A label from Kaltern takes first place for the 2024 vintage ahead of Tiefenbrunner and Castelfeder, as Alto Adige estates secure nine of the top ten spots.

Sauvignon from Alto Adige triumphed at the latest edition of the Italian Sauvignon Blanc Competition in Penon, where Kellerei Kaltern’s Quintessenz Sauvignon Alto Adige DOC claimed the title for the best 2024 vintage. Weingut Tiefenbrunner – Schlosskellerei Turmhof of Entiklar took second place with its Turmhof Sauvignon Alto Adige DOC, while Castelfeder secured third with the Raif Sauvignon Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT.

Once again, Alto Adige producers dominated well beyond the podium. Nine of the competition’s top ten wines hail from the region, outperforming fierce competition from six other Italian wine-producing areas.

Stylistic Evolution and the 2024 Vintage

“Overall quality was remarkably high, buoyed by a relatively cool 2024 vintage that strongly favored the varietal,” explains Andreas Kofler, President of the Organizing Committee for the Italian Sauvignon Blanc Competition.

Vice President Peter Dipoli is equally enthusiastic about both the results and the stylistic direction of the wines presented: “We were delighted to see how the classic profile defined by vegetal notes is becoming increasingly rare, giving way to a new expression marked by ripe yellow-fleshed fruit,” Dipoli states.

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A National Panel Judges 85 Competing Labels

As happens every year, the panel assessed all 85 competing wines at Penon’s local civic hall. The real novelty of the latest edition was a twelve-member jury of top-tier winemakers, industry experts, and wine journalists drawn from across Italy.

“Bringing in a national panel gives the competition an even stronger foundation and reaffirms our role as the central benchmark event for Sauvignon producers across the country,” notes the Organizing Committee President.

Andreas Kofler also takes pride in the standout performance of the local labels in his capacity as President of the Alto Adige Wine Consortium, the reference body for the region’s wine sector: “Consistent success among our producers, even against stiff competition from other wine regions, proves not only our deep expertise in the vineyard and the cellar, but also the wealth of experience, passion, and dedication behind our wines,” Kofler concludes.

Rankings of the 8th Italian Sauvignon Blanc Competition

Consorzio Vini Alto Adige