Cantina Valle Isarco

VINTAGE 2024

James Suckling – 92
Showing white-peach and white-rose aromas, this quite perfumed wine is enhanced by a whiff of sage. Medium-bodied, it’s quite confected on the palate yet silky and crisp. Well-balanced in the finish. Drink now.

VINTAGE 2023

Wine Spectator – 89
Offering hints of dogwood blossoms and spring forest, this lively, fragrant white layers tangy acidity over pink grapefruit zest, grated ginger and mineral elements, with notes of poached pear, tangerine and lemon thyme. Drink now. 5,000 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.

VINTAGE 2022

James Suckling – 91
Aromas of lemon drops and sliced pears with hints of citrus leaf and white flowers. Medium body. Textured and polished with a sleek, nectarine-like texture and vivid finish. Drink now.

Wine Advocate – 92
The Cantina Valle Isarco 2022 Alto Adige Valle Isarco Pinot Grigio is a precise expression of this versatile grape, with an incredibly focused and direct personality. There is a little more plushness and richness to the palate, but the wine nishes with dry slate, crushed stone and a hint of apple-like sweetness to give it body. No malolactic fermentation takes place. This is an ample 50,000 bottle release.

Wine Spectator – 89
A lip-smacking white, with vibrant acidity well-knit to flavors of ripe green apple, star fruit, white blossoms and fleur de sel. Drink now. 5,500 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

VINTAGE 2022

James Suckling – 92
This has a perfumed, zesty character with sliced pears and Mediterranean herbs on offer. Medium-bodied, sleek and polished with juicy acidity and a crunchy, flavorful finish. Drink now.

VINTAGE 2021

James Suckling – 92
The enveloping aromas of white and green apples, together with hints of lime zest and fresh mint, pull you into this ripe and rather sophisticated dry white for the humble grape variety. Impressive concentration and polish at the long, crystalline finish. Drink now.

VINTAGE 2023

Wine Spectator – 88
There’s a flinty underpinning to this white’s melon, white peach and lentil flavors, while clean-cut acidity refreshes the finish of grapefruit pith and white blossoms. Drink now. 6,000 cases made, 500 cases imported.

VINTAGE 2022

Wine Advocate – 93
The Cantina Valle Isarco 2022 Alto Adige Valle Isarco Grüner Veltliner has the beginnings of petrichor and kerosene, with apricot, gooseberry and honeydew melon. The wine displays a rich style in this vintage, with good dimension and honey-like intensity on the close. The fruit is harvested at a very high 550 to 700 meters in elevation. Production is 30,000 bottles.

VINTAGE 2024

James Suckling – 93
A complex wine with flowery tuberose aromas, yellow grapefruit and winter melon. Bright definition. Medium-bodied, it shines with finesse and close-knit structure, lemony acidity and a zesty finish, tight yet balanced. Drink or hold.

VINTAGE 2022

James Suckling – 91
Notes of Meyer lemons and ripe mangoes with hints of honeysuckle, turmeric and beeswax. Medium- to full bodied,compact and vivid with some salty character and a juicy, fruity finish. A little waxy at the end. Drink now.

VinePair – 90
Cantina Valle Isarco is the youngest winemaking cooperative in Alto Adige, known for its focus on making high-quality white wines. This Sauvignon Blanc captures the intensity of the mountainous region with bold fruit notes, high acidity, and a moderately high alcohol level. But with each component of this wine firing on all cylinders, it actually works, and comes together in one balanced expression. It has aromas of guava and citrus, with a slight musky note, and the palate brings ripe tropical fruits and a refreshing minerality.

Wine Advocate – 91
The Cantina Valle Isarco 2022 Alto Adige Sauvignon has bright aromas of tangerine skin, candied pear, citrus and an overall, very perfumed bouquet that speaks to the naked personality of this grape grown in an Alpine environment. There are tropical notes as well, but the wine does not have the pungent green tomato leaf tones that you can sometimes get with this grape in New Zealand wines. Instead, you get sweet and delicate papaya and star fruit. It lacks some acidity on the close. This is an abundant 30,000-bottle release.

