Erste + Neue Pinot Nero 2023

Erste + Neue is a collective of dedicated growers in Alto Adige who have come together to preserve tradition while making the most of their meticulously farmed, often generations-old vineyards. Unusually for the region, they own a significant portion of their sites and manage them as one, allowing for a cohesive, quality-driven approach. The result is wines that balance precision and structure with an easy, natural drinkability—very much a reflection of the place itself.

Set in this alpine corner of northern Italy—where Germanic influence meets Italian culture—the wines carry a fascinating duality. You see it most clearly in their Pinot styles: shaped by the region’s cool climate and meticulous, almost Germanic attention to detail, yet retaining a generosity and charm that feels unmistakably Italian. It’s this interplay that gives their Pinots such clarity, texture and quiet depth, making them both thoughtful and immediately appealing.

Alto Adige Pinot Nero is catching on. You can see why, with the lithe, but recognisable notes of cherry skin and strawberry and Pinot Noir mouthfeel. This vineyard was identified for Pinot, due to the presence of silex (flint) and clay amongst its calcareous base and its that minerality that is captivating in this wine and drives the whole thing. A really great example of an underappreicated style.