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exploring taste—santa margherita gruppo vinicolo wine culture—kettmeir & méthode champenoise

“Today South Tyrol

is perceived as a high-quality

brand – inside the bottle

you can find wine, but also

mountains, agricultural

products and the hospitality

that characterizes this area.

There is a great deal of talk

tion,’ states the oenologist. "When this was the most Southern ately, right from when someone puts their nose to the wine
part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, wine production fo- glass. When people drink Kettmeir’s Traditional Method surrounding the area,
cused on red wine. After the annexation, it became the most they should think ‘This is South Tyrol’. They should be able
Northern area of Italy, regarded therefore as perfect for white to immediately recognize what I believe to be its three main
wine. That’s one of the reasons why during the years, the ratio characteristics: aroma, freshness and elegance.“The Pinot Bi-
has been inverted: until 1985, the production of wine was 85% anco confers a territorial character to the Brut. “It certainly is and we want that to be sensed
red to 15% white, whereas now we produce 65% white and 35% one of the best advocates for our territory, thanks to its dis-
red." Spumante wine was always a bit overlooked. "Sparkling tinctive mineral taste and that slightly bitter aftertaste which
wine originates from a personal passion, from a totally ideal- reveals a precise flavor. Similarly, it’s the Pinot Noir that gives immediately, right from when
istic spark.’ And this is exactly what happened here. identity to the Rosé.”
‘The gold from beyond the Adige river’ has changed consid- The Traditional Method Riserva is the new development of
erably over the years. “Our focus is South Tyrol,” says Romen. 2017, exactly 25 years after the first Traditional Method vin-
“Our Brut and our Rosé are wines have a deep connection tage. “It is certainly an ambitious product,” Josef confides. “Its someone puts their nose
to their territory, and that’s the philosophy that has guided profile needs to be more international if we want it to compete
us from the beginning. Today South Tyrol is perceived as a with sparkling wines from all around the world. That’s why
high-quality brand – inside the bottle you can find wine, but we also changed the vines to 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot to the wine glass.”
also mountains, agricultural products and the hospitality Nero, which guarantees a stronger essence. You will still be
that characterizes this area. There is a great deal of talk sur- able to smell the South Tyrol, but the 5-year-long yeast fer-
rounding the area, and we want that to be sensed immedi- mentation will give is a special, rounder note. The vines from

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