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5218 Lawton Avenue
Oakland, CA 94114

510-654-9159

Oliver McCrum Wines has been importing small production Italian wine and distributing to fine retail and restaurant establishes throughout California since 1994. Over time, our portfolio of producers has steadily grown to over 45 producers from 15 different regions of Italy. We look for typical Italian wines with clarity and freshness, usually made from indigenous Italian grape varieties using clean, transparent winemaking techniques and no obvious use of oak. 

Baron Widmann

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One of the Alto Adige’s ‘Gang of Four’
Extremely small annual production
Historic producer - bottling since 1824

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About Baron Widmann:

"If we had to choose the five best grape-growers in Italy, the name of Andreas Widmann would be amongst the first to come to mind." ~Gambero Rosso

Andreas Widmann is a producer of very small quantities of excellent wine (in my opinion some of the best made in the Alto Adige). His beautiful old house and cellar are in the old part of the village of Cortaccia; the cellar is under the house, and the scale of it is more like home winemaking than commercial production. His family has made wine here since 1824.

The immaculately tended vineyards are just south of the village on steep slopes at altitudes between 250 and 600 meters (almost 2000 feet) above sea level. Andreas follows every aspect of the grape growing and winemaking himself, a Baron with dirt under his fingernails.

The wines are impeccably made and full of character, an ideal combination. The only problem here, as with many of the best small growers from the south Tirol, is that there is very little wine available, as the local market is so strong. Nonetheless, I am delighted to be able to offer these gems.

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The Wines:

Weissburgunder, Alto Adige DOC

Regarding Andreas’ Weissburgunder (the local German for Pinot Bianco, or Pinot Blanc), Ian D’Agata says the following, “Pale straw-green. Delicate aromas of green apple, pear and nectarine, with a hint of chamomile for added complexity. Round but juicy with accurate flavors similar to the aromas. Closes long and suave. Baron Widmann almost always makes, every year, one of Alto Adige’s best Weissburgunders,” (Vinous).

Sauvignon, Alto Adige Doc

Widmann’s Sauvignon is mouthwatering and savory, with hints of mountain flowers and herbs. An excellent complement to vegetable, pork, seafood, and chicken dishes.

Vernatsch, Alto Adige Doc

Vernatsch is the local name for the Trollinger (or Schiava) variety, which produces pale red, delicious and very drinkable table wines (sort of like a cross between Beaujolais and Bourgeuil and as mouthwatering and savory as that description suggests).

Andreas's version is top-notch, with hints of spices and herbs. It is an excellent complement to most pork dishes and great with salumi (or the local Speck ham, which I am starting to see over here). This is a wine to be drunk and not discussed.

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more information:

Visit the Baron Widmann website

Cellar Video Tour with Alto Adige’s ‘Gang of Four’