Kurtatsch

HISTORY 

Located in the foothills of the Italian Alps, Cantina Kurtatsch has produced wines guided by the unique terroir of Alto Adige since 1900. The 190-hectare property, named after the nearby town of Kurtatsch, is cooperatively owned by 190 families who share the goal of producing characterful wines of the highest quality using sustainable practices. As one of the oldest wine cooperatives in the region, invaluable knowledge of the vineyards and of every single grapevine is passed from one generation to the next. The smallholdings (1 hectare per member) make possible gentle cultivation by hand during the growing season and harvest. Cantina Kurtatsch crafts some of the best crus of the Alto Adige, taking advantage of wide-ranging soil diversity, large diurnal shifts, and the alpine-continental climate with Mediterranean influences. Today, Kurtatsch is led by a young, dynamic, and down-to-earth team with President Andreas Kofler at the helm of the business and winemaker Erwin Carli leading the winemaking. This strong, family-oriented team continues to cultivate a special relationship with the vineyards, and to capture the true spirit of the region through a range of powerful Mediterranean wines with unmistakable alpine freshness. 

SUSTAINABILITY 

Cantina Kurtatsch is committed to producing sustainable wines from vineyard to bottle. As a cooperative, Kurtatsch believes that sustainability must be lived. In their view, sustainable practices are essential to respect the vineyards, as well as to guarantee reliable earnings and stability over many generations. The well-being of all members of the cooperative and their land takes precedence over individual profit. In the vineyards, Kurtatsch uses organic fertilizers (no herbicides or insecticides), enhances biodiversity, optimizes irrigation systems, and employs fungus-resistant grape varieties. In the cellars, Kurtatsch minimizes use of water and electricity, uses chemicalfree corks from certified sustainable forests (FSC), and offers charging stations for electric cars and bikes. Cantina Kurtatsch’s collectively followed sustainable winegrowing measures are continuously expanded and optimized year after year. 

TERROIR

Kurtatsch produces two distinct lines of wines: SELECTION and TERROIR. With 80% of the vineyards on slopes at an elevation between 722 and 2,953 feet, each of the 13 grape varieties is diligently planted at a specific altitude and in an ideal soil type. Two main soil types dominate with gravelly-sandy soil rich in dolomite used for the white varieties, and clayey-sandy sediment soil for the reds. Harboring great esteem for the land, the grapes are vinified vineyard by vineyard and result in highly expressive, terroir-driven wines. The SELECTION wines are the product of reduced yields, precise and environmentally friendly viticulture, and careful vinification. Full-bodied and refined, the SELECTION wines are made from grapes of the highest quality. SELECTION wines: Alto Adige Pinot Bianco DOC, Alto Adige Pinot Grigio DOC, Alto Adige Müller Thurgau DOC , Alto Adige Kerner DOC, Alto Adige Sauvignon DOC, Alto Adige Chardonnay CALIZ DOC, Alto Adige Lagrein DOC, Alto Adige Merlot-Cabernet CURTIS DOC. The TERROIR wines are the pinnacle of Kurtatsch’s viticulture coming from low-yield vineyards with a distinctive character. The red wines come from the warmer and most sunlit regions of Alto Adige, and the whites from steeply sloping vineyards at high altitudes. In the glass, the TERROIR wines reveal their unique place of origin. TERROIR Wines: Alto Adige Pinot Bianco HOFSTATT DOC, Alto Adige Pinot Grigio PENÓNER DOC, Alto Adige Sauvignon KOFL DOC, Alto Adige Gewürztraminer Riserva BRENNTAL DOC, Alto Adige Bianco Cuvée AMOS DOC, Alto Adige Chardonnay Riserva FREIENFELD DOC, Alto Adige Schiava Alte Reben SONNTALER DOC, Alto Adige Pinot Nero Riserva GLEN DOC, Alto Adige Pinot Nero Riserva MAZON DOC, Alto Adige Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva FREIENFELD DOC.