Südtiroler Chardonnay DOC brings together white wines made from Chardonnay in Alto Adige (Südtirol in German) in the province of Bolzano in northern Italy. It is a varietal designation under the broad Alto Adige DOC, and this is an alpine area where the cool climate leaves its clear mark on the wines. Here the grapes get a long, slow ripening, and that is precisely where a Chardonnay from this area draws its character: dry white wines with a fine, sustaining freshness.
The style spans broadly. At one end you find fresh, unoaked versions fermented in steel tank, where acidity and minerality are allowed to take centre stage, clean and lively and easy to get along with. At the other end you find fuller, barrel-fermented versions with a rounder texture and a little more weight in the glass. There is also a sparkling version. To carry the designation, the wine must consist of at least 85% Chardonnay, while the rest comes from other permitted grapes under the regional classification, including Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon, Müller-Thurgau and Nosiola.
When a wine is sold as Südtiroler Chardonnay DOC, it is Chardonnay that determines aroma, flavour and expression, and the grape name is typically stated on the label beneath the regional designation. That makes it easy to navigate when you are looking for exactly the style you are in the mood for, whether you prefer the crisp and unoaked or the fuller.
It is a white wine style that suits a Nordic kitchen with fish, shellfish and light dishes, but which also stands fine on its own on a quiet evening. The fresh, unoaked versions work well as an aperitif, while the barrel-fermented versions can accompany slightly fuller dishes. With us you will find Südtiroler Chardonnay DOC as an honest entry into one of northern Italy's more cool-climate white wine styles.