Alto Adige Sparkling Wine DOC Header - Consorzio Vini Alto Adige/Florian Andergassen

Alto Adige’s finest bubbles

The best grapes, traditional craftsmanship, Metodo Classico and no compromises

Alto Adige is a wine region with more than two millennia of history. Tradition, know-how and passion are therefore deeply rooted and find their highest expression in sparkling wine production using the classic method.

Only selected grapes from the most interesting vineyards are used and the grapes are harvested by hand so that outliers can be sorted out immediately. A sure instinct is required not only in the vineyard, but also in the cellar. Alto Adige sparkling wine ferments in the bottle, is shaken by hand and accompanied in its development by experienced winemakers.

Only sparkling wine that receives all this attention is ultimately allowed to bear the stylized golden S, which stands for sparkling wine and spumante as well as for Südtirol/Alto Adige.

“Südtirol Sekt”—a new quality seal for sparkling wines from Alto Adige

Sparkling wines from Alto Adige now feature a new seal from the Alto Adige Association of Sparkling Wine Producers, easily recognizable on the neck or capsule of every bottle. The seal sports an elegantly designed, stylized letter “S” that symbolizes the transformation of wine into sparkling wine and represents the letter S in “sparkling wine”, “Sekt,” “Südtirol/Alto Adige,” and “spumante”. The seal also includes the phrases “Südtirol Sekt” and “metodo classico” to indicate bottle fermentation and extended maturing times.

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Méthode Champenoise: Elaborate Work by Hand

All sparkling wine producers in Alto Adige craft their creations in accordance with the labor intensive, classic méthode champenoise of sparkling wine production. This involves not maturing the precious Alto Adige sparkling wines in artificially accelerated tank fermentation, but rather carrying out a second, natural fermentation in the bottle. That is closely tied to very lavish care and control. Even today, the bottles are “riddled” at the right time by hand, and the yeast is removed by freezing the neck of the bottle.

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What makes the Alto Adige méthode champenoise sparkling wine so interesting?

The fermentation process proceeds very slowly by itself. With this gentle transformation of sugar and yeast into alcohol and carbon dioxide, Alto Adige sparkling wine develops the acidity and fruit aromas into its inimitable, elegant mineral-rich sipping pleasure.

What makes Alto Adige sparkling wine unique?

The full fruit aromas and the mineral-rich acidity in Alto Adige sparkling wine have their origins in Alto Adige’s vineyards, in the large temperature fluctuations between day and night, and in the high Alpine elevations with their microclimate particularities. A special influence upon the unique character is exerted by the soil composition of the selected areas of cultivation.

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Which wine varieties find their way into Alto Adige sparkling wine?

Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir are the base wine varieties for Alto Adige sparkling wine. The outstanding grape supply for this is harvested somewhat earlier than that destined for still wine production in order to arrive at the optimal balance between fruit sweetness and acidity.

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