Colterenzio Winery - Alto Adige Wines

Few wine stories in Italy demonstrate the power of collective ambition as clearly as Colterenzio's. The cooperative was founded in 1960 by 26 winegrowers in the hamlet of Schreckbichl, near Appiano in South Tyrol, who came together to take control of their own destiny from the merchants who had long dictated both price and direction. Today the cooperative counts around 300 member families farming 300 hectares of mountain vineyards at altitudes ranging from 230 to 650 metres above sea level.

The transformation that turned Colterenzio from a volume cooperative into one of Alto Adige's most admired producers began in 1979, when Luis Raifer took over management after studying in California. Raifer introduced lower yields, converted from the traditional pergola training system to Guyot, and identified specific high-altitude sites for varieties that thrive in the cool Alpine climate. The result, over a decade of relentless work, was a catalogue of wines that now regularly feature in Italy's most demanding wine guides.

Alto Adige, the northernmost wine region in Italy, sits in a remarkable geographical position: the Dolomites act as a barrier against cold northern air, while the influence of Lake Garda to the south brings warmth that allows the grapes to ripen fully at altitude. The resulting wines carry an unusual combination of alpine freshness and Mediterranean ripeness that is found nowhere else in Italy.

The Pfefferer is perhaps Colterenzio's most distinctive wine: a pure Muscat Giallo (Moscato Giallo) from an old clone known locally as the "Pfeffer grape" for its characteristically peppery, spiced aroma. The first vintage was produced in 1979, making it one of the longest-running single-variety whites in the region. Served well-chilled, it is one of the most versatile wine styles in the range: fragrant, dry, and perfectly weighted for aperitivo.

The Lafoa line represents the estate's prestige tier. Named after the vineyard behind the winery where Raifer first implemented his quality revolution, the Lafoa Cabernet Sauvignon has been produced since 1989. The Lafoa Pinot Nero, added with the 2018 vintage, brings the silky precision of Alpine Pinot Noir to the range, joining the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay in a lineup defined by site specificity and restraint. The distinctive Art Nouveau label features a bronze sculpture by Guido Anton Muss.

Briffa Wine Selections is the exclusive importer of Colterenzio wines in Malta. Shop the full range online, from the everyday Pfefferer to the collector-level Lafoa wines.