Girlan

Innovation and a pioneering spirit have driven this historic Oltradige winery since its beginnings in 1923. This was one of the earliest co-operative winemaking operations to pay growers not just for quantity but also the quality of the grapes. The winery and cellarmaster Gerhard Kofler play a significant role in the Alto Adige winemaking and vineyard scenario. These are all major wines with great technique and personality. GAMBERO ROSSO 2010

The Alto Adige is one of the quirky and fascinating regions of Italy that neither conforms to the traditional view of Italy nor of the type of wines one expects to find in Italy. Rather it is a high altitude and diverse region with more in common culturally with Austria or Switzerland and making aromatic whites and fragrant, structured reds like Schiavo.

Girlan is a co-operative formed 1923 which has become renowned for producing excellent quality whites and reds from a variety of small vineyard holding of its member producers. The secret to their success is undoubtedly linked to their policy of paying for lower-yield and, more recently, their talented winemaker, Gerhardt Kofler.

All of their wines share a central theme of intense varietal definition, good mid-palate flavour and Alto-Adige alpine freshness and energy. This is an exciting new addition to the Australian wine scene. PWS