Old vines and a free spirit.

In 2005, Andi Sölva took charge of his parents’ vineyards, and since 2007, he has been creating his own wines, too. As an individualist, he has the goal of producing wines that reflect the unique character and diversity of the region around Lake Kaltern. He watches over the grapes during their growth, supports the natural processes, and is focussed solely on quality. His paramount objective is to always harvest the grapes when they have achieved the optimal degree of ripeness.

Andi Sölva’s operations are not large: He does a lot of the work himself – from closely observing the growth and maturation of his vines all the way up to carefully selecting the ripened grapes by hand. That is why the yield is limited to about 8,000 bottles a year.

Andi Sölva & the Kalterersee wine

The power of nature.

Andi Sölva has deep roots. In his profession and in his homeland. And he loves the most-authentic wine of this area: The Kalterersee wine. The grapes used to produce this classic wine grow on vines nearly a century old – just as you would expect.

The Kalterersee wine is not made of a single variety of grape. Rather, the grapevines are plants so that, at harvest time, grapes of the varieties of Gross-Vernatsch, Kleinvernatsch, and Gray Vernatsch are all gathered at the same time. These grapes are then fermented together. A maximum of 15% of other, analogous grape varieties may be added.

The color of the Kalterersee wine ranges from a light and clear to a bright and deep ruby-red. Its bouquet is reminiscent of cherry and currant. The more or less pronounced hints of almond and mild violet are typical. This wine is usually enjoyed while still young.

Andi Sölva uses his know-how and the natural conditions here to bottle his Kalterersee wines. They reach their peak in the following year – and they can maintain that peak for a number of years to come.

Sea, Kalterersee classic
Erbe und Auftrag, Kalterersee

The lake, the mountains, and tradition are his inspiration

His vineyards are located in and around Kaltern. At the Plantaditsch and Pulvernai sites (at approx. 300 meters above sea-level), chiefly Gross-Vernatsch and Mittervernatsch – with some Cabernet Franc and Tannat – are cultivated. At the Malga locale (approx. 530 meters above sea-level), only Pinot blanc grapes are cultivated. The third location has an altitude of about 420 meters and is in Oberplanitzing. There, Riesling has been cultivated since 2008.

Special note should be made of “Viribus Unitis,” the cooperation with Norbert Kofler of the Kiemberger Vineyard in Terlan, which so far has yielded a cuvée of Lagrein and Tannat, a cuvée of Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot blanc, and Riesling as well as a rosé.

Every wine has its optimal location, variety, and time.

Basically speaking, every wine has the potential to achieve a unique quality. That’s because a wine will reveal characteristics which are imperceptible to ordinary senses. It uncovers properties which have been latent in the soil for thousands of years, reflects natural events which have taken place in the past year, and also tells us much about what has transpired in the wine cellar since harvest-time. The methods of producing wine are finite – and yet, every vintner has his own style.

My wines are authentic. They are reminiscent of the mountains and the lake. They may astonish you – while at the same time radiating a profound sense of peace. Wines that bear my signature.

Wir mussten Künstler sein, South Tyrolean Pinot blanc

An homage to previous generations of vintners, some of whom were true artists. Wines produced from young vines growing on limestone gravel. Allowed to mature in wooden casks.

Description
Area
Weingut Andi Sölva Wir Mussten Künstler Sein Weisser Burgunder on Vivino

Mitterberg, Riesling

This vineyard’s nutrient-poor soil is characterized by porphyry, with little humus and fine earth. This yields a multi-faceted Riesling with a slightly mineral tone. A robust flavor with a good constitution and a firm finish.

Description
Area
Weingut Andi Sölva Mitterberg Riesling on Vivino

Sea, Kalterersee classic

We harvest the grapes from in part 100-year-old vines cultivated at the Pulvernai and Plantaditsch sites and use them to produce the delicious Kalterersee wine. A classic Kalterersee wine with the natural refinement and elegance reflecting its origins.

Sea is produced according to the guidelines of the Kalterersee Charta. The Kalterersee Charta is a promise for quality upon which all wine connoisseurs can rely.

 

Description
Area
Weingut Andi Sölva Sea Kalterersee Auslese Klassisch on Vivino

Erbe und Auftrag, Kalterersee

The grapes for this wine are obtained exclusively from the second harvest at the Pulvernai and Plantaditsch locales. This results in a higher degree of maturity and almost qualifies it as a “spätlese” (“late harvest”) wine.

Erbe und Auftrag is produced according to the guidelines of the Kalterersee Charta. The Kalterersee Charta is a promise for quality upon which all wine connoisseurs can rely.

