Sanct Valentin Gewürztraminer DOC - Kellerei St. Michael-Eppan

The Sanct Valentin Gewürztraminer DOC Kellerei St. Michael-Eppan captures the essence of Alto Adige in a glass. A bright, dense straw yellow with golden reflections shines in the glass and promises aromatic richness. Already with the first swirl, an intense carpet of aromas rises, opulent and clearly defined.

On the nose, it presents a firework of exotic fruits. Ripe pineapple, juicy lychee and fragrant papaya meet delicate notes of rose petals. Added to this are fine nuances of orange, some passion fruit, a hint of honeydew melon and a touch of candied citrus peel. Gentle spicy hints of clove, nutmeg and white pepper round off the picture and lend this Gewürztraminer a deep, multi-layered character.

On the palate, the Sanct Valentin Gewürztraminer DOC Kellerei St. Michael-Eppan shows a dense, almost creamy texture. The wine lays itself gently yet with clear structure on the tongue. The exotic fruit appears concentrated but never heavy. The discreet residual sweetness brings a silky feel and balances the lively acidity. From this interplay emerges a dry white wine with varietal typicity and precise contour.

The aromatics on the palate echo the impressions of the nose in fine detail. Pineapple, lychee and papaya are in the foreground, accompanied by ripe pear and some white peach. In addition, there are delicate rose and acacia blossoms, a hint of lemon verbena and fine spice notes. In the background, a subtle mineral streak resonates, a typical expression of the cool, lime-rich soils of South Tyrol. The alcohol is well integrated and supports the fullness without dominating.

The structure is impressive. The wine shows silkiness, density and grip, along with a firm but not sharp acidity. This balance provides tension and length. On the finish, roses, tropical fruits and a fine spiciness linger for a long time. The style clearly reflects the Old World: precise, terroir-driven, with elegance instead of overt sweetness.

The Gewürztraminer grape proudly displays its distinctive character. It shows intense aromatic power, opulent bouquet and an almost oily silkiness on the palate. Alto Adige offers ideal conditions for this: cool nights, plenty of sunshine during the day and hillside vineyards with good ventilation. In this way, a wine of vibrant fruit, fresh structure and impressive depth is created.

The most important impressions on the nose and palate line up clearly:

• Exotic fruits such as pineapple, lychee, papaya and passion fruit
• Floral notes of rose and delicate acacia blossom
• Fine spiciness with hints of clove, nutmeg and white pepper
• Subtle mineral freshness from the mountainous landscape of South Tyrol
• Dense, creamy texture with a long, aroma-rich finish

For discerning connoisseurs, this wine offers several particular strengths.

1. Distinct varietal typicity with a clear Alto Adige origin
2. Dense texture and richness, yet crystal-clear structure
3. Great ageing potential, developing over a decade
4. Versatile food companion for aromatic cuisines
5. Prestige cuvée from one of the region’s leading wineries

The Sanct Valentin Gewürztraminer DOC Kellerei St. Michael-Eppan thus presents itself as a benchmark for Gewürztraminer from Alto Adige. A wine with character, depth and fascinating aromatic radiance.

Production of the Sanct Valentin Gewürztraminer DOC from Kellerei St. Michael-Eppan

The grapes come from Alto Adige, specifically from the best Gewürztraminer sites around Eppan. Steep slopes, higher elevations and an interplay of warm days and cool nights yield aromatic grapes with dense structure. The soils consist of limestone, gravel and some clay. This mix brings freshness, minerality and clear fruit to the wine.

Gewürztraminer is among the most demanding white grape varieties. It has thick skins, aromatic berries and lower yields. At St. Michael-Eppan, this variety has been the focus of the top Sanct Valentin line for years. The grapes ripen on the vine for a long time, accumulate aromas and reach high ripeness. Harvesting is selective and done by hand. Only fully ripe grapes make it to the winery.

After harvesting, gentle processing follows. The grapes quickly reach the cellar to preserve freshness. A short maceration period on the skins intensifies the aromas from the grape skins. This is followed by gentle pressing to obtain clear, fine musts. Fermentation takes place under temperature control in stainless steel tanks and partly in large wooden casks. This way the wine preserves its fruit while at the same time gaining structure.

Part of the wine matures longer on the fine lees. Regular stirring of these lees creates additional creaminess. The texture thus appears denser and more harmonious. In this way, the wine acquires its distinctive fullness while remaining precise and clear. Large wooden casks support the complexity without overlaying the fruit with oaky notes.

The St. Michael-Eppan winery places the greatest emphasis on selection and precision for the Sanct Valentin line. The aim remains a Gewürztraminer that tastes of South Tyrol, with a clear sense of origin, aromatic density and fine tension. After gentle filtration, the wine rests in the bottle before being released for sale. Thus, it reaches the customer in ideal balance and displays its full stylistic power.

Serving recommendations for the Sanct Valentin Gewürztraminer DOC from Kellerei St. Michael-Eppan

This Gewürztraminer proves to be an ideal partner for aromatic cuisine. The exotic fruit and spicy depth pair beautifully with Asian dishes. Spicy Thai curries with coconut milk, ginger and lemongrass harmonise wonderfully. Dishes from Vietnamese and Indian cuisine with plenty of herbs and spices also unfold their full appeal with this wine.

It goes very well with grilled prawns, scallops or refined fish dishes with delicate sauces. A creamy pumpkin or carrot soup with ginger enters into an exciting interplay with this wine. Dishes with goose liver, terrines or pâtés also find in it a noble partner. Mature soft cheeses such as Munster, Taleggio or a strong Brie are an excellent match.

As a companion to a festive menu, it shows great style. It accompanies the starter, such as an exotic fruit salad with fine seasoning or a tartare of premium fish. It also makes an impression on its own, for a relaxed evening with friends or as a glass to round off a special day.

This wine shows its best at a serving temperature of 11 to 13 degrees. Slight chilling provides freshness and tension. In a medium-sized white wine glass or a bulbous aroma glass, the bouquet unfolds ideally. For young vintages, pouring directly is sufficient; older bottles benefit from a little air in the glass. Gentle swirling enhances the exotic fruit and floral notes.

In a well-tempered cellar, the wine shows a cellar life of around ten years from the vintage. Over time, it develops additional honey and spice notes and gains in complexity. It is thus suitable both for lovers of young, fresh Gewürztraminer and for collectors of more mature styles.

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