Kurtatsch "Sonntaler" Vernatsch Alte Reben '23

Alto Adige is a world of mountain vineyards, dramatic day-to-night temperature swings, and a culture that treats “light red” grapes with real seriousness. Vernatsch, also known as Schiava, is one of the region’s signature varieties, especially on the warmer, lower slopes around Cortaccia, where it can ripen fully while still holding that Alpine lift.

Kellerei Kurtatsch is one of the great long-standing cooperatives of the area, founded in 1900 and still grower-owned today. Their strength is precision by site, with members farming steep, varied parcels and the cellar team bottling wines that clearly reflect each place, from everyday classics to terroir-specific bottlings like this one.

2023 Sonntaler Vernatsch Alte Reben comes from Kurtatsch’s oldest Schiava vineyards, with vines roughly 60 to 90 years old, planted on east-facing slopes at about 300 to 400 meters. The soils here are red, sandy and loamy, with dolomite, porphyry, and clay minerals, and the winemaking is intentionally pure and transparent: temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, followed by malolactic fermentation and aging in concrete. No oak is needed, and the result is a vibrant, food-friendly red that leans into freshness and drinkability rather than weight.

Schiava is typically paired with meats such as speck, but for a different take, try it with ribs. We recommend a 30-minute decant before serving, and it’s also excellent with a slight chill.