The 2023 vintage confirms itself as an extraordinary year for Sauvignon from Alto Adige. At the seventh edition of the Sauvignon Blanc d’Italia Competition, the best wines presented all come from this region, as announced in the evocative Rock Cellar of the Laimburg Research Center. According to the organizers, this result demonstrates how Alto Adige brings to the market Sauvignons full of character and capable of expressing their terroir unmistakably.
Sauvignon Blanc d’Italia Competition: a Benchmark Competition for Italian Producers
The Sauvignon d’Italia Competition in Penone, now in its seventh edition, has become a reference point for producers across Italy. This year, 85 Sauvignons from the 2023 vintage were entered, coming from six wine regions. The tasting, held at the end of October, introduced a new feature: no longer a large jury, but a select committee of five internationally renowned specialists, including Master of Wine Andrea Lonardi.
The tasting session highlighted the remarkable evolution of Italian Sauvignon. Wines full of character—rare in the early editions of the competition—are now the norm, especially at the top of the ranking.
“The origin of the wines is immediately recognizable, thanks to the unmistakable style defined by the terroir,” explains Peter Dipoli, vice president of the organizing committee, emphasizing the importance of authenticity: “A market-oriented style can be produced anywhere; terroir, on the other hand, is unmistakable. Sauvignons should not taste the same regardless of their origin; therefore, cellar techniques, being repeatable, should not overly influence the wine.”
The Ranking Rewards Alto Adige
The “Alto Adige DOC” Sauvignons at the top of the ranking best met these criteria. The best Sauvignon d’Italia for the 2023 vintage is Sauvignon Oberberg Alto Adige DOC from Tenuta Kornell in Settequerce. In second place is Sauvignon Arthur Rainer Alto Adige DOC from Seeperle in Caldaro, while Cantina Bozen took third place with Sauvignon Greel Alto Adige DOC.
Andreas Kofler, president of the organizing committee, expressed his admiration for the high quality of the participating wines:
“All the wines at the top of the ranking demonstrate that a Sauvignon can—and must—reflect its terroir with authenticity.”
Kofler also highlighted the winemaking expertise behind each label:
“The performance of Alto Adige producers underscores the great skill of our growers and winemakers, confirming that their commitment yields tangible results, even when compared with wines from other regions.”
| Ranking | Winery | Wine | Denomination |
| 1 | Tenuta Kornell | Oberberg Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 2 | Seeperle | Arthur Rainer Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 3 | Cantina Bozen | Greel Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 4 | Tenuta Strasserhof – Hannes Baumgartner | Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 5 | Cantina Kaltern | Quintessenz Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 5 | Azienda Agricola Baron Widmann | Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 5 | Cantina Andriano | Andrius Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 6 | Franz Haas | Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 7 | Tenuta Pföstl | Valpitan Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 8 | Cantina Terlano | Quarz Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 8 | Mayr Josephus, Maso Unterganzner | Platt & Pignat Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 9 | Maso Grener | Vigna Tratta Sauvignon | Trentino Doc |
| 9 | Alessandro di Camporeale | Kaid Sauvignon | Sicilia Doc |
| 9 | Gump Hof – Markus Prackwieser | Praesulis Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 9 | Cantina Kurtatsch | Kofl Sauvignon | Alto Adige Doc |
| 10 | Cantina La – Vis | Ritratti Sauvignon | Trentino Doc |
