2024 Girlan IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti 448 Rosso, Alto-Adige

Girlan IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti 448 Rosso is a beautifully crafted alpine red that captures the wild, high altitude character of Alto Adige. The name 448 refers to the altitude of the vineyards above sea level, a clue to the wine’s freshness, tension and aromatic lift. These vines grow on steep slopes beneath the Dolomites, where warm days are followed by very cold nights, locking in acidity and fragrance while allowing slow, even ripening.

Cantina Girlan is one of Alto Adige’s great historic estates, founded in 1923 and still built around small grower parcels farmed with precision and respect. The 448 Rosso is a blend of classic regional varieties, led by Schiava and Lagrein, designed to show the lighter, more elegant side of South Tyrolean reds rather than sheer power.

In the glass, the wine is bright and perfumed, showing red cherry, wild strawberry and plum, layered with violets, almond skin and a gentle herbal note. The palate is medium bodied and silky, with lively acidity and fine tannins giving it freshness and drinkability, finishing with a subtle mineral, alpine edge.

This is a brilliant food wine. Charcuterie, speck, roast chicken, pork, mushroom dishes or simple alpine style cooking all pair beautifully with its bright fruit and savoury detail.

Girlan 448 Rosso is designed to be enjoyed in its youth for its vibrancy and charm, but it will also hold well for three to five years, gaining a little more savoury depth with time. It is a pure and joyful expression of Alto Adige’s mountain vineyards and a lovely introduction to the region’s unique red wine style.