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Fair N’ Green Certified for Sustainable Viticulture
400+ small growers, all practicing organic viticulture
Historic producer within the region

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About Erste+Neue:

“We guide the grape on its journey from the vine into the bottle, that has been our Credo since 1900. Tradition has inhabited the vaulted cellars of our winery since 1900 and our name Erste + Neue (first + new) obliges us to preserve what is valuable from the past while remaining open towards the new. Our wine embodies our history. Our history is our wine and our passion. Where the Mediterranean south joins the mountains of the Alps, where the sun drenches our soils with warmth and the vines reach out to the sky with their arms, there the vines capture the landscape and transmute it into dreams...”  - Erste+Neue Winery

The Alto Adige (or Süd Tyrol, as it's called by the German-speaking inhabitants) is the only area of Italy known for large, high-quality co-operative wineries. (A few good co-ops exist in other regions, but not lots of them in one region.) We import the top-notch wines of the co-op Erste+Neue*, which is right in the center of Caldaro, one of the small towns on the 'Wine Road' south of Bolzano.

‘Erste+Neue' means 'First+New’. The name represents the merger of the first (‘erste') co-op cellar in Caldaro, which was founded in 1900, and the newest ('neue') co-op cellar after the Alto Adige became a part of Italy in 1919, which was founded in 1925. The two co-ops united under one label in 1986. In 2016 Erste+Neue incorporated a third co-op, Cantina Kaltern, but decided to continue operating under the name Erste+Neue.

Gerhard Sanin, the enologist for E+N, favors a bright, restrained winemaking style that really allows this place and these varieties to shine. They make the range of white wines that you would expect including Sauvignon, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and an excellent Müller Thurgau. The whites come alongside a set of three excellent reds, their Kalterersee (Schiava), Pinot Nero and Lagrein.

I am very pleased to round out our selection of artisan wines from the Alto Adige with Erste+Neue. Different price points, more wine available, and a house quality and style that is entirely consistent with the rest of our selection. We look forward to tasting these wines with you.

The Wines:

Pinot Bianco

Most people's first Pinot Bianco (also know as Pinot Blanc and Weissburgunder) comes from Alsace, where the grape makes pleasant enough wines but is rarely taken seriously. In the Alto Adige the variety is taken very seriously, making minerally, savory whites that I love to drink with food. E+N's classic Pinot Bianco is an very good example, showing aromas and flavors of Granny Smith apple and wet stones, with hints of citrus and herbs. Not as showy as the more aromatic varieties like Sauvignon or Müller-Thurgau, but very useful wine at the table.

Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio sometimes lacks the vivid freshness of Pinot Bianco, but the best examples from the Alto Adige have the typical varietal texture and spice notes punched up with bright acidity. Erste+Neue's Pinot Grigio is absolutely textbook: pear, apple, hint of nutmeg, very good balance of weight and acidity. A very good versatile everyday white wine, and it's a steal.

Sauvignon

Alto Adige Sauvignon (or, as we say, Sauvignon Blanc) is Italy's best rendition of this variety, showing a lively combination of classic 'green' SB aromas (the winery suggests 'elder flower and nettles') and flavors with hints of apricot or white peach. For Sauvignon fans, the style is somewhere in between Loire and New Zealand examples. Luscious fruit is balanced by very bright acidity. This works well as a dry aperitif or with a broad variety of antipasti, seafood dishes and asparagus, a local spring specialty.

Müller Thurgau

A highly aromatic Riesling cross created in Switzerland in the 1880s, the best Müller-Thurgau comes from the Alto Adige (and from just south of here, in the Trentino region). Exuberant aromas of lime peel and flowers; zesty, bright and dry on the palate; delicious as a dry aperitif or with cured meats. I drink a lot of this in warmer weather as an aperitif.

Kalterersee Classico Superiore

Schiava, or Vernatsch in the local dialect, is a red grape variety native to the Alto Adige. It produces dangerously delicious pale red wines that make a wide range of foods taste great; we love it with pork, but it’s also perfect with salmon, roast chicken, and all kinds of pastas. Throw it in the fridge for 30 minutes for best freshness. Red wines don’t have to be deep in color to compliment your food, and here’s your proof. Fermented in stainless steel, aged in large barrels; drink the current vintage.

Pinot Nero/Pinot Noir

This region of northern Italy is known for producing quite a bit of Pinot Noir, the only italian region to do so. This example is medium red in color, very typical for the variety, and shows aromas and flavors of red berries, tea-leaf, and hints of mint and cola. Round and very drinkable in texture, and a very versatile food wine. Try it with salmon or roast chicken. Fermented in stainless steel, aged in large barrels.

Lagrein

Lagrein is a red wine grape variety thought to be native to the Alto Adige. This medium-weight example resembles a tangy, alpine Cabernet Franc; middling-to-dark red color with violet reflections, aroma and flavor of black plums, pomegranate, pencil shavings, a hint of spice; medium weight on the palate. We drink it with red meats or substantial pastas. Fermented in stainless steel, aged in large barrels, made to drink young.

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more information:

Erste + Neue is certified ‘Fair N’ Green’, click the following links to learn more: Erste + Neue on Fair N’ Green

Visit the Fair N’ Green site

Visit the Erste + Neue website