Vineyards Magazine

It’s always a wonderful time of year to visit Lake Caldaro and discover the wines that take shape on the surrounding hills. Autumn, however, has a charm all of its own: the vineyards change color, the landscape comes alive with leaves taking on the bright colours of the fall, and the season invites you to slow down, to stroll through the vineyards, and explore a region where wine culture is part of everyday life.

Schiava is one of the signature grape varieties of this landscape and also of Cantina Kaltern, a prestigious cooperative winery that unites 530 winegrowers and 420 hectares of vineyards. And while for generations this grape variety has defined South Tyrol’s everyday red wine, today – with its cultivation now concentrated solely in the most suitable vineyards – it reveals a surprisingly contemporary character. It is a vibrant red that is at its best when served cool (13–14°C). An extremely versatile wine, it pairs naturally with fine seafood cuisine as well as with “Törggelen”, a South Tyrolean festive tradition that combines conviviality and rustic cuisine, chestnuts and wine, and celebrates the end of the grape harvest in wineries and in traditional inns.

Quintessenz Kalterersee Classico Superiore is the finest Schiava-based wine from Cantina Kaltern, crafted from grapes grown in selected vineyards at elevations between 230 and 350 meters above sea level, on historic pergola-trained vines planted up to 70 years ago. The soil, chalky clay gravel with a layer of sand, retains the heat and helps the ripening process of the grapes. The hand-harvested grapes ferment at 24°C, with a 12-day maceration period; after malolactic fermentation, the wine ages for 6 months on its fine lees, partly in stainless steel and partly in large wooden barrels. The result is an elegant and precise Kalterersee wine.

In the glass, the 2025 vintage – soon to arrive on the market – shines out with its ruby red color and combination of finesse and drinkability. Hints of cherries, raspberries and strawberries are accompanied by delicate touches of almond, resulting in a full-bodied, savory palate, with soft tannins that enhance its smoothness and length of finish.

Those who would like to taste Quintessenz Kalterersee 2025 in its natural setting, can benefit from the tours and tastings that Cantina Kaltern provide at the winery, as well as tastings at the wine center just outside Caldaro, where Cantina Kaltern’s wines interact with contemporary art and architecture.

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Lake Caldaro is situated at the center of a unique environmental crossroads: to the north, the mountains shield it from the coldest winds, while from the south comes the Mediterranean influence, bringing sunshine and mild temperatures.

During the day, the refreshing “Ora” breeze from Lake Garda sweeps through the vineyards; later, a cooler breeze arrives from the Mendola Mountains, while Alpine air prevails at night.

The 2025 vintage began with a mild winter with adequate rainfall, providing excellent starting conditions. A brief spell of intense heat in June was well managed thanks to good water availability, while the more moderate temperatures in July helped preserve acidity. Warm August temperatures supported ripening and aromatic development. Harvest was made more challenging by rainfall in September, requiring particularly careful and targeted vineyard management.