Niklas

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"...the complexity of Dieter Sölva's whites...after a few minutes in the glass, their elegant scents and the natural abundance of gusto will be evident." 4/5 bottle award from Le Guide de Espresso 2008

Niklas at St. Nikolaus around Lake Caldaro

Dieter told us that he is proud of his Lagrein -- fresh blueberry and a touch of balsamic -- most of all because people "smile when they drink it." Lip-smacking, smile inducing, delicious!

The Alto-Adige, or Süd Tyrol, is the Northern sub-region within Trentino-Alto Adige. It's not only that the people here speak a dialect of German that makes this sub-region stand out, the whole feel of the place is quite different from the rest of Italy, from its culture and festivals, to its regional food and wine.

Dieter is a graduate of the famous enological school of San Michele, and has taken the reigns of the small family winery (4.5 hectares), located at the base of Lake Caldaro (see picture). Even though almost all of the wine grown in the Alto Adige is above sea level (thus wines with good acidity and freshness), Lake Caldaro marks the beginning of the Alto Adige sub-region, with its warm, by Alpine standards, micro-climate. During the summer, the lake reaches the 80's Fahrenheit; it's quit the spot to have a swim, followed by a picnic made up of a bottle of Lagrein and some Speck.

Niklas produces the native Pinot Bianco (oh so much more interesting than Pinot Grigio!); a certain richness with the acidity; lots of apple without the skin (more of a dilineated than edgy tartness).

And -- let's it be proclained -- that Pinot Bianco is one serious grape in this area. We've tasted back vintages and it ages quite well. Dieter has banked on Pinot Bianco for years; I hope you will too, at least once.

For something really different, try the Riesling-like, Kerner, a cross of the Schiava and Riesling grape. Apricot and peach make a delicate, refined nose. The Sauvignon here is grown from planting from one of the more famous Sauvignon producers in Styria; minerally and green pepper but also fruit that has tropical notes.

For reds, the Schiava, is a native classic; you'll find it in the hand of everyone during the summer. It has a cherry / strawberry nose and it's light in body; use it where you would a rosato.

Distribution: NY, NJ, PA.

Producer's Wines

Niklas 07 Sauvignon Blanc

Tasting Notes:

Classic SB notes with some green melon and mouth-watering streaks of minerality. Long and linear finish with lots of energy. Limited.

Vineyard:

Lago di Caldaro DOC. The vineyards are around the lake, which creates an Alpine micro-climate. The whites are grown on the higher ground (around 1600 feet), giving more day / night temperature changes

Vinification:

In steel with a few hours of fermentation on the skins.

Awards:

2/3 Bicchieri Gambero Rosso 2008.

Niklas 07 Kerner

Tasting Notes:

Kerner is a cross between Schiava Grossa and Riesling. The varitey now is all the rage in the Alto-Adige, but Niklas's father bought planting here from Germany many a year ago (in fact he's one of the earliest producer of the variety in the region). Precise and complex aromatics: musky white peach with a leafy / minerally tone; the acidity you find in Riesling. Great way to start a meal; magic with seafood carpaccio; this wine also ages well. Limited.

Vineyard:

Lago di Caldaro DOC. Grown on the higher elevations (around 1600 feet) that look down on the lake; day / night temperature variations give the interesting aromatics.

Vinification:

In steel with a few hours of skin contact during fermentation.

Awards:

4/5 Bottiglie Award Guide de L'espresso.

Niklas 07 Weisburgunder / Pinot Bianco

Tasting Notes:

Niklas produces the native Pinot Bianco (oh so much more interesting than Pinot Grigio!); richness of roasted red apples with the backbone acidity of green; very clean flavours (apple without skin) and a touch tartness that interesting instead of overpowering. Works with lots of food or as an aperitivo. Try with roasted pork loin or roasted fennel. Will age; hard to leave alone young.

Vineyard:

Lago di Caldaro DOC. The vineyards are around the lake, which creates an Alpine micro-climate. The whites are grown on the higher ground (around 1600 feet), giving more day / night temperature changes

Vinification:

In steel with a few hours of fermentation on the skins.

Awards:

Due Bicchiere Gambero Rosso 2008. 4/5 Bottiglie Le Guide de L'espresso. Quality / Price Oscar Winner in Gambero Rosso Berebene 2007

Niklas 07 Lagrein

Tasting Notes:

100% Lagrein. A more delicious and less dense style of Lagrein. Fresh bluberry and balsamic notes. If this wine doesn't make you smile, nothing will.

Vineyard:

Kaltern / Caldaro DOC. The vineyards are around the lake, which creates an Alpine micro-climate: not too cold but day night temperature differentiation.

Vinification:

Ferments in steel on the skins for 10-14 days; malolactic in botti di slovenia..

Awards:

Quality / Price metion in Almanac of Berebene 2006

Niklas 07 Shiava

Tasting Notes:

100% Schiava. This is the daily drinker of the people there. It has a cherry / strawberry nose and it's light in body; use it where you would a rosato. Excellent picnic wine with a local Speck sandwhich.

Vineyard:

Lago di Caldaro DOC

Vinification:

In steel.