After a snowy winter, spring brought a prolonged period of
exceptionally dry weather. Low temperatures in March and April
resulted in very late budbreak, which protected our vines from frost
damage resulting from the numerous frosty nights in April. A cool
and wet May ensured a good water supply for the vines. They began
to blossom on the earliest and warmest sites at the end of May to
the beginning of June, two weeks later than the long-term average.
June was a month of high summer temperatures and little
precipitation. As a result, fungal pressure in the vineyards remained
very low. July, on the other hand, was marked by heavy precipitation
and thunderstorms, which continued into August in places. The
average daytime temperatures in August were not too high, which
was extremely beneficial in terms of the fruit and vibrant acidity in
the 2021 vintage.
On the earliest sites, the grape harvest began slightly late, on
September 6, and the weather remained very good almost all the
time.
The 2021 grape harvest was somewhat smaller in volume. But from
the beginning there were indications of a very exciting vintage

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. That explains the pronounced differences between day- and night-time temperatures, which are the key to full maturity and elegant wines.
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 558 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