine wine made from hand-selected grapes develops additional unique tertiary aromas. A harmonious white wine with a creamy structure and high ageing potential.

Deep golden-yellow, sweet berries are the hallmark of the Moscato Giallo grape - a sparkling jewel in the Graf range. Since it is harvested in late autumn, only a few vines on the sunniest slopes in the Merano region are able, in combination with consistent yield reduction, to draw out the full potential of this grand variety. A dry white wine with an unmistakeable nutmeg aroma - a truly unique fragrant kiss.

The King of Red Wines is highly demanding and only produces its very best quality in the very best locations. It finds precisely these ideal conditions in the Val Venosta Valley: easily permeable soils, protected sites and little rainfall, coupled with plenty of sunshine. The Val Venosta Pinot Nero is a characterful ambassador for the valley’s winegrowers. An authentic expression of alpine refinement.

The Val Venosta is the newest and smallest closed wine-growing area in South Tyrol with protected place of origin status. Extremely harmonious and multifaceted grapes are grown at 600 metres above sea level in this alpine landscape. The Val Venosta Kerner is a delicate mountain wine that appeals thanks to its fruitiness and finesse. An ambassador from the mountains.

Pinot Nero and the Cantina Merano Winery is an alliance that could not be more harmonious. The very best top-quality French clones of this noble red grape flourish high above Merano, at over 500 metres above sea level, in selected, well-ventilated sites that are exposed to the sun. The combined force of the sun and the cool downslope winds of the high mountain summits means that especially complex and fruity red wines can be produced. Partial whole-cluster pressing and storage in oak barrels of the carefully selected, small-berried grapes gives the King of Red Wines a final polish and creates a durable Riserva with well-integrated acidity and a long-lasting finish.

The King of Red Wines benefits from the ideal conditions offered by the cool downslope winds in summer on the steep east and west-facing slopes high above the town of Merano to produce fresh and fruity, structured red wines that store well. Only the best estates with old vines taken from top quality French clones are good enough to satisfy the high expectations of the cellar master. An unparalleled, elegant temptation.

Situated at the foot of Montefranco, where they are well protected, the ancient vines here produce extremely high quality, small-berried, phenol-rich grapes that are of outstanding quality. This high cordon is the subject of intense manual labour to select the bunches of grapes individually. Only a few, and those with the smallest berries, remain on the vine. The hand-selected grapes of this single estate are then aged in new and used barrique barrels into true greats. A zesty, powerful and durable Merlot Riserva, that is entirely capable of holding its own with the biggest names in its class.

Every bottle is unique; every mouthful a delight. The Brut Riserva 36 sparkling wine stems from a great cuvée of the French varieties, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. This vintage sparkling wine is produced in accordance with the elaborate traditional method, known as the “metodo classico”. The grapes for this come from a few, selected vineyards in the Meraner Land region, which when blended allow a unique, fresh and fruity aroma to unfold. However, the Brut Riserva 36 sparkling wine only becomes a genuine masterpiece in connection with its fine perlage and the pleasing notes of yeast that develop during the elaborate bottle fermentation followed by 36 months of storage on fine lees. A complex bouquet of bread crust, yeast, vanilla and ripe fruit comes together, in an elegant, light bottle, with minerality, vibrant acidity and a fine, long-lasting perlage.