Tiefenbrunner Turmhof Lagrein 2023

Tiefenbrunner Turmhof lagrein 2023 comes from one of Alto Adige’s historic family estates, with roots dating back to the twelfth century around Castel Turmhof in the village of Entiklar. Today the winery is led by Christof Tiefenbrunner, whose work has helped establish the estate as one of the benchmark producers of the region’s native and alpine varieties. The focus has long been on hillside vineyards, sustainable farming, and wines that balance structure with freshness rather than emphasizing sheer ripeness or oak.

This bottling is made from 100 percent lagrein, Alto Adige’s signature native red grape. The fruit comes from several estate vineyards between roughly 220 and 350 meters elevation, planted on a mix of calcareous gravel, sandy alluvial soils, and moraine deposits around Kurtatsch and Entiklar. These warmer valley floor and lower hillside sites help fully ripen lagrein while maintaining the acidity that gives the grape its characteristic tension.

Fermentation takes place in stainless steel and concrete with extended skin contact, followed by malolactic fermentation and aging in a combination of large oak casks and smaller french barriques. The oak influence is present but measured, intended more to soften texture and support structure than to dominate the wine’s profile. Depending on the vintage, the wine spends around eight to ten months in wood followed by additional bottle aging before release.

The 2023 reflects a more polished and structured interpretation of lagrein, with dark fruit, violet, spice, and earthy notes supported by fine tannins and steady acidity. While fuller than many alpine reds, the wine retains a sense of freshness and regional identity that keeps it firmly tied to Alto Adige rather than drifting toward a heavier international style.

A classic expression of lagrein from one of Alto Adige’s longstanding benchmark estates, combining traditional regional character with careful, modern winemaking.