Untermoserhof Lagrein Südtirol-Alto Adige DOC 2018

The dynamic father-son duo of Georg and Florian Ramoser focus on a distinctive duo of grape varietals: the native red grapes schiava and lagrein. Their family home and winery, Untermoserhof, dates to 1640 and is perched above Bolzano overlooking the dramatic Alpine setting of Val d’Isarco/Eisacktal. Untermoserhof’s four hectares of tiny parcels are nestled on steep slopes, requiring intensive manual labor, which complements the Ramoser’s minimal-input, organic farming and controlled yields. Combined with attentive cellar work, the resulting wines are elegant, vibrant expressions of the Alto Adige/Südtirol region. 

Lagrein is one of the oldest indigenous grapes in Italy, and has been grown in Alto Adige/Südtirol for over 1000 years! It yields an intensely colored wine due to its high concentration of anthocyanins, and shares genetic heritage with teroldego, syrah, and pinot noir. The Ramosers ferment their lagrein in stainless steel, with twice daily pumpovers to gently extract tannin from this intense grape. The wine is then racked and pressed, and undergoes malolactic fermentation and 8 months of elevage in 2500 L oak barrels. The result is an inky, full-bodied wine that exudes chewy layers of ripe plum, brambly blackcurrant, and earth, alongside a distinctive mineral core that keeps it from being too ponderous on the palate. Certified organic.