For all its riches, Alto Adige remains one of Italy’s most quietly compelling wine regions. Set amid the sawtooth limestone peaks of South Tyrol, this region’s wine culture has more in common with the neighbouring Austria and Germany than the rest of Italy. These influences, combined with cool alpine altitudes and rocky soils, shape wines of striking clarity and precision: mineral-driven, mouth-watering whites and finely structured, vibrant reds defined by freshness rather than weight. They are wines that speak directly to modern tastes, where tension, drinkability and definition matter more than power. “Innovation and a pioneering spirit have driven this historic Oltradige winery since its beginnings in 1923. The winery and cellarmaster Gerhard Kofler play a significant role in the Alto Adige winemaking and vineyard scenario. These are all major wines with great technique and personality.” Gambero Rosso Girlan was founded a century ago as a small co-operative winery with 23 growers on their books. Now, under Gerhard Kofler and Oscar Lorandi, Girlan has crafted a cast-iron reputation as one of the region’s standard bearers. In a region that produces many outstanding wines, the finest of which deservedly sit at the upper end of the market, Girlan stands out for offering a level of quality and regional expression that remains increasingly rare. Grounded in long-established traditions, these are wines whose calibre consistently outpaces their positioning.