The respected co-op of Erste + Neue was created in 1986 upon the merger of two historic wineries. 2016 brought even more growth to the project, when Kaltern winery joined in the fun. Today there are about 470 hectares of land spread between its 650 members, most owning and tending less than 1 hectare each, which ensures that while the co-op grows, the personal, family touch is not lost.
One of my favorite light reds, this wine is naturally light-bodied as opposed to the result of a stylistic choice by the winemaker (although they are choosing to follow tradition, so it’s a choice in a way!) Be sure to enjoy this at cellar temperature, right around 55 degrees, you’ll be glad you did.
Grape: Schiava 100%
Region: Alto-Adige, Italy
Farming: Organic, high elevation vineyard, certified sustainable, hand harvested
Winery: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks, aged in cement and large oak casks