If you like, the Via Claudia Augusta has been a "wine route" for thousands of years, transporting wine and wine culture across Europe. The Via Claudia Augusta is not only a wine route, but several wine routes that can be discovered along the historic route. It is home to numerous indigenous wines and has countless traditional and innovative winegrowers. Below you will find the regions along the Via Claudia Augusta, their wine varieties and wines.
We know that wine was also grown on a larger scale in North Tyrol, but that was a long time ago. Today, there are again isolated vineyards, especially in the Tyrolean Oberland, on the sunny slopes of the Via Claudia Augusta, in the Gurgltal and in the Inn Valley. Among these vineyards is also the highest winery in Austria. Higher differences between day and night temperatures are good for the quality of the wines found in North Tyrol. Wine connoisseurs are surprised at the high quality of some of the wines. The quantities are of course still manageable and you have to work hard to get hold of a bottle of wine from North Tyrol.
Chardonnay
Weißgipfler (Green Veltliner)
Müller Thurgau
Blauer Zweigelt
Cuvee Via Claudia (Bacco Noir, Regent, Rössler)
Pinot Noir (Blauburgunder)
Regional winner (gold medal) at the award ceremony for the wines of the year of the Via Claudia Augusta "Vinum Anni 2017 Augusta Vindelcium" in Augsburg: The Chardonnay from the "Weingut Zoller-Saumwald" from Haiming
Silver medals: Pinot Noir from the Tangl Winery in Tarrenz, Weißgipfler from the "Terra Austriacus Winery" in Prutz
Wine is cultivated in all three South Tyrolean regions along the Via Claudia Augusta, in Vinschgau, in Merano and in South Tyrol's south with the provincial capital Bolzano. The trend is towards higher altitudes - due to the increasingly milder climate, but also because of the greater difference between day and night temperatures, which is conducive to the quality of some wines. In South Tyrol the Romans got to know the barrel. Until then they stored and transported the vine juice in amphorae. Three types of wine have their home in South Tyrol: Lagrein, Vernatsch and Gewürztraminer. In addition there are the leading varieties Blauburgunder, Weißburgunder and Sauvignon. By the way, the famous Kalterer See and St. Magdalener are pressed from the most cultivated grape variety Vernatsch. South Tyrol has a very high density of DOC and DOCG wines.
The vine is a cross between Vernatsch and Teroldego and comes from South Tyrol, where it is also mainly cultivated. It was already mentioned in a Tramin document in 1379 and was probably the most common South Tyrolean wine variety until modern times. Rosè and red wines are produced from the grapes. Traditionally, red wines are called Lagrein Dunkel or scuro, rosè wines Lagrein Kretzer or Rosato. Today, an additive is often omitted. In general the Lagrein is strong, dark, rich in distinctive tannins and feels comfortable in wooden barrels.
The Vernatsch, in Württenmberg also Trollinger, Italian Schiava (skjawa), is today the most widespread wine in South Tyrol. The core growing areas are the Überetsch, St. Magdalena, the "Meraner Hügel" and the "Bozner Leiten". The wine with its pronounced fruit or almond aroma is world famous under the name Kalterer See, but also St. Magdalener.
It is not known for sure where the Gewürztraminer originally came from, possibly from southeastern Europe or even Egypt. The name comes from Tramin, where the grape has been cultivated since the 11th century. Depending on whether the berry colour is rather yellowish or light red to yellow-pink, a distinction is made between red and yellow Traminer. The Gewürztraminer is characterised by an intense flavour. Many people think of rose blossoms or lychee.
Pinot Blanc originally comes from the French Burgundy and was already mentioned in the 14th century. The acidity of the full-bodied white wine is reminiscent of that of apples. The Pinot blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot bianco or Klevner, as it is also called, gains in quality over time. Long ripened Weißburguner reminds of fresh bread in taste.
Sauvignon Blanc is the second most important quality white wine variety in the world. It is a cross between Traminer and Cenin Blanc and is originally from the French Loire Valley. The wine is characterised by its freshness and its aroma of St. John's and gooseberry. Sometimes it also reminds of the smell of freshly cut grass.
The Pinot Noir is a worldwide spread high quality red wine variety, which is possibly already 2000 years old. The area between Lake Geneva and the Rhone Valley is considered its home. The full-bodied wine is deep ruby red to violet. It can be stored well, but likes to change its colour with time. In general the Pinot Noir is fruity. When young it sometimes reminds of blackberries. Elderly wines are reminiscent of nuts or almonds.
Lagrein DOC
St. Magdalener DOC
Kalterer See DOC
Gewürztraminer DOC
South Tyrolean Pinot Noir DOC
South Tyrolean Cabernet Franc DOC
South Tyrolean Cabernet Sauvignon DOC
South Tyrolean Chardonnay DOC
South Tyrolean Gold Muscat DOC
South Tyrolean Pinot Grigio DOC
South Tyrolean Grey Vernatsch DOC
South Tyrolean Kerner DOC
South Tyrolean Malvasia DOC
South Tyrolean Merlot DOC
South Tyrolean Müller Thurgau DOC
South Tyrolean Riesling DOC
South Tyrolean Rosè Muscat DOC
South Tyrolean Sauvignon DOC
South Tyrolean Sylvaner DOC
South Tyrolean Pinot Blanc DOC
South Tyrolean Welschriesling DOC
Lagrein DOC
St. Magdalena DOC
Lake Caldaro DOC
Gewürztraminer DOC
South Tyrolean Pinot Noir DOC
Like South Tyrol, Trentino is located in the mountainous northern part of Italy and has a high proportion of DOC and DOCG wines. Almost all Trentino's wine strongholds are located along the old Roman road, the Piana Rotaliana in the northern Trentino Adige Valley with Trento, the Val di Cembra in the Trentino Dolomites and the Vallagarina on the southern border with Veneto. In addition, there is the Valsugana Valley to the east, where more and more viticulture can be found. With the Teroldego, the Marzemino and the Nosiola, three grape varieties have their origin in Trentino. The Val di Cembra is the wine region with the most hectares of the German variety Müller-Thurgau. Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Merlot are also common.
