Chilled white wines (sent as samples) were poured and on the table as our group of journalists, as part of a virtual tasting, swirled, sipped and learned about Cantina Tramin, a highly regarded wine cooperative in Tramin, Alto Adige located in northern Italy. Cantina Tramin is noted for its quality whites cultivated in cool climate vineyards at 750-2800 feet above sea level. Thanks to its proximity to the mountains, the winds from Lake Garda and diurnal shift of temperatures, these wines are those of distinction. Sales Director Wolfgang Klotz led us through a tasting of six white wines that proved, with each sip, how each reflects the heart of its location and its heritage.
Cantina Tramin Combines the Heritage of Traditions and Vineyards
Cantina Tramin was founded due to “a small project with a few families initiated by Christian Schrott, parish priest of Termeno and deputy of the Austrian Parliament, to ensure a livelihood and a future for mountain winegrowers.” Wolfgang Klotz explained that Alto Adige has a long history of viticulture – more than 2000 years. In the Middle Ages, “it was often named as one of the prestigious wine growing areas, at least in the German speaking world.” Grape growers understood the region’s potential for white wines; in the Middle Ages, production was 75% white.
In 1971, Cantina Tramin merged with another historic winery, Cantina Sociale di Egna, established in 1893. With this merger, the “heritage of traditions and vineyards in a single cooperative” continues. Winemaker Willi Stürz became an integral part of the team in the 1990s after which the production of high quality wines was initiated with a goal of “excellence.” Klotz shared that whereas in the 1980s 85% of the production was bulk wine of Schiava, “we really started to focus on reducing the yield and to replant almost the whole surface of our viticulture by selecting every single parcel by the 1990s. So, reducing the yield and focusing on quality was the right thing to do.”
Now, the cooperative consists of 160 families who farm parcels within 280 hectares while adhering to the philosophies of “life and work, rigor, dedication, trust and creativity.” 1.9 million bottles per year are produced with 70% earmarked for the domestic market and 30% for foreign markets. 75% or the production are white wines while 25% are reds. “The cooperative is a knowledge hub,” shared Klotz. “We are small, so we can be focused on wines of premium quality. One of our goals is to give an economic future to our grower families and it is being reached.”
Photo Credit: Cantina Tramin
The Selection portfolio of wines includes Epokale, Troy, Nussbaumer, Terminum, Unterebner, Stoan, Maglen, Urban and Loam; they are the “expression of varietals and terroir from the most premium vineyards.” In short, this reflection of the environment is a beacon of Cantina Tramin. “We are really in the in the heart of the Alps,” stated Wolfgang Klotz. “We have this open space and so we get that very unique combination of the Alpine cool climate area surrounding the area and this open space with 300 sunny days a year giving the area a Mediterranean climate.”
New Releases from Cantina Tramin Reflect Alpine Freshness
Pinot Grigio 2025 is complex and fresh, a signature style of the cooperative. Aged in stainless steel with a small amount of malolactic acid, time in the bottle was 6-7 months. Notes of peaches and pears on both nose and palate were delicate yet rich. Sips complemented a warm summer lunch of chicken salad, fresh fruit, and cheeses. Klotz remarked, “We can see the valley and mountains in the bottle.” Sauvignon 2025 “shows the potential of this variety.” Crisp and fresh, each sip was fruit forward and led to a persistent finish on a foundation of lively acidity. This wine was just delicious alone as well as with a light chicken pasta dish.
The second most popular blended wine after Cantina Tramin’s Gewurtztraminer is Stoan 2023, a project that began in 2002 in order to “produce high end wines.” 70% Chardonnay dominates and is followed by percentages of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, and Gewurtztraminer all cultivated on soils that are gravelly to rocky with limestone loam and minerals at an elevation of 500 meters. Harvested separately, wines were aged in 3000 liter large neutral barrels with 1 year on the lees before bottling. The Stoan project becan in 2002 in order “to produce high end wines.” Elegant with soft aromas of ripe peaches, apricots, pears, white flowers, and jasmine, the wine is a beauty. On the balanced palate, notes of spice, orchard fruit, and a thread of minerality led to a lengthy finish.
In the local language of the region’s predecessors, Troy means “path or trail.” Troy 2021 is a premium wine project that began in 2015. Chardonnay is very significant to the region with more than 150 years of history; it is the second most planted grape in the area. Pure character exudes on the intensely complex nose and palate boasting ripe notes of banana, melon, tropical fruit, mint and hazelnuts on a foundation of classic Alpine freshness and minerality. Wonderfully balanced, this wine was textured and complex.
From vineyards with a higher altitude of 500-600 meters and with a high concentration of clay is Unterebner Pinot Grigio 2023. This rich and complex wine was aged in large oak casks and French tonneaux for one year and bottle aged for a few months. Balanced with Cantina Tramin’s signature freshness, the aromas and flavors of spice, buttery notes, and fruit led to minerality on the finish. We opened a chilled bottle of Unterebner Pinot Grigio 2023 with a dinner of grilled pork chops with sauce – wow!
Our final wine was stunning, Nussbaumer Gewurztraminer 2024. As the winery’s most historic and well-known label, the wine is incredibly balanced and (no surprise to me) is Italy’s most awarded Gewurztraminer. The wine is aged in small steel tanks with lees contact after which it rests in the bottle for another 3 months. Total maturation time is at least 14 months. A brilliant array of aromas included spice, roses, yellow stone fruits, ginger, baking spice and herbs. Its well structured palate was intense and rich with more bright juicy fruit, salinity and minerality. The finish lasted forever! A true food wine, Nussbaumer 2024 was a magnificent pairing with swordfish steaks under a ginger based sauce. Also to be considered brilliant pairings are smoked foods, ripe soft cheeses, white meat, seafood and of course, spicy Asian cuisine. Enjoy!
Cheers! ~ Cindy
