This Pinot Grigio gets fine mineral-rich spice that takes on notes of gooseberries, linden flowers, and acacia blossoms from the lime-rich soils of the fantastically steep slopes of Kurtatsch-Penon. The blending ofmountain and valley grapes creates an extraordinary Pinot Grigio, with the total class and creamy suppleness of the south and the seriousness on the palate of the north.

Cortaccia’s Chardonnay has flavours of bananas and gingerbread spices, and the characteristic abundance of fruit takes on a smooth acidity structure through selected Chardonnay batches from the high-elevation terraced vineyards of Kurtatsch. The warm influence of the southern winds and the dramatic cooling by night below the limestone cliffs provide the wine with an elegant spice.

The constant breeze over the nearby Adige River exerts a climate-regulating influence on this expression of Sauvignon Blanc. The deep soils produce a filigree sort of Sauvignon that has a balanced, juicy effect upon the palate. Lively acidity gives the body a sharp contour, and flavours are classic gooseberry, asparagus and freshly-cut grass.

Kurtatsch, at the far southern end of Alto Adige, is rich in warm soils on which both types of Cabernet can ripen very well before being blended into this Cabernet. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides the elegant red fruit and cassis, while the Cabernet Franc is the source of piquant, vigorous spices.

Baron Di Pauli has taken this humble and delightful grape and given it the royal treatment – this is single vineyard Vernatsch, selected by hand from fifty year-old vines, and with yields kept at microscopic levels. A lively wine for summer drinking, it is characterised by delicate, bright red berry flavours and an elegant backbone.

Stroblhof’s Chardonnay vineyards lie close to the village of Appiano. The wine is fermented in barrique and allowed to mature for a period of nine months, developing delicate aromas of apricot and vanilla, well-balanced acidity, and a lively body.

This wine suggests balance from the start – its name, Greek for ‘putting together’, is an apt description for this careful blend of these most expressive of grape varieties.

Strahler is fermented partly in stainless steel and partly in oak, giving a complex wine with a fine, full body, lifted with a delicate freshness. The last-minute addition of the additional varieties lends to the ripe, tropical notes already coming through strong in the Blanc.

Stroblhof use their vineyards at Caldaro, closer to the tempering influence of the lake, for growing their Sauvignon Blanc grapes, and this shines through in a delicate minerality running through the wine.

FEATURED WINE - Jancis Robinson

Manni Nossing’s Kerner represents a virtuoso performance, squeezing ripe, fleshy lychee and pink grapefruit flavours out of an often overlooked, and, it seems, underrated grape variety.