Flora Chardonnay DOC - Kellerei Girlan

The Flora Chardonnay DOC Kellerei Girlan shines in the glass with a brilliant straw yellow and fine golden reflections. Even at the first swirl, a dense aromatic carpet rises. Ripe pineapple and juicy mango immediately step into the foreground. Behind them appear yellow plum, a hint of ripe pear and delicate citrus notes of lime and candied lemon peel.

The nose comes across as multi-layered and very elegant. Fine vanilla from the wooden barrel lays itself like a soft veil over the exotic fruit. In addition, there are nuances of roasted hazelnuts, some almonds and a hint of brioche. A light herbal spice is reminiscent of lemon balm and fresh mint. In the background, a clear, cool minerality shimmers, like wet stone after a summer rain in the mountains of South Tyrol.

On the palate, the Flora Chardonnay DOC Kellerei Girlan spreads out creamy and dense. The texture feels silky and smooth, yet never heavy. The exotic fruit from the nose returns. Pineapple and mango meet ripe mirabelle, some apricot and a hint of white peach skin. The lively acidity provides tension and keeps the wine taut and precise on the tongue.

The wood notes integrate perfectly. Fine vanilla, a hint of caramel and delicate toast aromas give the wine depth and structure. The aromas do not seem loud, but precisely placed. A subtle hint of white pepper and nutmeg rounds off the picture. The minerality runs like a cool thread through the entire progression.

The body appears medium to full-bodied, with impressive creaminess. The acidity is clear and lively, yet perfectly integrated. This results in a style that appears powerful yet at the same time elegant. The finish is very long and rich in aromas. A touch of salt, ripe citrus fruit and a delicate nutty note linger for a long time and invite you directly to the next sip.

This Chardonnay from Alto Adige brings the alpine terroir impressively into the glass. The vineyards lie at cooler altitudes with strong temperature differences between day and night. This leads to intense aromas, clear structure and a firm, cool core. The style appears typically Old World: focused, terroir-driven and refined with noble use of wood.

Typical characteristics of Chardonnay stand out clearly. The grape variety shows its full range between fruit, creaminess and structure. In the Flora Chardonnay DOC Kellerei Girlan, these facets unite to form a harmonious overall picture.

The aromatic signature can be well divided into three focal points:

• Exotic fruit: pineapple, mango, some papaya
• Pome and stone fruit: pear, mirabelle, apricot
• Maturation and wood aromas: vanilla, roasted nuts, brioche

This is joined by a clear, stony minerality that provides freshness and tension. In this way, a white wine emerges that delights both ambitious connoisseurs and curious newcomers. This Chardonnay is ideal for a variety of occasions. Some of them stand out in particular:

1. Fine dinner with fish and seafood
2. Relaxed evening with a cheese platter and friends
3. Festive table with light meat and refined sauces

The DOC classification of Alto Adige here stands for strict origin and a clear focus on quality. The cork closure underlines the ambition for maturation and development in the bottle. This wine already offers great enjoyment today and at the same time has reserves for several years of cellaring.

Production of the Flora Chardonnay DOC from Kellerei Girlan

The grapes for this Chardonnay come from selected sites in Alto Adige. The vineyards lie on the slopes around Girlan in Trentino–South Tyrol. The climate is alpine in character. Warm days alternate with cool nights and promote aromatic ripeness with clear acidity. The soils consist of limestone, dolomite rock and sandy components. This mix brings power, tension and a distinctive minerality to the wine.

Chardonnay is considered a grape variety with great expressive power for terroir. In South Tyrol, it shows an impressive combination of ripeness, freshness and elegance. The grapes ripen slowly and evenly here. This creates dense aromas of exotic fruit and stone fruit without losing finesse. The winery relies on selective harvesting. Ripe, aromatic grapes reach the cellar promptly. The harvest time is chosen so that the acidity remains fresh while the aromas show full ripeness.

In the cellar, the grapes are processed gently. They are quickly brought to the press house. There, gentle pressing is carried out to obtain only the finest must. A short maceration time on the skins enhances the aromas of fruit and spice. The must then flows into stainless steel tanks and wooden barrels. Fermentation takes place under temperature control so that freshness and fruit are clearly in the foreground.

Part of the wine matures in barriques or large wooden barrels. This is where the fine notes of vanilla, roasted nuts and toast develop. The other part remains in stainless steel and preserves the cool freshness and clear fruit. These two components later come together in a harmonious cuvée within the grape variety. The time spent on the fine lees gives the wine its creamy texture. Regular stirring of the lees provides additional creaminess and delicate brioche notes.

With this wine, Kellerei Girlan aims to show terroir and grape variety with precision. A Chardonnay with origin, character and depth is created. The DOC regulations ensure clear guidelines regarding yield, harvest and maturation. Thus, the name Flora Chardonnay DOC Kellerei Girlan stands for uncompromising quality and a consistent style.

Serving recommendations for the Flora Chardonnay DOC from Kellerei Girlan

The Flora Chardonnay DOC proves to be a versatile food companion. As an aperitif, it goes perfectly with small bites of seafood, salmon tartare or prawn skewers. The exotic fruit harmonizes wonderfully with sushi and sashimi. Ceviche with lime and coriander also enters into a lively dialogue with this wine.

With fish starters, the wine shows its elegant side. Sea bass carpaccio, marinated tuna fillet or scallops in a delicate butter sauce are an excellent match. The creamy texture caresses delicate dishes with light meat. Pan-fried corn-fed poultry, veal in a light cream sauce or chicken saltimbocca shine at its side.

With Mediterranean cuisine from Italy, numerous enjoyable combinations arise. Linguine with prawns, tagliolini with lemon butter, risotto with asparagus or porcini harmonize particularly well. The Chardonnay supports the creamy structure of the dishes and sets a beautiful counterpoint with its freshness.

Vegetarian cuisine also gains a refined partner with this wine. Grilled vegetables such as zucchini, fennel and bell pepper, gnocchi with sage butter or pumpkin risotto are an excellent match. Mature but not overly strong cheese rounds off an evening with this wine in a delicious way. Soft cow’s milk cheese, mild mountain cheese or young Comté form ideal partners.

For festive occasions, the Flora Chardonnay DOC is a stylish gift. It accompanies multi-course menus with fish, poultry and refined pasta dishes. During a relaxed evening with friends, it pairs well with a fine cheese platter and light, warm starters.

The ideal serving temperature is 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. This allows the wine to first show its cool, fresh side and then open up in the glass. A bowl-shaped white wine glass is best suited. The larger surface area brings out the aromatic complexity very well. Before drinking, a brief exposure to air in the glass or a small carafe is helpful. The wine develops noticeably in the first few minutes and gains depth.

In a cool, dark room with a constant temperature, the Flora Chardonnay DOC from Kellerei Girlan will continue to mature for a few more years. In this way, the aromas of nuts, honey and brioche deepen, while the fruit shows slightly matured notes. Even today, it already offers great enjoyment and convinces with style, elegance and character.

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