THE WINERY: Elena Walch is a 5-generation family-run estate in Alto Adige, a region in the North-East part of Italy that led the wine quality revolution in the area and has gained a prominent international reputation. The philosophy of the estate is dedicated to its terroir – the idea that wines must be the individual expression of their soil, climate and cultivation in the vineyard – and that this must be maintained according to principles of sustainability and passed on to the next generation. The firm belief that the quality of wine is created in the vineyard requires uncompromising work, taking into account the individuality of each vineyard. With 90 hectares in cultivation, including the two top vineyards VIGNA Castel Ringberg in Caldaro und VIGNA Kastelaz in Tramin, Elena Walch belongs to the most important protagonists of Alto Adige winemaking.

THE WINE: Named after the Renaissance castle built by the Habsburgs in 1620 on Lake Caldaro, the Vigna “Castel Ringberg” is a prominent feature of the region. It’s a unique property of Elena Walch, producing many of her award-winning, mineral-driven wines. The term “Vigna” indicates a specific origin, referring to a strictly defined and mapped single vineyard.

Ranging from 330 to 400 meters above sea level, Vigna “Castel Ringberg” features diverse soils. Upper areas, reaching the “Mendel” ridge of the Dolomites, have 30,000-year-old Adige River gravel. Calcareous soils with morainic substrata and loose limestone are found in lower zones. The lake’s moderating influence and the “Ora” wind contribute to the balanced, elegant character of the wines, derived from various native and international varieties.

We’re thrilled with the outstanding vintage, particularly for our white wines. A late bloom followed a dry, cool spring. Despite midsummer’s irregular weather, ideal conditions from mid-August to September end ensured optimal grape maturity. The harvest started mid-September, ten days later than the previous year. With sunny weather and autumn cool nights, the grapes achieved perfect sugar levels and good acidity. Consequently, our 2021 wines are high-quality.

Fermentation takes about 10 days, followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Maturation lasts 20 months in French oak barriques, then the wine is bottle aged before release. Since 2015, a modern fermentation cellar facilitates careful grape processing using gravity fed technology. A gentle de-stemmer and a specialized container, the “cuvon,” ensure the grapes’ quality. This state-of-the-art building is unique in Alto Adige, and one of Italy’s most modern cellars for producing excellent red wines.

“The Lagrein Riserva Vigna “Castel Ringberg” shows a deep garnet red color and encourages repeated nosing for cranberry, currant, cherry, chocolate and delicate tobacco aromas. Tannins are velvety, and a fresh, spicy, mineral character can be found in the long finish.” -Elena Walch