Bottled mountain air in a bottle

Once winged words from one of our first Wine Writers, Hubrecht Duijker, but how fitting they still are here! Pure grape, absolutely no unnecessary frills, purity itself. The Elena Walch Pinot Bianco presents itself here with a bright straw yellow color. It has pure fruity aromas, fresh apple notes, and a hint of spices on the bouquet. On the palate, the wine surprises with elegant fullness, minerality, lively acidity, and a fresh finish. Sourced from steep vineyards with light limestone and porphyry soils. An interplay of cool altitudes up to 900 meters above sea level and warmer locations at medium altitudes around 250 meters above sea level. These have therefore been selected with the greatest care.

Na de oogst worden de druiven zorgvuldig gekneusd en geperst. De verse most wordt statisch geklaard bij lage temperaturen en vervolgens voorzichtig gefermenteerd bij een gecontroleerde temperatuur van 20°C in roestvrijstalen tanks. De jonge wijn rijpt vervolgens enkele maanden in roestvrijstalen tanks op de fijne droesem. Het resultaat is een wijn die zo naturel overkomt. En ook een zeer veelzijdige wijn, heerlijk als aperitief maar ook als begeleider van lichte voorgerechten, maar ook bij een gepocheerde forel of bijvoorbeeld bij gegrilde groene asperges.

Elena Walch, the Empress of Alto Adige

Run by matriarch Elena Walch and her two daughters Julia and Caroline in the picturesque Dolomites, Elena Walch centers around the famous Castel Ringberg vineyard, which ‘belts’ the 1620 Habsburg castle. With excellent cool climatic conditions, the steep, sunny slopes of Dolomite rock with loose reddish limestone create a unique terroir. This site produces fresh and elegant white wines, as well as a famous concentrated and velvety Lagrein – the ‘insider’s’ wine of Alto Adige.

Elena Walch ranks among the top wineries in Alto Adige. Together with her two daughters, Elena Walch runs the family business and produces quality wines that enjoy great international success. This is hardly surprising, as Elena Walch played a leading role in the quality revolution that Alto Adige has undergone in recent decades. However, it is not only the innovations in the vineyard and cellar that make her wines so exceptional. Her philosophy is also largely dedicated to the terroir and the idea that the specific characteristics of the soil, (micro)climate, and vineyard work must be fully expressed in every wine. Sustainability is also a key principle in all facets of wine production. The picturesque estates of Castel Ringberg and Kastelaz form the core of the vineyards, which cover a total of approximately 55 hectares. Elena Walch's wines are characterized by their modern, elegant, and refined style.

The Elena Walch Pinot Bianco scores the necessary high points here once again:

91 Falstaff
90 Wine Spectator 2019
92 James Suckling
90 The Wine Advocate – Robert Parker
93 Guida Essenziale Ai Vini D’Italia 2020 – Doctor Wine di Daniele Cernilli