Wines Alto Adige Elena Walch - Castel Ringberg - 2022

Viniou Reviews

Elena Walch’s Cuvée Castel Ringberg 2022 offers a refined expression of Alto Adige’s unique terroir. Crafted primarily from aromatic white varietals typical of the region, this dry white blend exhibits a crystalline, pale straw yellow hue. The 2022 vintage benefited from a balanced growing season, allowing the grapes, likely including Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, to achieve optimal ripeness while retaining lively acidity. Vinification at Elena Walch focuses on precision and freshness, with careful temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel to preserve aromatics and varietal character, possibly with brief ageing on fine lees to add subtle complexity and textural finesse.

The Alto Adige region, nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps, boasts a viticultural history that spans centuries. Its climate is alpine-continental, with warm days, cool nights, and significant diurnal temperature variation, all of which foster vibrant acidity and intense aromatic profiles in the grapes. Soils here are diverse, ranging from calcareous to clay and gravel, and the steep slopes of the Castel Ringberg vineyard rise above Lake Caldaro, enjoying excellent sun exposure and drainage. This patchwork of microclimates and elevations makes Alto Adige one of Italy’s premier zones for high quality white wines, renowned for their elegance and purity.

Castel Ringberg’s Cuvée, with its expressive bouquet—often revealing notes of white peach, citrus, delicate florals, and perhaps a touch of herbaceousness—pairs beautifully with delicate dishes. It enhances the flavours of freshwater fish such as trout or arctic char, and is a wonderful match for light vegetable risottos, asparagus, or a classic South Tyrolean speck with mountain cheese. Local Alpine fare like Schlutzkrapfen (stuffed pasta) or a herb-laced apple and celery salad would work particularly well, complementing the wine’s freshness and subtle structure.

For the best appreciation, serve this wine chilled but not icy, ideally between 8 and 10°C. This will allow the bouquet and palate complexity to unfold gracefully, delivering the full Alto Adige experience in your glass.