Maso Thaler (Alto Adige, Glena)

DOC Südtirol

The Northeast of Italy, a region known as Südtirol, is one of the finest landscapes of Europe. The mountains are the Dolomites and this land is more Austria than Italy, more butter than olive oil, more pretzels than focaccia, and more mountain than plains. It’s here that Filippo and Francesco Motta, at 750 meters above sea level, are making wine in one of the most peaceful places we have ever been.

Filippo and Francesco’s father, Nino Motta came to the Alto Adige from Rome in 1990, having decided to uproot his life and go somewhere more tranquil than the chaotic capital city, and never looked back. He purchased an abandoned farm and planted wine grapes, mostly Pinot Noir, on terraced slopes that still to this day appear to hang precariously from the cliffside. Today his two sons and a daughter-in-law run the business, and handle the winemaking.

This 3.5 hectare farm, called Maso Thaler (Mah-zo Toller) is a wonder. The steep grade forces most work to be done by hand, plant by plant, cluster by cluster. It's hard work, but the results are unique and wonderful.