The innovative winery situated along the Wine Route was founded in 1907, and is considered one of the best wineries of Alto Adige in South Tyrol and Italy. St Michael Eppan , with its 355 members , 350 hectares of vineyards and 2.5 million bottles sold every year, has been renowned worldwide. The Sanct Valentin Label alone is enough to thrill wine lovers and connoisseurs.
The winery was one of the first wineries in South Tyrol to introduce the barrique refining system. Since 1977, Hans Terzer , Master winemaker of the winery has been regarded as one of the most respected connoisseurs of white wine in Italy. The famous wine critic Gambero Rosso named him Winemaker 2000. Their famous wines are Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay , Sauvignon Blanc, but also the Cabernet Merlot and their Pinot Noir are great wines.
South Tyrol Pinot Grigio
2019
| COD: Italy |
AGING POTENTIAL: 2 to 3 years |
| PRODUCER: St Michael-Eppan | VARIETY: Pinot Grigio (German Ruländer) |
| REGION: Trentino – Alto Adige | AGE: 5 to 35 years |
| ALCOHOL: 12.5 % vol. | ACIDITY: 5.4 gr / lt |
| HARVEST: Mid to late September; manual harvesting and selection of grapes. | WINEMAKING: fermentation and partial development of malolactic fermentation in steel vats. |
| SURRENDER: 70 hl / ha | SERVICE TEMPERATURE: 8 to 10 Degrees |
A true trendy wine, so much so that it has become an international bestseller, especially in the markets of the USA and Great Britain. This Burgundian grape has adapted well to the South Tyrolean climate as well as to its soils. Here it has in fact found its second home, becoming the most cultivated variety in the meantime. It thrills with freshness, acidity, and a pleasant and long finish.
Pairing Advice
An uncomplicated aperitif wine, it is enjoyed at parties or on special occasions and events. It goes perfectly with delicious appetizers such as ricotta pralines on tomato carpaccio.
Acknowledgments
- 2018: 90 James Suckling Points, 90 Decanter Points
- 2015: 89 Wine Enthusiast Points
- 2014: International Wine Challenge: “Bronze”; Decanter World Wine Awards: “Bronze”
- 2013 : Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge 2014
Pinot Grigio Anger
2019
| COD: Italy |
AGING POTENTIAL: 4 to 5 years |
| PRODUCER: St Michael-Eppan | VARIETY: Pinot Grigio (German Ruländer) |
| REGION: Trentino – Alto Adige | AGE: 10 to 30 years |
| ALCOHOL: 13.5 % vol. | ACIDITY: 5.5 gr / lt |
| HARVEST: Mid September; manual harvesting and selection of grapes. | WINEMAKING: Alcoholic and partially malolactic fermentation of the majority (70%) in steel vats and the rest (30%) in wooden barrels. In March the two wines are blended together. |
| SURRENDER: 60 hl / ha | SERVICE TEMPERATURE: 8 to 10 Degrees |
Depending on the characteristics of the soil and the microclimate, Pinot Grigio can become a simple ready-to-drink wine or a wine of absolute excellence. The warm and sunny vineyards of the Anger area, with its gravelly limestone and clayey soils, are a case in point. Pinot Grigio Anger, with its noble structure, great balance, fine and crunchy acidity, invites you to drink one sip after another.
Pairing Advice
This full-bodied white is well suited to fish and “fish soup”, guinea fowl breast and veal fillet.
Acknowledgments
- 2018: 92 Wine Enthusiast Points, 91 James Suckling Points
- 2016 : 90 Wine Spectator Points
- 2012 : 91 Points Robert Parker
- 2011 : 3 Gambero Rosso glasses
Chardonnay Merol
2019
| COD: Italy |
AGING POTENTIAL: 4 to 5 years |
| PRODUCER: St Michael-Eppan | VARIETY: Chardonnay |
| REGION: Trentino – Alto Adige | AGE: 10 to 30 years |
| ALCOHOL: 13.5 % vol. | ACIDITY: 5.7 gr / lt |
| HARVEST: Mid to late September; manual harvesting and selection of grapes. | WINEMAKING: The main share (75%) is fermented in steel vats, the remainder (25%) in wooden barrels with subsequent malolactic fermentation. In February the two wines are blended together. |
| SURRENDER: 60 hl / ha | SERVICE TEMPERATURE: 8 to 10 Degrees |
The Chardonnay variety is one of the most renowned of the white berried varieties and prefers warm and sun-kissed exposures. The excellent conditions of the vineyards in the Merol area produce a Chardonnay that stands out for its pleasant fullness, silky elegance and a harmonious relationship between acidity and softness. This is accompanied by a persistent fruity aftertaste. Prerequisites for a fantastic drinking pleasure.
