St. Pauls

Alto Adige, often known as South Tyrol, belonged to Austria until 1919 and became part of Italy less than 100 years ago. German and Italian are both widely spoken there, which is why the Cantina Produttori San Paolo wine cooperative is better known by its German name, St. Pauls.

In 1907 a group of winemakers joined forces under that German name to help one another survive the difficult economic conditions of the early twentieth century. The cooperative was founded in the village of St. Pauls (San Paolo in Italian), near Bolzano, and has grown into a major producer. Today it manages 175 ha of vineyards and makes up to 1,200,000 bottles a year.

The vineyards lie in the countryside around San Paolo, near Bolzano, considered one of South Tyrol's best areas for winemaking. They sit on sunny hillsides, and the Alps protect them from cold northern winds. These conditions suit both local and international grape varieties.

The cooperative deliberately limits vineyard yields and harvests the grapes only when they have reached optimal ripeness. Both local and international grape varieties are grown.

The fruit is processed in a modern, four-level winery. On the uppermost level, numbered 0, the grapes are crushed or pressed. Steel tanks are installed on level 1, while level 2 holds wooden vats where the must ferments. At the lowest level, 22 metres underground, the best wines, mostly reds, are aged in oak barriques. Must and wine move between the levels by gravity, which helps avoid the potential damage caused by pumping.

The cooperative produces around four dozen wines in 3 ranges: Classic, the entry-level range; Exclusiv, made with grapes from specific vineyards; and Passion, the premium range.

The cooperative deliberately limits yields and harvests only at optimal ripeness. Its wines are described as having delicate, clean aromas and a fresh, enjoyable taste. The cooperative was founded so that its member winemakers could help one another through hard economic times.