Cantina Bolzano is a co-operative winery based in Bolzano, Alto Adige, working with many small growers across the hills of Santa Maddalena and surrounding valleys.

While the “Classico” Santa Maddalena (or St. Magdalener) wines remain anchored in local tradition — chiefly Schiava and Lagrein — the co-op also produces a broad range of other Alto Adige wines, from whites (Pinot Bianco, Müller-Thurgau, Sauvignon) to reds (Pinot Nero, pure Lagrein, blends) reflecting the region’s diversity.

Over decades, the winery has helped shape Alto Adige’s modern wine identity: combining tradition with scale and consistency, making local grapes like Schiava accessible worldwide while preserving their regional character.

The cooperative nature supports many small growers, ensuring continuity of vineyard care and tradition across generations.

Alto Adige, also known as Südtirol, is a picturesque wine region in northern Italy, nestled in the foothills of the Alps and bordering Austria and Switzerland. Though one of Italy’s smallest wine-producing areas, it is renowned for its high-quality, characterful wines and striking Alpine landscapes. The region is strongly influenced by both Germanic and Italian cultures, reflected in its language, winemaking traditions, and grape varieties.

Key wine-producing towns include Bolzano (Bozen), Merano, and Caldaro (Kaltern), each surrounded by steep, terraced vineyards planted at elevations ranging from 200 to over 1,000 metres. This altitude provides a crucial benefit: warm days allow grapes to ripen fully, while cool nights help preserve acidity and aromatics.

Pinot Grigio is the most widely planted varietal, followed closely by Gewürztraminer, particularly around the village of Tramin, from which it takes its name. Other important grapes include Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Schiava (a light, local red), and Lagrein (a darker, more robust indigenous red). International varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir also thrive.

Viticulture in Alto Adige is labour-intensive due to the mountainous terrain, but the rewards are evident in the purity, freshness, and elegance of its wines. The region leads Italy in sustainable and high-altitude wine production.

Schiava, also known as Vernatsch, is a light-bodied red grape native to Alto Adige in northern Italy. Long cherished in the hills around Bolzano and Lake Caldaro, it produces pale, fragrant wines with delicate aromas of red cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry and soft floral notes such as rose and violet.

Its palate is typically fresh and supple, marked by gentle tannins, lively acidity and a hint of bitter almond on the finish — a hallmark of the variety. Schiava thrives on well-drained, sun-exposed slopes, where its thin skins and moderate sugar levels result in graceful, easy-drinking wines full of charm and drinkability.

Once overshadowed by more powerful reds, it is now being rediscovered for its elegance, authenticity and versatility.