The Alto Adige (or Süd Tyrol, as it's called by the German-speaking inhabitants) is the only area of Italy known for good large, co-operative wineries. (A few good co-ops exist in other regions, but not lots of them in one region.) We are now importing the top-notch wines of a co-op called Erste + Neue*,which is right in the center of Caldaro, one of the small towns on the 'Wine Road' south of Bolzano. They make the range of white wines that you would expect, Sauvignon, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris (and an excellent Müller Thurgau), all of which we are importing on our first shipment; we'll also have their reserve 'Grobnerhof' bottling of Santa Magdalener, which is just the kind of red wine I drink in warm weather. Gerhard Sanin, the enologist for E+N, favors a bright, restrained winemaking style that really allows this place and these varieties to shine.

We are known for importing some of the best artisan wines of the Alto Adige, such as Niedrist, Widmann and now the inimitable Peter Pliger at Kuenhof. I am very pleased to round out our selection with Erste + Neue; different price points, more wine available, and a house quality and style that is entirely consistent with the rest of our selection. We look forward to tasting these wines with you.

* 'Erste + Neue' means 'First + New', and is the merger of the first ('erste') co-op cellar in Caldaro and the newest ('neue').