This Monday, we had the pleasure of attending the opening dinner for Südtirol / Alto Adige wines weeks at Racines (you might have seen it on Instagram).

And good news: starting this Saturday, September 14th, and until the end of the month, you’ll be able to discover these incredible wines at 20 restaurants / wine stores across Belgium. It’s a super fun opportunity to get familiar with wines from one of Italy’s smallest wine regions, which, on 5800 hectares, boasts no fewer than 4800 winemakers.

The quality of the wines is simply outstanding, with 98% of the vineyards classified as DOC. No surprise there: the steep slopes of the region make manual harvesting a necessity, ensuring exceptional quality while preserving the local ecosystem.

We had the chance to taste some pretty wild grape varieties paired with dishes prepared by Ugo, the chef at Racines. Our favorite was the Schiava, one of the two indigenous red grape varieties from the Alto Adige region, served slightly chilled alongside the herb risotto from the chef’s garden. We continued with a Lagrein, the second indigenous red grape variety from the region, this time with a velvety texture and deep notes, perfectly paired with the pork cheek served with roasted figs – a match made in heaven if you ask me.

For two weeks, partner restaurants will create food and wine pairings featuring Südtirol / Alto Adige wines, and wine shops will showcase these gems with dedicated masterclasses. A full immersion into this unique terroir you won’t want to miss.

And here’s a little bonus info: the collective SÜDTIROL brand, featured on the bottles, guarantees protected origin and all the characteristics that make these wines exceptional. Only DOC wines from Alto Adige can display this logo.