Description
Area

Generation K, Cabernet Franc

The grapes for this wine are obtained from the Pulvernai locale, at an altitude of approx. 300 meters above sea-level, characterized by a chiefly limestone gravel soil. The vines were planted in the year 2000. Maturation and storage on the lees in wooden barrels and/or in barriques until bottling. Intense cherry-red color; earthy, fruity, and spicey aroma. An optimal balance of tannins and acids on the palate.
Description
Area
Weingut Andi Sölva Generation K Mitterberg Cabernet Franc on Vivino

How others describe my wines:

How others describe it:

Wir mussten Künstler sein, South Tyrolean Pinot blanc

A pale straw-yellow color introduces a finely structured bouquet of elderberry, yellow apple, grapefruit, and peach. Well-structured on the palate, with a long-lasting, bold, and hearty note. Allowed to age for 8 months in French oak.

To the wine
How others describe it:

Mitterberg, Riesling

Has a straw-yellow color with golden hues. Gives rise to a bouquet with notes of quince, fig, and apricot. Refreshing hints of lavender and eucalyptus, with a touch of honey and vanilla, complete its nose. A delightfully dynamic character driven by impertinent freshness. The alcohol is very well integrated. Fermented in stainless stell and wood, 17 months of aging in stainless steel, barriques and tonneaux.

To the wine
How others describe it:

Sea, Kalterersee classic

Ruby-red with a violet tinge. The bouquet clearly reflects its variety, and consists of lively notes of cherry, raspberry, cherry, violets, and black pepper. Equally typical on the palate, with a somewhat rustic character and a hint of bitter almond. Allowed to mature in steel as well as in French and local oak barrels.

To the wine
How others describe it:

Erbe und Auftrag, Kalterersee

On the palate, this wine releases a lively note of terra cotta, followed by pepper, cloves, and nutmeg, with undertones of leather. With an intensive fruity quality of berries – especially blackberries. Balanced by hearty and dense tannins. Full-bodied, slowly tapering off to aromas of dried figs. After the late harvest, it Is aged for 22 months in French and local oak barrels.

To the wine
How others describe it:

Generation K, Cabernet Franc

The fine, transparent, ruby-red color leads to a fascinating spectrum of aromas. With hints of black fruits, mulberry, sour cherry, plum, and blackberry, followed by notes of dark chocolate, sweet tobacco, rhubarb, and a touch of cloves. The flavor is spicey, with a graceful freshness. Ripe and balanced tannins with a pleasantly bitter tinge that continues on to the finish. Long, 30-month aging in barrique.

To the wine

Soils and areas

Kaltern means diversity. Just like its wines.

Plenty of sunshine and the afternoon Lake Garda wind (the so-called “Ora”) are important factors here at Lake Kaltern influencing growth. So are the winds coming down from the Mendel Ridge – which can sometimes result in a 20 °C temperature shift in the course of a single day.

The soils here are likewise special. The area is characterized by a deep soil of limestone gravel – sometimes with a large percentage of sand, sometimes with a low or a high percentage of clay. At the north end of Kaltern, the soil becomes wholly volcanic – i.e., low in nutrients and high in minerals.

All of these factors result in four large-scale wine cultivation zones with similar conditions. Two where either only red wines or only white wines can be cultivated, and two mixed zones. The grapes are grown at altitudes of from 215 meter to more than 500 meters above sea-level. The plots are usually open to the south and protected to the north. The grapes can thus enjoy up to 1,800 hours of sunshine per year.

Malga, limestone gravel

The classic white wine cultivation area of Kaltern begins at an altitude of over 500 meters above sea-level. The soils here are dominated by limestone gravel, with a high percentage of clay. They are characterized by a high pH value and a good capacity to store nutrients. This is where the north meets the south. Evening winds coming down from the 2000-meter-high Mendel Ridge result in a significant cooling effect on hot afternoons in the late summer.

Pinot blanc – Wir mussten Künstler sein

Hochleiten, porphyr

Here at the north end of Kaltern, our soils consist in part of weathered volcanic porphyry with its characteristic red color. These soils can retain heat well, while at the same time being very permeable for water and air.

Riesling

Pulvernai Plantaditsch, limestone gravel

The high-altitude locales are in part steep, and lie at between 215 and 315 meters above sea-level. This is the classic red wine cultivation area of Kaltern. The deep soils of limestone gravel are the result of glacial activity. This is where the local varieties of grapes for Kalterersee wines reach their highest potential. The same can be said of the international variety of Cabernet Franc. The Mediterranean climate at the lake, the abundant sunshine, and the afternoon wind are especially important for these varieties.

Sea
Erbe und Auftrag
Generation K