Created in 2000, the Raetia project is curated by Marc de Grazia. The name Raetia is derived from the old name for the confederation of tribes that used to reside in the alpine region of what is now Northern Italy. Some 2500 years ago, during Roman dominance, in an area from modern Switzerland to Verona, to Sud Tyrol (now Alto Adige) the Raetia had a thriving and advanced wine culture. These people were likely Etruscans, not migrating tribes like those further north. They learned how to select and delineate the best plots. For millennia, these traditions were handed down. Eventually, modern Italy was organized and established.

The wines of Raetia are blended from plots in Bassa Atesina, the southernmost area of the Alto Adige. With altitudes between 200 and 300 meters above sea level, the vineyards experience a profound diurnal shift which helps to produce grapes that become wines that are nuanced, complex, sophisticated, replete with natural acidity. Each Raetia grower practices sustainability.  Totally, they produce about  20000 cases  per year. Erwin Carli is one of these producers. He farms on 2 hectares of vines, all trained in guyot; 1.5 is planted to Pinot Grigio, .5 is planted to Kerner. Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, is a widely planted, international variety. Kerner is a regional cross, created  by August Herold in 1929 in Lauffen, Germany. The grape was named for Justinus Kerner, a poet and physician from Swabia, whose work often praised wine in song and poem. The grape is a cross between Trollinger, known as Schiava in Italy, and Riesling. Although this grape is reasonably common in Germany, it is in Alto Adige where most of the world renowned wines are produced from this grape.  Kerner produces a white grape, for white wine production. It offers the weight of a Riesling, the phenolics of Schiava, and the acid of both. It’s flavor hews are herbaceous, stone fruity, mineral-driven, and gently citrusy.

Pinot Grigio Alto Adige

This is 100% Pinot Grigio, grown in the area of Bolzano. The total vineyard area for production is 24 hectares. The soil types are largely clay and limestone, and the altitude is between 300 and 600 meters. This is fermented and aged in stainless steel vats. This is not your Venetian banana water, one expects from northeast Italy, particularly at a modest price point. It has some weight, some layering, but it isn’t heavy, nor cloying. The fruit notes are mostly tropical, there are hints of ripe pear, honeysuckle, savoury herbs, and finishing with a touch of white pepper, and tart red apple. This would pair nicely with lemongrass chicken, shrimp in a mild green curry and coconut sauce, or with himachi.

Kerner Alto Adige

This is 100% Kerner from Alto Adige. This wine is upper medium in body, like Riesling, there exists a profound viscosity, and yet it is lively, with green fruit and some exotics. There are floral notes and some funky earthiness. This would lovely with seared scallops with asparagus and sautéed shitake mushrooms.