Kellerei Cantina Terlan

Terlan on the South Tyrol Wine Road is flanked on all sides by the mighty Alps, steep slopes with wine and apple orchards. The Kellerei Catina Terlan is right in the middle of all this and not without reason. 

The Cantina Terlan Winery

A unique terroir of volcanic eruptions, cool glacial winds and sub-Mediterranean warmth unite in the old vines, which sharpen their character year after year. The Terlaner DOC cultivation area on the Tschöggelberg mountain packs everything into long-lasting white wines and mineral red wines, while the Cantina Terlan cellar decelerates the potpourri with the typical serenity of South Tyrol.

Terlan wine from the Cantina Terlan

Whether pure and long-lasting specialities or harmonious cuvées - Cantina Terlan offers a wide variety of top wines from South Tyrol. Long-lasting specialities such as Terlaner Alto Adige DOC, a white wine from the winery's early days, let delicious aromas of green apples and lemon balm glide into your glass on every occasion. Of course, a South Tyrolean winery should not miss the local Lagrein red wine - velvety body, intense fruit and dark garnet red. And for friends of irrepressible joie de vivre there is always a reason to serve a Rosé from the Cantina Terlan. The small wine village in South Tyrol offers a great choice for every taste.

A special terroir - Terlan in South Tyrol

Italy's northernmost wine-growing region is virtually predestined for the cultivation of white grape varieties. And the Terlaner Kellerei, with its small plots of land at up to 900 metres on the slopes of the Tschöggelberg, ensures that each and every one of them is cared for in a purposeful manner. The soil is the result of ancient deposits from a glacier that mixed sand, clay, mur and skeleton-rich soil with volcanic lava rock and today reveals an inimitable diversity. 

The climate is also at its best when it comes to wine growing. The high Alps protect Terlan from cold winds from the north, while mild currents from the south blow over the valley and combine with the freshness of the surrounding glaciers. The sun shines for over 2100 hours a year and heats up some days up to 38° C. Falling winds then cool the valley drastically at night. Hot days, icy nights and very little rainfall promote Terlan's viticulture in its own special way.

Top DOC wines from South Tyrol

Time is a big word for the Cantina Terlan, which was founded in 1893 as one of the first cellar cooperatives in the quaint wine village. A total of 24 winegrowers united with the aim of promoting sales and joint production. And the time was well-disposed towards the merger. Today, 143 people are behind the Cantina Terlan winery, which presses 1.5 million bottles of Terlan wine annually on 190 hectares of vineyards.

The steep slopes between 250 and 900 metres require careful manual work to ensure that the grape varieties Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Pinot Blanc find their way into the cellar. The red grape varieties Merlot, Lagrein and Vernatsch thrive at up to 400 metres. The mix of international and autochthonous varieties makes the portfolio of Cantina Terlan extremely interesting, not least because of the fine nuances that the terroir reveals. 

The range of grape varieties of the South Tyrolean Winery

White grape varieties:

• Pinot Blanc
• Sauvignon blanc
• Gewürztraminer
• Chardonnay
• Pinot Gris
• Müller Thurgau

Red grape varieties

• Lagrein
• Pinot Noir
• Merlot

Cantina Terlan - Quality standards

The winery produces about 70% white wines and 30% red wines - 100% of which are under the supervision of oenologist Rudi Kofler. The winemaking skills in the cellar take up the high quality of the vineyard, so that all wines are allowed to carry the coveted Terlaner DOC on the label. Every bottle internalises the Terlaner Terroir. The winery's express goal: to preserve the character of the region in the wine from cultivation to the finished wine. In addition, the Terlan Winery takes time during the vinification process to ensure that the wine matures perfectly before it is sold. Pure minerality paired with freshness and lush spiciness characterise the white wines, while the fruitiness and longevity of the wines are second to none - no wonder that Terlan wines from the Cantina Terlan Winery are highly regarded internationally. Try it and enjoy the taste!