Pairing Advice
A real pleasure as an aperitif or simply between one course and another; gladly accompanies dishes based on freshwater fish, such as a smoked trout tartare, as well as those based on asparagus.
Acknowledgments
-
2018: 92 James Suckling Points
Pinot Bianco Schulthauser
2019
| COD: Italy |
AGING POTENTIAL: 4 to 5 years |
| PRODUCER: St Michael-Eppan | VARIETY: Pinot Bianco |
| REGION: Trentino – Alto Adige | AGE: 10 to 40 years |
| ALCOHOL: 13.5 % vol. | ACIDITY: 5.7 gr / lt |
| HARVEST: End of September, manual harvest and selection of the grapes | WINEMAKING: The greater quantity (85%) is fermented in steel vats, the remainder in wooden barrels with subsequent malolactic fermentation. The two wines are then blended in February. |
| SURRENDER: 60 hl / ha | SERVICE TEMPERATURE: 8 to 10 Degrees |
Pinot Bianco, the most important white grape variety in South Tyrol, is like a “Sleeping Beauty” which, shortly after awakening, immediately proposed itself as the region’s “parade wine”. The Schulthauser, a classic among the Pinot Blancs of Alto Adige, was vinified and bottled for the first time as early as 1982. It is not a noisy sample, rather a complete Pinot Blanc, finely fruity and fresh able to seduce the palate both for the creamy softness is due to the acidity of the breed.
Pairing Advice
Suggestions for pairing: typical aperitif and summer wine, but also versatile accompaniment to dishes: it is recommended both on seafood and fish in general, as well as on delicate dishes of feathered game. A particularly recommended combination is with Tyrolean “Schlutzkrapfen” or cheese gnocchi.
Acknowledgments
- 2018: 94 Wine Enthusiast Points, 91 James Suckling Points, 91 Decanter Points
- 2015 : 89 Wine Spectator Points
- 2012 : 90 Wine Spectator Points; 90 Wine Enthusiast Points
Sauvignon Lahn
2019
| COD: Italy |
AGING POTENTIAL: 4 to 5 years |
| PRODUCER: St Michael-Eppan | VARIETY: Sauvignon |
| REGION: Trentino – Alto Adige | AGE: 10 to 25 years |
| ALCOHOL: 13.5 % vol. | ACIDITY: 6.2 gr / lt |
| HARVEST: Mid to late September; manual harvesting and selection of grapes. | WINEMAKING: Fermentation and aging on the lees in steel containers until the end of February. |
| SURRENDER: 60 hl / ha | SERVICE TEMPERATURE: 8 to 10 Degrees |
This vine with intense and marked aromas began to be extensively cultivated in Oltradige starting from the 1980s. The stony and calcareous soils and the fresh drop winds at the foot of the Mendola massif favor the creation of a lively and expressive Sauvignon in the Lahn vineyards. Acid freshness, delicate minerality and splendid sharpness make Sauvignon Lahn a trendy white.
Pairing Advice
It is the South Tyrolean asparagus wine par excellence, but it goes wonderfully with lighter Asian dishes such as sushi or Thai chicken skewers with walnut sauce (saté) or even with alpine specialties such as quail breasts on chanterelle tartare.