Wine Spectator – 89
This zippy white crackles with bright acidity and concentrated notes of chive blossoms, crunchy white peach, pink grapefruit zest, fleur de sel and white pepper. Drink now. 4,500 cases made, 350 cases imported.

VINTAGE 2022 

James Suckling – 91
Notes of sliced apples, lemon zest and citrus blossom on the nose with crushed stone minerality in the background. Vivid and characterful with medium body, crisp acidity and a fresh citrusy character. Complete and balanced. Drink now.

Wine Advocate – 92
This is a lovely wine from high-elevation, quartz-rich soils and is available at a great value price. The Cantina Valle Isarco 2022 Alto Adige Valle Isarco Kerner shows a rich consistency with deep favors of ripe fruit, apricot, pine nut and honey. There is crushed stone at the back that gives lift and contouring to the otherwise bigger texture of this hot-vintage expression. The wine nishes on a dry, elegant note. This is an ample release of 150,000 bottles.

Wine Spectator – 88
A juicy, light-bodied white, with orange and lime blossom aromatics and flavors of blood orange sorbet, pink grapefruit zest and sea salt. Drink now. 1,500 cases made, 100 cases imported.

VINTAGE 2022

James Suckling – 90
This shows aromas of ripe, sweeter, red berries with dried rose petals and red spices. Medium-bodied with vivid acidity and hints of bitter orange and hibiscus. Juicy finish. Drink now.

VINTAGE 2023

Wine Enthusiast – 89
Delicate aromas of red currants, dried thyme, and a whisper of earthy undertones caress the senses. The palate is light and fresh, with soft, velvety tannins embracing flavors of dried raspberries and a hint of chalky minerality. This Pinot Noir showcases the variety’s elegance and finesse, making it a delightful choice.

VINTAGE 2022

James Suckling – 90
This shows aromas of ripe, sweeter, red berries with dried rose petals and red spices. Medium-bodied with vivid acidity and hints of bitter orange and hibiscus. Juicy finish. Drink now.

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VINTAGE 2023

Wine Enthusiast – 9o
Intense aromas of black fruit jam, Australian licorice, and wet leaves captivate the senses. A cabinet of spices intertwines with the dark fruit giving the nose a pop of spice. On the palate, the wine is lush and round, with a mouth-filling richness that envelops the taste buds. Blackberry, plum, and a medley of spices dance on the tongue, leaving a lasting impression of depth and opulence.

VINTAGE 2021

Wine Enthusiast – 91 – Best Buy
The subtle and interesting nose of the “Aristos” Pinot Grigio highlights the minerality and fresh apple aromas of this pretty wine. As the wine develops in the glass hints of lemon oil and white flowers emerge and captivate. The palate is medium in body with lees aging giving the wine texture and length. The wine finishs with a solid core of apple and lemon notes with bright acidity

VINTAGE 2020

James Suckling – 92
Although this has plenty of structure and attractive melon fruit, it’s the mountain freshness that marks this super-bright pinot grigio. Super-clean finish for this grape with an unusual grapefruit-zest note. Drink or hold.

VINTAGE 2024

James Suckling – 93
A floral style with cream of wheat and lemon tree. Light- to medium-bodied with weight, tingling acidity and a salty finish. Good progression on the palate. Drink now.

VINTAGE 2022

James Suckling – 92
This has a perfumed, zesty character with sliced pears and Mediterranean herbs on offer. Medium-bodied, sleek and polished with juicy acidity and a crunchy, flavorful finish. Drink now.

VINTAGE 2021

Wine Enthusiast – 90
The 2021 Sylvaner Aristos opens in the glass with a spicy mix of dried flowers, lime zest and crushed green apples. It’s round and soothing on the palate. Ripe pear complements with a candied lime note. The 2021 finishes classically dry with a subtle tension that pulls the taster back to the glass.

