The wine region of South Tyrol offers more than 20 grape varieties, which cover a total surface of about 5,300 hectares
Image gallery: Grape varieties
With its gentle hills and the beautiful wine estates, the area of Lake Caldaro represents the heart of the wine country South Tyrol. Estimated 78% of the 5,300 hectares of vineyard area can be found in the municipal areas along the South Tyrolean Wine Road. At an altitude ranging between 300 and 700 m a.s.l. the vines find perfect conditions to grow. The excellent wines have names, which reflect their country of origin, such as Kalterersee Auslese (Kalterersee is the German name of Lake Caldaro) or Gewurztraminer (Tramin is the German name of Termeno).
About 60% of the cultivated area is occupied by white grape varieties, in the leading places there are Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay with a total of 15%, followed by Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, Riesling, Silvaner, Welschriesling, Sauvignon blanc and Yellow Muscat. The red grape varieties take the remaining 40% of vineyard area. Vernatsch ranks first, followed by Lagrein, Pinot noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Muscat Rose à Petits Grains. The latter is a real rarity among the grape varieties - one of the rarest red wines worldwide is made from its grapes.
The annual wine production in the region comes to 400,000 hectolitres: 80% of the winegrowing area is subject to regulated safeguarding provisions, bearing the seal of quality D.O.C. (Denominazione di Origine Controllata, that is to say “Quality wine of particular cultivation areas”).
