Ideal autumn weather before and during the harvest

The wonderful, dry autumn weeks from the end of August and throughout September, with warm days and cool nights, brought calm back to the vineyards and created the perfect conditions for a targeted, high-quality harvest.

The cooler temperatures at the beginning of ripening also slowed down the ripening process of the grapes. The 2016 harvest therefore began around ten days later than in 2015. From September 5, the first white wine grapes were harvested in the South Tyrolean lowlands and in the Terlan area. Harvesting began across the board in mid-September. By the end of October, it was complete in most areas. The quality of the grapes when they arrived at the wineries was perfect: the acidity and sugar levels were promising, the pH values low – the perfect basis for juicy, lively and complex white wines and for promising red wines with good development potential.Varietal white wines and structured red wines Following the great 2015 vintage, South Tyrol's wine industry is delighted with an equally exciting and good 2016 vintage. The vintage presents itself with classic, very varietal aromas in the white wines, fruity and juicy, delicate and elegant – especially in Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, and Gewürztraminer. The Vernatsch, St. Magdalener, and Kalterersee, with their intensely colored, fruity, and juicy wines, are among the best of the last decade for South Tyrol's cellar masters. In addition to Lagrein, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet are also powerful and structured with finesse and elegance. With a few exceptions, harvest quantities are back to the long-term average.