Vineyards Magazine

One of the oldest wineries in Alto Adige, Cantina Tramin is an example of boutique winery on its own. With 180 families taking care of about a hectare each and the focus on indigenous varieties such as Gewürztraminer, it comes as no surprise Nussbaumer Gewürztraminer 2014 has been the only Italian white wine awarded with the highest score on all the four leading Italian Wine Guides*

Established back in 1898 in Tramin, a small village far amidst the Alpes in upper Northern Italy, Cantina Tramin has become synonym with still dry Gewürztraminer. The intense work carried out on local varieties along with mountain natural inclination for high quality wine production and a new concept of wine ageing paved the way for Nussbaumer Gewürztraminer 2014 obtaining a stunning performance, therefore convincing once more Italian major guides.

Cantina Tramin has been able to maintain high profile standards over time thanks to an artisanal production which enables the winery to harvest the grapes of each vineyard at perfect maturation, when perfumes reach their highest potential. Cantina Tramin is a wine cooperative of 260 hectares total (642 acres) with an average of a little bit more than one hectare (2.50 acres) per family, thus allowing the 180 households to harvest vineyards in a single day with the benefit of perfect ripeness and outstanding aromacity. All this has gained Cantina Tramin Weinwirtschaft Award as Best Italian Cooperative with the highest score of all European co-ops.

Breezes blowing down from towering mountains onto the sloped vineyards located between 250 and 850 m a.s.l., day/night temperature excursion and different microclimates contribute to perfect ripening and aromatic expression of each variety: Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Lagrein and others.

From 2014 a new concept of wine ageing has been introduced for premium wines such as Nussbaumer Gewürztraminer, Unterebner Pinot Grigio and Stoan, a blend of white varieties. These wines have been allowed to take the time they need to reach maximum aromatic expression and elegance. Specifically, wines stay on lees three more months, are bottled only at the end of August and released on the market at the beginning of the following year, thus expressing in the glass the authentic essence of mountain wines.

*Gambero Rosso Vini d’Italia 2017, Espresso I Vini d’Italia 2017, I Vini di Veronelli 2017, Vitae 2017 by Associazione Italiana Sommelier. Only seven wines have performed so well; these include one white wine, Alto Adige Gewürztraminer Nussbaumer 2014 Cantina Tramin, one sparkling wine, Trento Extra Brut Riserva del Fondatore Giulio Ferrari 2005 Ferrari, and five reds, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Monte Sant’Urbano 2012 Speri, San Leonardo 2011 Tenuta San Leonardo, Bolgheri Sassicaia 2013 Tenuta San Guido, Tignanello 2013 Marchesi Antinori, Paleo Rosso 2013 Le Macchiole.