CONSORZIO VINI ALTO ADIGE PRESENTS THE 2022 VINTAGE: SURPRISING WHITES AND GREAT REDS

The Consorzio Vini Alto Adige takes stock of the 2022 vintage: the one that has just ended will be a great vintage for both white and red berried wines. A vintage which from a meteorological point of view was undoubtedly characterized by record temperatures which led to premature and accelerated flowering even in the higher altitude areas. And, given that even the summer months of June, July and August were exceptionally hot and dry, the vegetative development was contained and, in the majority of cultivation areas, it was possible to harvest the bunches two or even three weeks earlier than in annual average. "The 2022 vintage began with a relatively late appearance of the buds but, due to the very warm climate until the end, it turned into a very early year," explains Eduard Bernhart, Director of the Alto Adige Wine Consortium. During the summer we were worried because of the heat", explains Willi Stürz, cellar master of the Tramin Winery. The grapes, however, proved to be exceptionally healthy and perfectly ripe, and the young wines developed very well in the cellar. Analyzing the performance of the white wines the oenologists therefore express great enthusiasm: these wines, in fact, are developing surprisingly well in all areas and are decisive but still fresh and fruity.For the white vines there are also good sugar values, acidity lower than the average and a very healthy harvest. Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are developing in a particularly interesting way. Gewürztraminer is very fruity and promises a good vintage, Sauvignon surprised everyone. "Basically we can say that all the wines of the 2022 vintage are developing uniformly to a very, very high level", says Stephan Filippi, cellar master of Cantina B olzano. “In any case, we are extremely satisfied with it.” The red wines benefited above all from the heat and drought, but also from the possibility of letting the grapes ripen in an ideal way. "Overall, 2022 is a very good year for red wines," explains Director Bernhart, referring to all growing areas. Pinot Noir 2022, for example, is developing into a strong, fruity wine of great interest. And Lagrein, Merlot and Cabernet are also promising. "They have an intense color, strong, compact, very fruity and with good persistence", explains Filippi. On the palate, nice ripe and refined tannins are added. At first, it was only the Slave who worried. "It had little color and we feared it would develop few fruity notes", says Filippi, "but everything went well: 2022 is an excellent year also for Schiava and Santa Maddalena". In short, nothing less than a historic vintage. This is also what Stefan Kapfinger, cellar master of the Merano winery predicts. "I had never seen a vintage like this", says Kapfinger recalling how everything worked in favor: "The ripening was perfect, the sugars too, and we were able to leave the bunches on the vines until the ideal moment for the harvest".