Five years of successes. It was the 2020 harvest when Cantina Valle Isarco, a social cellar of one of the most suitable areas of South Tyrol, and Riccardo Cotarella, probably the most well -known Italian winemaker, started their collaboration to make the quality of viticulture and wines of the youngest social cellar of South Tyrol grow even more. And it is already time to budget, even if the collaboration is destined to go on for a long time. «I can’t say what I gave the Isarco Valley – says Cotarella – surely this experience is giving me a lot. In no other cooperative reality have I found a harmony between members and cellar like the one here is here, as well as the desire to do more and better. “
Cotarella, who is flanked by the resident enologist Stefan Donà, in the five years of his first advice in South Tyrol has collected many awards, especially with the Kerner of the Aristos line, and has baptized four important projects: the 100% Sylvanener Pasé Aristos Zero classic method, the Punta Adamantis Cuvée, Blend of Sylvaner, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot. Gray and kerner to represent the most identity varieties of what is one of the most suitable areas of Europe for the production of white wines, the Pinot Noir Aristos, which demonstrates how the Isarco Valley can interpret one of the most difficult and capricious wines that there is in a very convincing way, and the Kerner Granit 960, just a thousand bottles of a wine that has refined in an unpublished 960 liter Tank. granite extracted from the mountains of the valley.
Cotarella’s first luster in the Cantina Valle Isarco was celebrated with an online tasting in which the major experts in the sector and in which three wines were tasted: the Aristos Kerner 2023, the Aristos Sylvanener 2023 and the Aristos Pinot Noir 2022 were tasted.
“Kerner and Sylvaner are differently native vines for Cantina Valle Isarco – explains Cotarella – because, despite not being born here, it is in this valley who have found one of their best expressions, thanks to precise and punctual viticulture, favorable climatic conditions and the preparation of the South Tyrolean peasants to always aim for excellence”. The Aristos Kerner 2023 has confirmed a muscle and mineral wine of great expressiveness. Produced in 30 thousand bottles, it is produced with pure kerner grapes, hand -brought by hand to complete maturity. After a short maceration in contact with the skins, fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, where it rests for 7 months. The color is greenish yellow tending to straw. The perfume starts from fishing notes and then turns on menthaled and spicy notes, the mouth is full and alive, the possible combinations are truly varied, but we would propose, to remain in the territory, of speck.
The Aristos Sylvaner 2023, produced in 25 thousand bottles, is obtained from Sylvaner grapes, harvested upon reaching the maximum degree of maturation. The fermentation of the must takes half of large acacia wood barrels and half in stainless steel, with 7 months of aging on the noble fucce. The color is greenish yellow tending to light yellow, the nose recalls fishing and green apple, which give way to the mineral part, in the mouth, is fresh and delicate but also rich in character. He goes well with fish dishes, white meats or omelettes with vegetables.
The Aristos Pinot Noir 2022, produced in just 2 thousand bottles, is obtained from grapes that come from Campodazzo, a wine village in the southern area of the Isarco Valley. After a short cold maceration, followed the delicate pressing and fermentation at controlled temperature, partly in steel barrels and partly in open tonneaux. It matures for 18 months on the noble lees in tonneaux. A further refinement in bottle follows for 6 months. High altitude pinot, haughty and elegant, stands out for the very intense fruity character in which the cherry and small red fruits and for the slender and nervous body stand out. Cotarella concludes.
Founded in 1961 by 24 families, Cantina Valle Isarco is the youngest wine cooperative of South Tyrol, today the members are 135 who cultivate 150 hectares of vineyards in 11 municipalities, from Bolzano to Asud I Bressanone. Every year 950 thousand bottles are produced that represent 14 varieties (10 white, 4 red), for a total of 32 labels whose diamond tip is represented by the Cuvée Adamantis and the Aristos selection. 95% of the production of Cantina Valle Isarco, for which we can speak to a good reason for “heroic viticulture” due to the often very pronounced slopes, is dedicated to white wines. The turnover is 7.8 million euros, conquered in the Ho.Re.Ca channel for 85% in Italy (of which half in South Tyrol) and for 15% abroad.
To guide Cantina Valle Isarco there are the president, in office since 2010, Peter Baumgartner, and the general manager Armin Gratl, who has held this role since 2013. In the last 5 years the cellar has invested over 2 million euros to improve its structure and technologies.