Wine · Caldaro, Alto Adige
Erste+Neue
A historic Kaltern cooperative, now part of Cantina Kaltern, rooted in Alto Adige.
- Founded
- 1986
- Based in
- Caldaro, Alto Adige
Making it since
1986
Their story
Erste+Neue was a growers' cooperative in Kaltern (Caldaro), the wine village above Lake Kaltern in Alto Adige, northern Italy. It was formed in 1986 when two neighbors joined forces: the village's first cooperative, founded in 1900, and the Neue Kellerei, founded in 1925.
In 2016 Erste+Neue merged with Cantina Kaltern, keeping the Cantina Kaltern name. The combined cooperative now brings together around 530 member families who farm roughly 420 hectares, most of them tending small plots of less than a hectare.
How it's made
Members grow grapes on glacial, clay and limestone soils at roughly 220 to 600 meters around the lake. The cooperative is known for light, mineral Schiava (Vernatsch) from the Kalterersee zone, along with whites like Pinot Bianco and Gewürztraminer and reds such as Lagrein and Pinot Noir.
Why we carry them
We like Alto Adige cooperatives for their consistency and value, and Kaltern is one of the best examples. Try a chilled Schiava for a light red that works with almost anything.
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