Italy — wine

Lagrein Alto Adige DOC

Lagrein is an ancient indigenous red grape of Alto Adige (South Tyrol) in the northeastern Italian Alps, producing wines of extraordinary colour depth, tannin structure and aromatic complexity from the gravelly glacial soils of the valley floor around Bolzano and on the terraced slopes of Gries. The grape is unique to this German-speaking corner of Italy — grown nowhere else in the world — and produces two distinct styles: Dunkel (dark, full-bodied red) and Rosato/Kretzer (deeply coloured, structured rosé). Alto Adige Lagrein is one of Italy's most distinctive wines — deeply coloured almost to opacity, with dark cherry, plum, chocolate, violet and a distinctive grippy tannin from the thick skins; yet balanced by the high-altitude freshness of the South Tyrolean climate. The Gries sub-zone on the edge of Bolzano produces the finest expressions.

Year Rating Notes
2022 Outstanding Alto Adige season; excellent Lagrein concentration and aromatics from Bolzano basin.
2021 Balanced alpine season; wines of freshness and mineral precision across Lagrein and white varieties.
2020 Rich, powerful vintage; concentrated Lagrein with exceptional depth and long ageing potential.
2019 Classic South Tyrol vintage; great balance and mineral character across the range.
2018 Warm vintage; accessible, expressive Lagrein with good colour and fruit depth.