Above-average temperatures and an abundance of rain were the basic ingredients of the weather in 2000. The summer months were not as hot as usual, but the shortfall of warmth was more than compensated by the mild temperatures in spring and autumn. The year actually began with very cold weather and, although the sun shone for weeks on end, the stable high-pressure zone generated a constant flow of cold polar air to the Alps. In addition, not a single flake of snow or drop of rain fell in the first month of the year, a situation that continued into February. The weather remained very sunny but also turned mild, and only low nighttime temperatures prevented premature vegetation in the vines. It was not until the end of March that the long awaited precipitation set in and provided the vines with the water needed for the first phase of growth. April was its proverbially capricious and unsettled self, with sun and rain often alternating several times a day. But it was always warm, and the above-average spring temperatures continued into May. The warm weather was highly beneficial for growth in the vines, and by the beginning of summer the vegetation was a good week ahead of normal. June was a month of hot summer weather, whereas July brought a fair amount of precipitation followed by a cooler period. August, on the other hand, was very summery, with warm and dry weather up to the end of the month, when the temperatures sank in anticipation of the approaching autumn and the period of the wine harvest. The September offered ideal conditions for the harvest: The pronounced thermal excursion between day and night was perfect for the grapes, producing intensive coloring and optimum maturity. The harvest was held slightly earlier than usual, on warm and dry autumn days, and by the time a long rainy period came in October, the vintners already had the complete harvest in the cellars

Cool storage at constant temperatures, high level of humidity and as little light as possible
Cellar temperature: 10 - 15 °C
Excellent ageing potential > 10 years

• The quartz porphyry bedrock is of volcanic origin.
• The light, sandy-loamy soils are the foundation for naturally limited yields.
• The soils have a 55-60% quartz content and a slightly acidic pH.
• The minerally and distinctive wines are highly prized for their outstanding longevity.

Soil samples taken from three different sites have revealed the presence of a subvolcanic body around Terlano, which differs in composition from the classic volcanic rock. The skeletal sandy loamy soils have a high quartz content. The absence of calcium carbonate explains the slightly acid pH values. These factors result in a high permeability to water, a limited nutrient supply and thus balanced growth with naturally limited yields. Exceptional soil conditions influence the terroir of Terlano, where the vines have developed a specific reaction to micro-stress and produce their own terroir-specific polyphenols, which give the Terlano wines their distinctive character. The result is particularly salty wines with great tension and depth. The special mix of crystals and minerals in the Terlano soils produces white wines whose unique longevity never fails to impress the world’s wine gurus.

The high peaks of the main Alpine chain protect South Tyrol from the Atlantic winds and cold northerlies, while the region benefits from the Mediterranean climate from the south. Terlano has a remarkable microclimate, with pronounced differences in temperature between day and night caused by the cool downslope winds from the mountains.
To the south, a number of mountain massifs like the Adamello also have a protective function. As a result, annual precipitation is only about one-third of the average for the southern Alpine foothills, and the number of hours of sunshine is higher. The climatic conditions are not unlike those to be found in wine-growing areas like the Swiss Canton Valais.
When the sun rises behind the mountains east of Terlano on one of the year’s 300 sunny days, it is already high in the sky as the wine-growing area has a westerly to southwesterly exposure. The lower atmospheric density permits more direct solar irradiation with less diffuse sunlight. That increases the difference between the slopes on the sunny and shady sides of the valley.

Microclimate in Terlano
Continental climate (Cfa Köppen-Geiger)
Annual sunshine hours: ø 2135
Maximum temperatures: 38,2 °C
Average temperatures: 12,9 °C
Minimum temperatures: -10,7°C
Annual precipitation: ø 600 - 700 mm
Average global radiation: 150,1 W/m²
Winds
North foehn: cool and dry down-slope wind
Ora: valley wind system from the south, bringing in air from the Po Valley