Trentino blanc DOC with a minimum of 80 % Chardonnay and/or Pinot bianco and a maximum of 20 % Sauvignon Blanc, Müller Thurgau or Manzoni Bianco
Trentino red DOC from Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Carmenère, individually or jointly, and Merlot
Trentino Kretzer or Trentino rosè DOC from Enantio and/or Vernasch and/or Teroldego and/or Lagers, at least in pairs, each in a proportion not exceeding 70
Trentino Chardonnay DOC
Trentino Gold Muscatel DOC
Trentino Müller Thurgau DOC
Trentino Nosiola DOC
Trentino Pinot Blanc DOC
Trentino Pinot grigio DO
Trentino Riesling DOC
Trentino Sauvignon Blanc DOC
Trentino Gewürztraminer DOD
Trentino Rose Muscat DOC
Trentino Cabernet DOC (Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Carmenére)
Trentino Cabernet Franc DOC
Trentino Cabernet Sauvignon DOC
Trentino Lagrein DOC
Trentino Marzemino DOC
Trentino Merlot DOC
Trentino Pinot nero DOC
Trentino Rebo DOC
("Altinate" is the name of the axis via Feltre to Altino near Venice, the ancient predecessor of the lagoon city)
The Veneto is one of the three regions of Italy where most wine is grown. Quality is also very important. The Veneto region alone represents a quarter of all DOC and DOCG wines. The best known and most important wine-growing areas along the Via Claudia Augusta "Altinate" are the Prosecco area before the foothills of the Alps, the wine regions along the river Piave and around the lagoon of Veneto. In addition, more and more wine is also found in the more mountainous areas - in the Valsugana, Feltrino and Valbelluna - in line with the trend towards higher altitudes. The Prosecco grape or Glera, as it is increasingly called today, dates back to Roman times. Other characteristic varieties are Carmenère, Raboso Piave, Manzoni Bianco, Verduzzo Trevigiano and Clinton.
Clinton
Prosecco DOC
Colli Asolani Prosecco DOCG
Asolo Prosecco DOCG
Colli di Conegliano DOCG
Montello e Colli Asolani DOC
Montello e Colli Asolani DOCG
Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG
Piave DOCG, Piave DOC
Refrontolo passito DOC
Raboso DOC
Verduzzo DOC
("Padana" is the name of the axis via Verona to Ostiglia on the Po, which flows through the Padana plain)
The Veneto is one of the three wine-richest regions of Italy. A quarter of all DOC and DOCG wines come from there. With the Adige Valley, the mountains on Lake Garda, the embattled border region of Terra dei Forti, the Valpolicella and the Po Valley, several of the most important and well-known wine-growing areas of the Veneto are located along the Via Claudia Augusta. With the "Rhaetica" even a grape variety has been handed down, which was already spread in the area of Verona 2000 years ago. The well-known wines of the area are to a large extent Cuvées. Characteristic wine varieties (from north to south) are Enantio, Bardolino, Molinara, Rondinella, Corvina Veronese, Garganega or Trebbianello.
Valadige DOC
Bardolino DOC
Bardolino Superiore DOCG
Bardolino Superiore classico DOCG
Garda DOC
Lugana DOC
Valpolicella DOC
Recioto of the Valpolicella DOCG
Recioto della Valpolicella DOC
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Bianco di Costoza DOC
Regional winner (gold medal) at the awarding of the wines of the year of the Via Claudia Augusta "Vinum Anni 2017 Augusta Vindelcium" in Augsburg: The "Casetta Est IGT 2015" of the Liviana Falconi winery
Silver medals: The Bardolino DOC Classico from the Bigagnoli Winery (Garda); the Soy Tonda from the Albino Armani Winery (Dolcè); the Valpolicella Classico from the Montecariano Winery and the Ripasso from the Cubi Valentina Winery (Valpolicella); the Lambrusco Mingo (Lambrusco Provincia di Mantova i. g.p.) and Rosato (Lambrusco Provincia di Mantova i.g.p. rosato) from the Davis Testoni winery (Ostiglia)
Ostiglia and 4 other municipalities in the region of Lombardy, on the river Po, form one of the two southernmost areas of the Via Claudia Augusta. The "Padana" (Po plain) is the most fertile area in Italy and it is also one of the richest in wine. The Romans already knew how to use it. The most famous grape variety and wine variety of the Lombardy part of the Po Valley are the Lambrusco grape and the Lambrusco wine, respectively, whose origins date back to Roman times.
Lambrusco Mantovano DOC
Silver medal at the "Vinum Anni 2017 Augusta Vindelicum" Via Claudia Augusta Wine of the Year Awards: Rosato (Lambrusco Provincia di Mantova i.g.p. rosato) from the Davis Testoni winery (Ostiglia)