Cantina Kurtatsch South Tyrol
The home of Cantina Kurtatsch is South Tyrol. Here, exceptionally good wines are created in the vineyard, as President Andreas Kofler emphasizes, even if the newly built winery and its cellar, with their modern technology, are breathtaking. Founded in 1900, the Cantina Cortaccia cooperative, as the Kurtatsch winery is called in Italian, currently has around 190 members who cultivate approximately 190 hectares of vineyards. The majority of the small-scale vineyards are located around the renowned wine village of Kurtatsch, at the southern end of the Wine Route, 80% of them on sometimes very steep mountain slopes, which lie between 220 and 900 meters above sea level. 300 sunny days ensure an Alpine-continental climate with Mediterranean influence, while the foothills of the Dolomites provide for large temperature differences between day and night temperatures and cool downdrafts.
Cantina Kurtatsch – Characterful Terroir Wines from South Tyrol
In the lower altitudes, which are among the warmest sites in South Tyrol, there are ideal conditions for fantastic red wines with great aging potential. Especially Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc thrive on the gravelly-loamy soils, as in the Brenntal site. However, Vernatsch, Lagrein, and Pinot Noir are also cultivated here. Shaped by calcareous Dolomite soils, the best white wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer with fresh aromas and lively acidity thrive in cooler, higher altitudes at 450-900m above sea level, such as Kofl, Hofstatt, or Penon.
For the members of Cantina Kurtatsch, whose greatest asset, alongside craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation, is the vineyards in unique nature, sustainable work has been a central value for years. In addition to a focus on community, working with nature—such as loosening soil and green manuring through sowing various legumes for nutrient supply, preserving biodiversity and increasing fungal resistance, as well as reducing chemical pesticides and avoiding mineral fertilizers—is part of the jointly developed sustainability charter. Cellar master Erwin Carli, who has been working for the Cantina for 10 years, follows in the footsteps of his predecessor Othmar Donà, who played a major role in the international success of the winery. His tireless pursuit of quality, as well as the best grape material, which can be selectively chosen according to the site and individually and gently matured, will continue to ensure the success of Cantina Kurtatsch in the future. Cantina Kurtatsch produces characterful terroir wines from South Tyrol, which you can buy online here.
