2018 Niedrist Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Alto Adige > Italy

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: organic farming, porphyric and gneiss soil, 520m elevation, fermented in stainless steel, held in stainless steel for 6 months on lees; bottled unfined/unfiltered with minimal So2; 14% ABV

Winemaker: Ignaz Niedrist   

Sauvignon Blanc from Italy’s Alto Adige is an entirely different animal than SB from the rest of the world. It is not native to the region but it sure acts like it, beautifully adapting to the high altitude and crumbly, infertile soil and warm, sunny summers. Alto Adige sits in the Italian Dolomiti, a northeastern mountain range that borders Austria and Switzerland, where the growing season is insanely short. It is not uncommon for snow to be on the ground in April, which sets the wines apart from your average New Zealand Savvy B.  But, once the snow is gone the sun comes out in full force and ripens the grapes fully in a short amount of time – the result is a more refined, less burly Sauvignon Blanc that speaks of place. This is especially true for the gregarious and adorable Ignaz Niedrist. His version is a true powerhouse – off the charts aromas of apricot, yellow apple and mineral and absolutely searing acidity that leads to a long finish. It would be excellent with roasted pork dish topped with stone fruit chutney or the aromatic spices found in Ethiopian food!