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Gschleier Alte Reben Vernatsch, Girlan
Grape
100% Schiava
Drinking Window
Ready or drink by 2035
Region
Cornaiano, Alto Adige
Pairings
Pappardelle with wild mushrooms, Beef tartare
Grilled quail with roasted potatoes, Charcuterie
Regional Recipe
Winemaker Notes
Gschleier Alte Reben Vernatsch comes from one of the historic sites of the Santa Maddalena area near Bolzano, where Vernatsch (Schiava) has long been cultivated on steep hillside vineyards. The “Alte Reben” designation refers to the old vines planted in this cru, which naturally produce lower yields and more concentrated fruit. The vineyards lie on warm porphyry-based soils at moderate altitude, an environment that favors slow ripening while preserving the grape’s natural freshness.
The grapes are harvested by hand and gently destemmed before fermentation in stainless steel, with a short maceration designed to extract color and structure while maintaining the delicacy typical of Vernatsch. After fermentation, the wine ages in large neutral oak casks for several months, allowing it to gain texture and balance without masking the varietal character. The approach focuses on precision and restraint, highlighting the distinctive personality of the Gschleier vineyard and the elegant, lifted profile that has made Vernatsch a traditional red of Alto Adige.
The Story
Cantina Girlan works with some of Alto Adige’s most historic vineyards, and Gschleier is one of the reference sites for Vernatsch. “Alte Reben” means old vines, and in this case that age matters. Vernatsch (the German way for calling Schiava) is often treated lightly, but in the right vineyard it has quiet depth.
The cooperative model at Girlan is built around serious growers farming high-altitude parcels on porphyry and sandy soils. Gschleier gives Vernatsch more structure and longevity than people expect. It stays lifted, but it isn’t fragile. We value this wine because it protects a grape that could easily be overshadowed by international varieties. Vernatsch is part of Alto Adige’s identity, and Girlan treats it with that level of respect. This is a beautiful light and bright, super low tannin, red wine that goes great with a slight chill in the summer and can even sometimes work with grilled fish like trout or tuna (nothing done in a crudo style though).The Girlan Winery currently has 200 winemakers, located in a 220-hectare vineyard area, in the best production areas of the valley.
