Liquid Magic” and the Desert Island Pick from the “Greatest Producer of Italy” You May Not Know

New Release. The “Greatest White Producer of Italy” Delivers “Liquid Magic” and a "Desert Island Pick." For IWM, the Age-Worthy Mountain White Impresses Today and Remains a Best Kept Secret and Value.

“This wine is liquid magic…The Cantina Terlano 2017 Alto Adige Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg is one of the most impressive expressions of the grape to emerge from this mountainous region in the far north of Italy." – Monica Larner, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

"If I were stranded on a deserted island with just one bottle of wine of my choosing, it very well might be Cantina Terlano's Vorberg [2018]." – Monica Larner, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

How do you surpass the IWM legend and "liquid magic" that is the 2017 and 2018 Terlano Pinot Blanc Riserva Vorberg with more than 1,200 bottles sold? How about the new release of the 2021 Terlano Pinot Blanc Riserva Vorberg! We are going to have to agree with both of Monica's quotes above, as the 2017 was "liquid magic" and 2018 is absolutely a "desert island pick." As you know by now, we taste thousands of wines each year and this is just one of those whites that makes you want to stand up and scream about it – it’s that good once again! 

Yes, the Terlano Pinot Blanc Riserva Vorberg is known for its age-ability, but who wants to wait, this is awesome today. It is the perfect alternative to Chardonnay and remains one of the great pairing wines for northern Italy’s rich pasta dishes and beyond. Best of all, this is one of Italy’s benchmark wines and it is available under $50! It is approachable in the pocket and on the palate with the ability to age another two decades.  

The reality is when we think of Italy’s great whites, we often gravitate to Burgundian influenced wines of Gaia & Rey, Cervaro, and Batar; the esoteric whites of Gravner, Radikon and Bea, as well as the ground ground-breaking whites of Fiorano. However, there are more selections to explore with Italy’s treasure trove of varietals and regions. One that is simply not talked about enough are the age-worthy Pinot Bianco of Terlano and Alto Adige. It might just be “Italy’s best white wine producer,” region, and varietal you may not know or have had the opportunity to taste often enough.

Cantina Terlano is a benchmark producer for Alto Adige. The historic cooperative takes the name of the town in which it resides and dates all that way back to 1892. While the estate does produce some noteworthy blends such as the phantom-like Terlaner I Grand Cuvee, it is the flagship Cantina Terlano Pinot Blanc Riserva Vorberg that is easily the pinnacle expression of Pinot Blanc, and the region. The prized bottle is produced from Pinot Bianco, also known as Weissburgunder in this part of the world, and is grown at an impressive altitude of 400 to 650 meters on heavy volcanic soils rich in crystals and minerality. In fact, “Vorberg” translates to “in front of the mountain,” and refers to the awesome altitudes that provide this generous grape with additional acidity. 

Well, we just tasted the new inspiring 2021 Cantina Terlano "Vorberg" Pinot Bianco Riserva release this past weekend, and yes, the wine is magic once again - with a little more verve thanks the classic 2021 vintage! Sure, the wine can age, but save the aging to Cantina Terlano and the estate’s library releases. Enjoy this perfect Spring white today with a rich pasta dish over some fun conversation with your family. 

FEATURED WINES: Liquid Magic from Terlano and Italy's Iconic Whites

Ancient winemaking tradition, privileged positioning and microclimates, an infusion of Roman, German, and Austrian heritage: Alto Adige may just be Italy's best-kept secret. In the Northernmost province of Italy lies the cultural crossroads of Trentino-Alto Adige. It is here in this mountainous zone, squeezed between the borders of Austria and Switzerland, that one of Europe's oldest wine growing sites resides (predating 15 BC). This land has passed from the Romans to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and back to the Italians, absorbing a potpourri of tradition and technique in its viticulture along the way. The people of Alto Adige carry on a unique mélange of cultures; though clearly filled with Italian ways, they still speak German, and German names and quality classifications are very important to the region's wine producers. 

ADDITIONAL NOTES AND REVIEWS:

“Surprising as it may seem, Italy’s best white wine producer may be a co-operative. Certainly no producer in the country makes longer-lived white wines than the Cantina Terlano. Bottles from the 1950s are still in splendid shape and are pursued by collectors and wine lovers around the world.” – Vinous

2021 Cantina Terlano "Vorberg" Pinot Bianco Riserva

Christopher Deas, Italian Wine Merchants: “We said it with the 2017 and 2018 release, this is one of Italy’s great age-worthy whites and blah, blah, blah… why wait, this is awesome today. What we would add is enjoy this over a long meal and watch this wine open up as it evolves. It simply opens with an intoxicating nose that brings you in with subtle fruit and minerality. At first it is slightly wound up, but it is here where you feel the terroir with the intensity of minerality and more restrained fruit nuances. There is even a crushed seashell note that we find in some Chablis and Sancerre that that makes a welcomed appearance. However, with aeration comes the added, richness to the profile, but it is not buttery and fat or flabby like many Pinot Blanc expressions can be, or Chardonnay for that matter. There’s a core of concentrated fruit and the underlying minerality adds to the tension, suggesting at where this wine can go. The immediate note that stands out is salty pears and even more spiced apple. You can expect nuances of lemon pith, lime, melon, wild herbs, green almond, wet stones, and salinity. The 2021 has added firmness and awesome vibrancy under the generous and almost creamy texture. The wine simply stains the palate for a finish that just lingers for minutes. Serve this chilled and pair away. This wine simply gets us excited about Italy’s whites and the best is yet to come...

For those looking for a stunning pairing try it with seasonal ramps and pasta, or Strichetti alla Romagnola from Chef Evan Funke’s book American Sfoglino – which is essentially Farfelle with stewed cherry tomatoes, arugula, and crisp prosciutto. It is an easy dish to prepare, and the wine is enhanced by the richness of the food, the salinity in the wine picks up on the crisp prosciutto, and the acidity accents the stewed cherry tomatoes. It is a great alternative to Chardonnay, but also a great pairing to many rich pasta dishes, north and south throughout the Boot.”

Eric Guido, Vinous: "The 2021 Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg is youthfully coiled, as an airy blend of wild herbs and dried flowers gives way to young peach and apricot. This is seamlessly silky and serene on the palate, nearly oily in feel, with brisk acidity to balance and depths of ripe orchard fruits and mineral tones that saturate. The balance is perfect, lightly tannic and full of tension with a lemony concentration that puckers the cheeks as minty herbal tones fade. Green apple notes add a crunchy sensation toward the close. This fantastic rendition of Vorberg will thrive in a cold cellar. Drink: 2026-2034.”

2020 Cantina Terlano Terlaner Grande Cuvée Primo

Eric Guido, Vinous: "The 2020 Terlaner Grande Cuvée Primo entrances with a delicate mix of dusty stone, freshly spiced pear, white flowers and crushed raw almonds. This is elegance personified, silky yet buoyant. Enriching hints of hazelnut custard enhance the notes of young peach as a staining of minerality amasses toward the close. The Primo finishes dramatically long yet youthfully tense, leaving a saturation of primary fruit to resonate beneath a flourish of citrus-tinged florals. The word “wow” does not do this justice. The 2020 is just a baby today. Is it Grande Cuvée or Grand Cru? Either way, it’s fantastic."

This is an email ONLY offer! If you would like to take advantage of this offer that is only available until 11:59pm, Tuesday, April 16th. We are asking that you email orders back to me at chris.deas@italianwinemerchants.com, connect with your portfolio manager or mention receipt of this offer if calling the store. All orders are subject to confirmation. IWM is not responsible for typographical errors.

All my best,

Chris