From: Alto Adige, Italy
Varietal: Kerner
Taste: Emerging from Italy's deep Austrian north, Manni Nössing's Kerner is a love letter to Italy's exemplary white wines. The delicate perfume of stone fruit and mineral interweaves with high-toned citrus and sage notes. Its chiseled texture is reminiscent of the intersection between a German Riesling and a chalky Chablis. The palate is greeted with clean, refreshing flavors loaded with purity, evoking a crisp Alpine ambiance. Here, the rich flavors of white fruits are layered with a mouth-watering mineral complexity, making it a top-tier representation of the Kerner varietal.
Pairing: Manni Nössing's Kerner is an adaptable pairing wine with a pronounced affinity for seafood, poultry, pasta (check out the gnocchi recipe below) and vegetables. It harmoniously elevates the flavors of an onion tart, grilled garlic chicken, or the spicy notes of a Thai Green Curry. Traditional Trentino dishes, such as the gnocchi-esque, spinach-flavored strangolapreti, the schlutzkrapfen, a half-moon parcel of ricotta-filled goodness, or the Germanic spätzle, unfold beautifully alongside this wine. For those with a penchant for meaty classics, the combination of sausage & sauerkraut echoes the region's blended culinary heritage and pairs exquisitely with this Kerner.
Goat Cheese Gnocchi With Caramelized Onion And ThymeRecipe from Django
Adapted by Regina Schrambling
About. Nestled deep in Alto Adige, Italy's northernmost province, lies a paradoxical region that seems to blur the lines between the romantic nuances of Italy and the robust traditions of Germany. In Bressanone or Brixen, as the locals fondly call it, Italian tomatoes and basil give way to German sausages and sauerkraut. The rolling, melodic "Pronto!" takes a backseat as an assertive "Hallo?" becomes the norm.
Among the magnificent Dolomite peaks and the Valle Isarco's steep, glacial slopes, Manni Nössing has been quietly redefining the profile of Kerner wines. Although Manni descends from a lineage of farmers, he carved his path into viticulture without formal training, relying instead on the age-old wisdom of learning from each vintage.
His transition in 2000 from selling grapes to a neighboring co-op to bottling under his label marked a transformative chapter in his journey. With vineyards dotting hillside terrains at altitudes ranging from 650 to 800 meters, Manni's dedication to the terroir shines brightly, especially in his Kerner. This grape contributes to half of his production.
It is no ordinary Kerner. Nestled at altitudes between 660-700 meters, these vineyards are subjected to a 10-12 day fermentation under controlled temperatures in stainless steel vats. The outcome is an exquisite white wine that prompts the description: "Where German Riesling meets chalky Chablis." For Manni, every facet of the wine is a testament to the terroir. The controlled acidity, the nuanced aromas, and even the wine's silvery hue all resonate with the pristine beauty of its origins.
It's worth noting the singular dedication Manni displays towards the land. His understanding that "happy grapes stay in the shade" is evident in his methods, preferring to let the vines thrive under a leafy canopy than expose them to the relentless sun. Such practices reflect a more profound philosophy—of preserving the essence of the land and emphasizing terroir.
The reverence for the land extends to his choices in the cellar. The meticulous winemaking process, involving vinification in stainless steel tanks and aging on lees for eight months, yields a harmonious blend of finesse, complexity, and drinkability.
As Ian d'Agata of Vinous highlights, "Manni Nössing is one of Italy's most talented winemakers." And his 2021 Kerner is proof of this claim—a silver-green-tinted beauty radiating notes of stone fruit and mineral, accentuated by citrus undertones. A white wine that showcases Italy's finest, it intertwines the subtle aromatics of sage and white fruits with a mouth-watering minerality. The 2021 Manni Nössing Kerner has redefined the varietal and captured the imaginations of Italophiles, making it one of the most sought-after Italian white wines.