VINTAGE 2020

James Suckling – 93
The Alpine situation has electrified this sylvaner, making it a remarkably juicy and vibrant dry white for this grape, which can be round and dull. I love the ripe-lemon and fresh-pineapple aromas that balance beautifully the lively acidity at the long, clean finish. Drink or hold.

VINTAGE 2021

James Suckling – 91
This has aromas of green pears, limes, lemons, elderflowers and fennel. Fresh, zesty and crunchy with a medium body. Refreshing lemon character throughout. Drink now.

Wine Advocate – 92
Here’s a new submission from Cantina Valle Isarco. The steel-fermented 2021 Alto Adige Sauvignon Aristos has bright aromas of passion fruit and lychee, all followed by citrus, green apple and tomato leaf. This high-elevation Sauvignon Blanc (with 8,000 bottles made) has more in common with its cousins from New Zealand. Sauvignon Blanc from Alto Adige doesn’t usually have the pungent green aromas that you find in the New World alternatives. However, this wine delivers them in troves. You can put it all down to the steep mountainside vineyards (with impossible 50% slopes at 600 to 720 meters in elevation) found in the Valle Isarco, a very special wine-growing region indeed.

Vinous – 90
The 2021 Sauvignon Aristos is spicy in the glass, with wild herbs and lemon zests offset by traces of freshly cut grass. This soothes with its soft textures as a tension-building mix of tropical citrus and minerals collect toward the close. It finishes fresh with a lingering concentration that puckers the cheeks.

VINTAGE 2020

James Suckling – 92
A very aromatic sauvignon that’s got so much gooseberry, yellow grapefruit and passion fruit. Every bit as juicy on the medium-to full-bodied palate with ripe acidity and just a little hint of tannin at the bright but not tart finish. Good length. Drink or hold.

VINTAGE 2024

James Suckling – 93
A restrained, elegant profile with seaweed minerality and leaves. Smooth on the light- to medium-bodied palate, this has silky filigreed texture, good length and crisp, almost zesty, acidity. Drink now.

VINTAGE 2021

James Suckling – 92
A crunchy, refreshing and subtly spicy white with aromas of green apples, stones, lime pith and white pepper. Some anise, too. Excellent freshness here, with medium body and a peppery finish. Drink now.

Wine Advocate – 92
Luminous and bright, the Cantina Valle Isarco 2021 Alto Adige Valle Isarco Grüner Veltliner Aristos (with 8,000 bottles made) offers a smooth presentation with star fruit, guava, green apple and underripe peach. There are subtle floral tones with star jasmine and white rose. Chalky mineral sensation give this wine linearity and focus. It ages in both stainless steel and large casks made with acacia wood.

Wine Enthusiast – 91
There is no mistaking this wine is from the mountains, with its aromas of fresh apple blossom, alpine herbs, ripe apple and candied lime. It’s zippy and almost prickly on the palate, with an energetic verve highlighting a lemon-lime soda note, magnolia and exotic spice, finishing with crushed rock.

VINTAGE 2020

James Suckling – 92
Very fresh snow-pea, green-bean and white-pepper aromas here, plus an excellent balance of substantial body and bright fruit, the subtle tannins nicely supporting the long finish with its moderate acidity. Drink or hold.

VINTAGE 2024

James Suckling – 94
Fairly neutral with stone fruit and citrus. Smoky minerality. Very good concentration with medium body, crisp acidity and savory length. Tingling finish. Drink now.

VINTAGE 2022

James Suckling – 93
Ripe peaches and spiced mangoes with spices, dried herbs and sweet tangerine peel on the nose. Rich and layered with medium to full body, vivid acidity and concentrated, but fresh fruit. Nervy and energetic with a bright, lingering finish. Drink or hold.

