2022 Sauvignon Winkl

Cantina Terlano is, without a doubt, an icon for northern Italian wine. The portfolio is encyclopedic, with a vast number of varietal wines made in a fresh and easy-to-understand style and, more importantly, single vineyard wines and Terlaner DOC. The winery also produces the Cantina Andriano portfolio. One would think that such a large array of wines might diminish the overall quality produced at Terlano, but that is not the case. While Terlano is a co-op winery, with 43 growers working a total area of 190 hectares, the level of quality produced often outpaces many of the best small artisan growers throughout the region. Year after year, the Terlaner I Primo Grande Cuvée, Sauvignon Blanc Quarz, Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg and Terlaner Riserva Cuvée Nova Domus are immediate standouts. While prices have escalated over the years, in my opinion, they continue to represent tremendous value. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a visit to Terlano to include a blind serving of Premier Cru White Burgundy simply to set the pace for the wines they are about to pour. As for the recent vintages, the 2021s show the clarity and promise of the year. They are ripe yet chiseled with tantalizing acidity. As for the fresh 2022s, they show more of the richness of the vintage. Even still, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Quarz is an immediate standout and outlier, showing the intensity and balanced acidity to excel through medium-term cellaring.