Cantina Terlano

A cooperative since 1893

The “Cantina Terlano” cooperative was founded in 1893, when the grape growers of the village of Terlano began gathering their harvest in a single wine cellar. This cooperative model remains in place to this day, and currently includes 143 member winegrowers. The management structure is simple and straightforward. Georg Eyrl serves as the cooperative’s chair, and Hans-Jörg Hafner as vice chair; the board was elected at the end of 2023 for a three-year term. The most significant turning point in recent decades was the renovation of the wine cellar in 2009. The storage capacity was increased to 18,000 m3; the new building, clad in red porphyry and featuring a roof covered with grapevines, blends harmoniously into the hillside. It’s not that the old one was unattractive, but the main goal was to create “space”, that is, a place where the wine could age undisturbed for many years.

190 hectares on the left bank of the Adige

The 143 members of the “Cantina Terlano” cooperative cultivate vineyards covering a total area of approximately 190 hectares. These vineyards are spread out around the village of Terlano, located on the left bank of the Adige River, which flows southeast between Merano and Bolzano.

The vines wind their way up the slopes of Monte Tschöggelberg, which are terraced on red porphyry slopes. The peaks of the Alps rise above, while below, vegetation similar to that of the Mediterranean grows, creating a contrasting landscape; the vineyards, with their terraces that seem to have been created specifically for this purpose, soak up the abundant sunshine.

Born of fire

The bedrock of this region is Bolzano quartz porphyry, a red volcanic rock formed from acidic lava, volcanic emissions, and sedimentary layers trapped between them. This is precisely what gives Terlano wines their unique flavor and is the reason why the winery uses the slogan “Born of Fire.”

Above this bedrock layer, the Petersbach River has formed cone-shaped deposits of silt and gravel. Head winemaker Rudi Kofler notes the high content of large stones and sand in this soil. Such soil warms up quickly, drains well, and stimulates vigorous vine growth.

The rest depends on the climate. Cold air from the Alps flows in from above, while warm air of Mediterranean origin rises from the valley floor, resulting in a significant difference between day and night temperatures. It is precisely this combination that gives white wines from Terlano their acidity and aging potential.

What grows in Terlano

White wine accounts for 70% of production, while red wine accounts for the remaining 30%. The selection of grape varieties at this winery, curated by Rudi Kofler himself, is as follows:

• White wines: Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
• Red wines: Lagrein, Pinot Noir, Merlot

Pinot Blanc is the winery’s historic flagship variety, and it is the “Terlanner” blend, made primarily from this variety, that has become the winery’s signature wine. The local, full-bodied red variety Lagrein really comes into its own on porphyry soils.

Time as a working ingredient

Rudi Kofler manages the winery, which ships approximately 1.5 million bottles of wine annually. All of them are DOC-certified. All operations are conducted in accordance with a unified concept of “long-term aging.” The wines are first given sufficient space and time to mature in oak barrels and stainless steel tanks, and then in bottles.

The wines in the “Selection” series are produced using a combination of large oak barrels and stainless steel tanks, which enhances their complexity without losing the individual character inherent in the terroir. The “Tradition” series features a more straightforward style and is designed to highlight the characteristics of the grape varieties and the specific vintage.

In addition, there is the “Rarities” series, which takes a unique approach. Wines from the “Rarities” series are aged on fine lees in large tanks in the cellars for at least 10 years before being released to the market. This is a labor-intensive process made possible only because the cooperative has set aside 18,000 hectoliters of storage space for this purpose. Space and patience, in that order.

The range

In addition to its two quality lines, Cantina Terlano produces the limited-edition “Rarity” series, which goes on sale annually, as well as the premium blend “Primo.”

- “Tradition”: the core line of the portfolio. It includes white and red wines made from traditional grape varieties of the Alto Adige region.

- “Selection”: single-varietal wines from the Terlano DOC zone and wines that highlight the region’s distinctive characteristics, aged in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks. This category includes “Sauvignon Quarz,” as well as “Lagrein Riserva Porphyr” and “Pinot Noir Riserva Monticol.”

- Terlaner Nova Domus: a “Riserva”-class wine made primarily from Pinot Blanc with the addition of Chardonnay and Sauvignon, it is one of our winery’s signature wines.

- “Primo” (sold under the name “Terlano Grande Cuvée”): this is the flagship white wine blend, considered the wine that most fully reflects the aspirations of the “Cantina Terlano” winery.

- “Rarity”: Produced in a quantity of just a couple of thousand bottles, it goes on sale after aging on the lees for at least 10 years. “Terlano Rarity” is an experiment by the winery designed to demonstrate the ability of white wine to age for extended periods.

In addition, as part of the “Tradition” and “Selection” series, the winery bottles single-varietal white wines made from Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, as well as red wines made from Pinot Noir, Lagrein, and Merlot.