Bolzano "Puntscheit" Kerner, Alto Adige '23

In South Tyrol, the Bolzano Winery was established in 2001 as a partnership between two older Bolzano wineries: Gries, established in 1908, and Santa Maddalena, established in 1930. Cantina Bolzano has become the region’s largest cooperative, with 224 members, and the winery cultivates about 350 hectares of Bolzano vineyard land. The members are focused on tradition, carefully maintaining their often-steep vineyards in a sustainable, gentle manner. The vineyards are found along the undulating valley floor as well as the sun-drenched hillsides. The diversity of soils and microclimates enables the winery to produce a wide range of wines.
 
The Kerner grape variety is a crossing of Schiava and Riesling, and was first cultivated in 1930 at the viticulture school of Weinsberg, Germany in 1930. The vines thrive on the light, gravelly, sandy soils of the Isarco River valley, benefitting from the microclimate of steep slopes, plentiful sunshine, and cool temperatures at night. The grapes undergo gentle pressing at the winery, and fermentation is carried out in stainless steel vats to maintain the freshness and crispness of the wine.

Floral, fresh, and fruit driven, this excellent example of the varietal is easy drinking on its own, or a good wine to take for BYOB sushi.