New participation record and an encore that confirms a label that already 12 months ago climbed to the top step of the podium, declared the best Pinot Noir in Italy. The winners of the National Pinot Noir Competition have been revealed, the event that traditionally precedes the South Tyrolean Pinot Noir Days, now in their 27th edition and scheduled for May 16 to 18. 116 wines from the 2022 vintage were presented at the competition, coming from 10 different wine regions, and the Pinot Noir Ludwig by Elena Walch came in first place, followed very closely by the Pinot Noir Riserva Burgum Novum by Castelfeder and the Pinot Noir Riserva Trattmann by Cantina Girlan, in second and third place.
Ines Giovanett, president of the organizing committee of the South Tyrolean Pinot Noir Days, is very satisfied not only with the number of wines entered in the competition, but above all with their quality:
“This year too, extraordinary and typical Pinot Noir wines were presented. We, the organizers, are extremely happy when the range of participating wines reflects the variety and demonstrates how much terroir, tradition and style influence the wines.”
The best Pinot Noir in Italy of the 2022 vintage is Ludwig by Elena Walch
The National Pinot Noir Competition confirms itself once again this year as the key event in Italy for the noblest of vines. The event that precedes the Altoatesine Pinot Noir Days, has seen in recent days the specialized jury composed of 43 members including oenologists, sommeliers and high-caliber experts in the sector from different regions, tasting 116 wines of the 2022 vintage, produced in Trentino, Val d’Aosta, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piedmont, Lombardy, Tuscany, Umbria, Sicily and in the host region of Alto Adige.
The winner was the Pinot Noir Ludwig by Elena Walch, followed on the second and third steps of the podium by the Pinot Noir Riserva Burgum Novum by Castelfeder and the Pinot Noir Riserva Trattmann by Cantina Girlan. In fourth place, instead, the Pinot Nero Riserva Maglen from Cantina Tramin and the Pinot Nero Monticol from Cantina Terlano celebrate their joint success.
In addition to the winners of the ranking, the best wines from the individual wine regions were also awarded. Elena Walch’s was, in addition to the overall winner, also automatically the best participating wine for Alto Adige, while for the other regions the Pinot Nero di Grosjean Vins for Valle d’Aosta, Castello di Spessa for Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Conte Vistarino for Lombardy, Bricco Maiolica for Piedmont, Feudo Arancio for Sicily, Fattoria di Cortevecchia for Tuscany, Maso Cantanghel for Trentino, Torre Bisenzio for Umbria and Borgo Stajnbech for Veneto stood out.
With their Pinot Noir, the Trentino wineries Furletti and Mori Colli Zugna also reached the finals, as did the South Tyrolean companies Tenuta Castel Sallegg, Azienda Agricola Falkenstein, Ferruccio Carlotto, Josef Weger, Cantina Bozen, Cantina Valle Isarco, Cantina Kurtatsch, Weingut/Tenuta Kollerhof, Malojer-Gummerhof, Manincor, Pfitscher, Salurnis, Cantina Colterenzio, Tenuta Ploner, Tenuta Peter Sölva, Pitzner Winery & Suites, Seeperle and Weingut Tenuta Rohregger.
South Tyrolean Pinot Noir Days: the program
As per tradition, the award ceremony for the best wines will take place on the occasion of the opening of the South Tyrolean Pinot Noir Days. This year it is scheduled for Friday 16 May in Castel d’Enna in Montagna. Until Monday 19th, at the Hospice of San Floriano in Laghetti, all interested parties will have the opportunity to taste not only the award-winning wines, but all the wines submitted to the competition. Tasting slots must be booked online, with the first slots available on the opening day.
This year too, the Alto Adige Pinot Noir Days offer a rich supporting programme. On Saturday, two masterclasses will take place: oenologist Ivan Giovanett from Castelfeder will lead a vertical tasting of a selection from the last forty years of production at his estate, while the masterclass by sommelier Roberto Anesi will focus on the cultivation of Pinot Noir in Italy. The series of masterclasses concludes on Sunday with Alto Adige wine legend Hans Terzer, who will present the event “Top of Pinot Noir Alto Adige”.
The Pinot Noir Experience will include guided excursions to Glen and Mazon, and new features include the “Pinot Noir & Bike” events scheduled for Sunday and Monday, as well as a sparkling wine tasting during the slots.
