I recently wrote about my July ’09 trip to Alto Adige — for more about the region, click here!

Now — here’s the skinny on just a few of the many, varied and exciting wines that I think are proving Alto Adige’s growing reputation as the source for Italy’s best white wines. Some I tasted there, some I’ve tasted since — I’m hooked!

CHARDONNAY
Tiefenbrunner 2008 Chardonnay Alto Adige ($15). A crisp, no-oak style, but still offering appealing palate weight and complexity, with light cream and earth notes to the spicy apple and pear flavors. Full, focused finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

GEWURZTRAMINER
Cantina Caldaro 2008 Gewurztraminer Alto Adige ($23). Full-bodied, aromatic and bone-dry, offering rose and freshly grated nutmeg accents to the smooth apple and nectarine core. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

J. Hofstatter 2008 Gewurztraminer Alto Adige ($38). Just a baby now, with some life ahead of it. Intense smoky and floral notes, with fresh white peach and spice flavors that linger on the mineral-laced finish. A very good example of this unique regional style. Best from 2010 and over the next several years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

KERNER
Abbazia di Novacella 2008 Kerner Alto Adige ($20). Pretty floral aromas accent pink grapefruit, white peach and fresh herbal notes, with a bright, fruity finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

MULLER-THURGAU
Cantina Terlano 2008 Muller-Thurgau Alto Adige ($17). Pretty melon and mineral notes soften intense citrus character, folding into a lush yet crisp finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

PINOT BIANCO & BLENDS
Alois Lageder 2008 Pinot Bianco Dolomiti ($16). Nice palate weight — slightly creamy core supports crisp white peach and red apple fruit, with a crisp, moderate length finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Cantina Terlano 2008 Terlaner Classico Alto Adige ($19). Many wineries in the area do these kinds of Pinot Bianco/Chardonnay blends (this one also has a dash of Sauvignon Blanc), and this is a good example of one that works. Offering an affordable balance of fresh, lemony and mineral notes that accent crisp pear and apple, with a moderate, crisp finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

J. Hofstatter 2008 Pinot Bianco Alto Adige ($18). So good, with fresh nectarine and touches of bright citrus and mineral that linger on the persistent finish. Ready to drink now and over the next year or two. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Manincor 2006 Reserve della Contessa Dolomiti ($20). Full bodied and elegant, with focused apple and apricot notes layered with light citrus and fresh herbal notes, with a touch of creaminess through the full finish. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. A blend of Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Tiefenbrunner 2008 Pinot Bianco Alto Adige ($15). Floral and mineral aromas and flavors accent medium-bodied apple and melon, with a smooth, elegant finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

PINOT GRIGIO
St.-Michael-Eppan 2008 Pinot Grigio Alto Adige ($15). Fresh and juicy, with layers of apple, blossom, nectarine and mineral, finishing with a burst of juicy citrus. Nice complexity for the money. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area. 

SAUVIGNON BLANC
Girlan 2007 Sauvignon Alto Adige Select Art ($20). Racy citrus — grapefruit, lime, tangerine — is accented with stony mineral, with a long, fresh finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Tiefenbrunner 2008 Sauvignon Alto Adige Kirchleiten ($30). This Sauvignon Blanc is elegant and distinctive, with mineral, fresh herbal notes and briary accents to the clean citrus flavors that lean more toward lime, lemon and blood orange and away from grapefruit. Lingering but clean finish. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. Locate this wine online or in your area.