Vinous – 91
The 2022 Kerner Aristos is subtle yet perfumed, showing pretty notes of fresh peaches, mint leaves and green melon. This washes across the palate with soft textures and lime-tinged orchard fruits, all propelled by juicy acidity. A salty flourish remains as the 2022 finishes lightly structured and tense with a mineral tinge.

3 bicchieri 2024

VINTAGE 2021

James Suckling – 92
Medium-bodied white with green apple, pineapple, grapefruit, fennel and lemon blossom on the nose. Vibrant and fruity with bright citrus and tropical-fruit notes. Excellent concentration on the lengthy finish. Drink now

Vinous – 90
The 2021 Kerner Aristos emerges from the glass with green melon and kiwi nuances complemented by confectionary spice. It’s soft-textured and soothing on the palate, mixing a pleasant inner sweetness with salty minerals and ripe orchard fruits. This becomes perfumed through the juicy finale, leaving a gente tug of lime and green apple.

Wine Advocate – 92+
Here’s another stellar bottle from one of Italy’s greatest wine subzones: the high-elevation Valle Isarco. Made in stainless steel only, the Cantina Valle Isarco 2021 Alto Adige Valle Isarco Kerner Aristos is expressed in terms of finesse and nuance. The wine boasts a filigree of tart pear, green apple, crushed quartz stone and smoky ash. Fruit comes from way high up the mountain, at 800 to 970 meters above sea level. Production is 30,000 bottles.

Wine Enthusiast – 92 – best buy
Kerner is one of the most interesting grapes of Alto Adige. A cross between Riesling and Schiava (a RED grape!) the wine is aromatic and super textural. The “Aristos” is a shining example of this super fun grape. Aromas of citrus oil, lemongrass, white flowers and river rock dance out of the glass. The palate is bright and vibrant with zingy acidity intensifying the citrus flavors found in the wine. The wine finishes with amazing texture on the palate

Wine Spectator – 92
Kerner is one of the most interesting grapes of Alto Adige. A cross between Riesling and Schiava (a RED grape!) the wine is aromatic and super textural. The “Aristos” is a shining example of this super fun grape. Aromas of citrus oil, lemongrass, white flowers and river rock dance out of the glass. The palate is bright and vibrant with zingy acidity intensifying the citrus flavors found in the wine. The wine finishes with amazing texture on the palate.

VINTAGE 2022

James Suckling – 93
Ripe citrus fruit, sliced mangoes, dried flowers and smoky, stony minerality on offer. Vivid and energized on the palate with medium to full body and a compact, textural finish. Bright acidity. Long and flavorful. Drink or hold.

VINTAGE 2020

James Suckling – 92
Ripe and tropical character with mangoes, lychee and apricots on offer. Some floral and mineral undertones, too. Medium-bodied, crunchy and fresh with some salinity on the mid-palate. Flavorful finish. Drink now.

VINTAGE 2020

James Suckling – 92
This is aromatic with notes of hay, savory herbs, white flowers, crushed stones and subtle notes of white peaches and pears. Medium-bodied, steady and structured with bright acidity and a sleek, fruit-forward finish. Drink now.

Vinous – 92
The 2020 Sylvaner Sabiona is delicate and nuanced in the glass, with white flowers and crushed rocks giving its way to nectarine. This is soothingly soft and perfumed, with confectionary spices and chalky mineral tones that form a more tactile feel towards the close. A refined mix of vanilla custard and hazelnut remains as the 2020 finishes on a note of freshness. Very nice and supremely elegant.

VINTAGE 2019

Wine Advocate – 94
Here’s a new submission from Cantina Valle Isarco. The 2019 Alto Adige Valle Isarco Sylvaner Sabiona is fully aged in tonneaux. The fruit comes from a two-hectare site at a high 650 meters in elevation with deep alluvial soils and lots or rocks. This 3,000-bottle production shows crisp fruit with papaya and pear, along with some mild spice and crushed stone. This is an elegant and silky wine that promises to evolve with more bottle age.