Only nine hectares in South Tyrol are planted with Moscato Rosa. As a variety it is very demanding. It needs a very warm and dry site, and demands patient care in the vineyard. The flower is female, so the vine cannot fertilize itself, which often leads to coulure. These small seedless berries have a stunning concentration of aromas, reminiscent of Asian fruit and spice markets. In the mild and breezy Kurtatsch hillside in the district of Rain, the Usha Rosa Moscato has found an ideal micro-terroir. Through drastically reducing the yield, this edelsüße wine, with the typical baroque richness, is an exact mineral reflection of its site. While the bold, long maceration lends Usha a spicy tannic contour, which enters into a tantalizing liaison with the Rose, Rosehip, cinnamon and orange peel flavors.

Lagrein is Alto Adige’s oldest grape variety. It flourishes best in the deep, warm soils in Bolzano (the suburb of Gries) and the South Tyrolean Lowlands (Kurtatsch) that are made up of clay and sand as well as gravelly deposits from rivers and streams that break through porphyry, granite, mica schist, and limestone. With careful Kurtatsch care in the vineyard (reduced yields) and the cellar (controlled fermentation and partial aging in large oak barrels), selected lots of Lagrein yield a powerful, deep, dark red wine which is granted a solid contour by the full, juicy tannins. The meaty Lagrein fruit is accompanied by hearty notes of spice that give it a long, glowing finish.

From the thirteenth century up to the early Modern Era, “Traminer” was the best known wine from what is now South Tyrol. Over the course of centuries, the vines from their village of origin, Tramin, have spread all over the entire world and are now known as Gewürztraminer. On the hills above Kurtatsch with a southern exposure, the highly aromatic Gewürztraminer has found its ideal habitat: chalky and clay soils! This is where a full-bodied wine is born with a powerful backbone and a highly concentrated, weighty aroma. A prominent mineral vein lends a lasting freshness to the almost oily body that is scented with roses, magnolias, and lychees.

From the thirteenth century until the early modern period Traminer was best known wine from the region of South Tyrol. During the daytime the Brenntal site, located at the northwestern end the village Kurtatsch, is among the warmest. The Gewürztraminer grape obtains those beguiling aromas from the depth of the red loamy soil, inducing one to baroque descriptions: dewdrop-covered peonies, acacia honey, caramelized orange peel, mangoes, lychees and lavender. Gewürztraminer would “respire” too much acid at lower sites – on these exposed terraces, which have been covered with dry stone walls for centuries, the muscular wine takes on a racy acidity and spiciness. From the colorful mishmash of rocks that forms the ancient dry-stone walls, one can actually see what Gewürztraminer Brenntal communicates to the palate about its soil: a complex interplay of minerals that emerges as a hearty, juicy finish with the increasing maturity of the wine. Brenntal’s aging potential, in fact, is quite impressive. For this reason, it is offered only as a RISERVA.

In the Middle Ages, the best-known South Tyrolean wines were named after where they originated: Eppaner, Traminer, Mataner (Montaner), Kaltaner (Kalterer), Curtätscher (Kurtatscher). Blends have always existed, and each region had its own colorful array of grape varieties. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the legendary enologist Edmund Mach (founding director of South Tyrol’s educational institute for agriculture in San Michele) was inspired to import the top French varieties. On the slopes below the village of Kurtatsch, which have southern exposure and are thus very hot, Merlot and Cabernet find ideal growing conditions and soil: clayey gravel with good drainage and a mild fall climate for the final phase of grape ripening. Soma (the ancient Greek word for “body”) is a blend of Cabernet and Merlot, following the model of French Pomerol: the baroque, richly corpulent Merlot sets the tone while the Cabernet’s distinctive fruity notes add spice, elegance and depth. Soma has a lively bouquet reminiscent of cherries, plums and blackberries in addition to laurel and crushed mint leaves. The approach on the palate is firm and juicy; the dark wild berries fleshy. Nuanced tannins lend stability to its rounded, well-balanced body and provide a good constitution for extended bottle aging.