“We don’t aim to produce the world’s best Sauvignon; rather, we want to craft a wine that perfectly tells the story of its birthplace: made more of light than warmth, with large temperature swings and evening breezes, where the roots delve only a few centimeters into the soil and then weave among moraine debris, reaching down to touch the porphyry. It’s not ‘a’ Sauvignon, it’s our Sauvignon.” This is how Alex Ferrigato describes the label that won the special White Wine of the Year award in the Vini d’Italia 2025 by Gambero Rosso.
The Colterenzio winery in Appiano (BZ) in the locality of Cornaiano/Girlan
A Sauvignon that sparks the senses and passion
When considering the wine of the year, the mind inevitably travels across Italy—from north to south, east to west—searching through memories for the most exciting taste, the one capable of rekindling our passion for wine, often dazzling our senses in unexpected ways. This year, such emotions were sparked by the Gran Lafóa Sauvignon, a reserve from the 2021 harvest, a wine that opens a fresh chapter in South Tyrolean winemaking.
Colterenzio’s long-standing project
“It’s a project that began long ago with the vision of then-president Luis Raifer, who, in the late 1980s, began producing Cabernet Sauvignon Lafóa by harvesting grapes from the finest vineyard and setting out to create a wine of the highest quality.” Alex Ferrigato (pictured) explains the journey that led to the creation of this exceptional Sauvignon. But was there really a need for yet another Sauvignon, given how many exist worldwide? “Over the years, what was once a unique project dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon has nearly become a brand, a symbol of Colterenzio’s excellence. With the Gran Lafóa, we’re not disavowing our past achievements but rather aiming to raise the bar even higher: focusing more intently and limiting the grape selection to a single plot of less than one hectare, and choosing only the best parcel. It’s not the historic Raifer vineyard, but it’s located just a few hundred meters from it at 450 meters in altitude, west-facing, and planted in the 1980s with French clones. In the cellar, Martin Lemayr’s meticulous care in every production phase is extraordinary. With this wine, we aim to highlight the relationship between Sauvignon and this small plot in Cornaiano, moving beyond the concept of organoleptic quality.”
White Wine of the Year: Gran Lafóa Sauvignon
Bringing the glass of 2021 Gran Lafóa Sauvignon Riserva to the nose, the defining style of this white wine is immediately apparent, best encapsulated by one word: elegance. The white-fleshed fruit perfectly melds with the oak, gradually revealing delicate exotic notes. The palate’s solidity rests on a savory acidity that stretches and extends each sip.
Cantina Colterenzio – Appiano/Eppan (BZ)
loc. Cornaiano/Girlan – colterenzio.it
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