Acknowledgments
- 2018: 91 James Suckling Points
- 2012 : 91 Wine Enthusiast Points
Lagrein Sanct Valentin
2017
| COD: Italy |
AGING POTENTIAL: 10 years and over |
| PRODUCER: St Michael-Eppan | VARIETY: Sauvignon |
| REGION: Trentino – Alto Adige | AGE: 10 to 25 years |
| ALCOHOL: 13.5 % vol. | ACIDITY: 5.7 gr / lt |
| HARVEST: End of September, manual harvest and selection of the grapes. | WINEMAKING: Fermentation in steel containers. Subsequently, malolactic fermentation and aging in barrique-tonneau. After about 1 year assembly. Then the wine ages for another 6 months in large barrels. |
| SURRENDER: 45 hl / ha | SERVICE TEMPERATURE: 16 to 18 Degrees |
The Lagrein variety finds the best conditions for the production of quality wines in the vineyards of the municipality of Bolzano. The grapes for Lagrein Sanct Valentin come from a south-east facing slope at the Wangger farm in Leitach, at the entrance to the Isarco Valley. It ages for 12 months in small oak barrels and after another 6 months. Important for this robust wine is a few years of bottle aging. On the palate it develops immense strength corroborated by well integrated acidity. A vigorous mountain wine with a considerable aging potential.
Pairing Advice
Lagrein Sanct Valentin best accompanies hearty meat dishes such as loin of ox, all game dishes and also all types of aged cheeses.
Acknowledgments
- 2016: James Suckling 93 points, Robert Parker: 91 points
- 2012 : “Golden Star” Vini Buoni d’Italia
- 2011 : „La Corona“ Vini Buoni d’Italia
- 2010 : “La Corona” Vini Buoni d’Italia
- 2009 : 3 Stars Veronelli
Pinot Noir Sanct Valentin
2017
| COD: Italy |
AGING POTENTIAL: 8 to 12 years |
| PRODUCER: St Michael-Eppan | VARIETY: Pinot Noir |
| REGION: Trentino – Alto Adige | AGE: 8 to 26 years |
| ALCOHOL: 14.5 % vol. | ACIDITY: 5.5 gr / lt |
| HARVEST: Mid September; manual harvesting and selection of grapes. | WINEMAKING: Cold maceration for 3 days with subsequent fermentation with different punching down followed by fermentation in steel. Carrying out the malolactic fermentation and aging in barrique-tonneau. After about 1 year, blending and further aging for 6 months in large barrels. |
| SURRENDER: 45 hl / ha | SERVICE TEMPERATURE: 15 to 16 Degrees |
Pinot Noir, originally from France, has been cultivated in South Tyrol since 1850 and is called Blauburgunder here. The precise origin is Burgundy and has always been a great challenge for every winemaker. It is demanding on the soil and climate, but also in the treatments in the cellar. Since 1995, only the best and oldest vines have been selected for the Pinot Noir Sanct Valentin. Minimum yields and careful care guarantee a fine and extremely sensual red wine. It is the most important red wine of the winery and stands out in the glass for its finesse, fruit, well-balanced structure and fine tannins. It has an extraordinary aging potential.
Pairing Advice
Ideal accompaniment to stewed lamb shoulder or back, oxtail or more intense cheeses
Acknowledgments
- 2016: Falstaff: 93 Points; James Suckling: 93 Points, Robert Parker: 93 Points
- 2015 : Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso
- 2014 : 4 SCREWS AIS
- 2013: Falstaff: 91 Points; Sommelier Wine Awards: Silver ; “4 Stars – Selection Genussmagazin”;
- 2012: James Suckling: 92 Points; Falstaff: 92 Points; Wine Enthusiast: 90 Points; Robert Parker: 92 Points;
- 2011 : 2nd classified at the 13th National Pinot Noir Competition; Bronze medal – International Wine & Spirit Competition 2014; 91 Falstaff Points; Sommelier Wine Awards: “Bronze”
- 2010 : Silver Medal – Sommelier Wine Awards; 91 Wine Spectator Points; 91Robert Parker points
- 2009 : 3 stars Veronelli; Gold Medal at SWA
- 2008 : 3 stars Veronelli
- 2007 : 5 Bibenda bunches; 3 stars Veronelli
- 2006 : 5 bunches Bibenda
- 2004 : 5 bunches Bibenda