Chardonnay Sudtirol Alto Adige DOC 2016 - Musivum

The production area chosen for the Chardonnay Musivum is located in Alto Adige and includes various locations: mainly in the municipality of Salorno, Magrè and Egna. The characteristics of the area, inclined to maintain high acid content, are ideal for the cultivation of Chardonnay which manages to reach high sugar levels. Another peculiarity of this area, ideal for growing grapes, is the microclimate characterized by good wind – which avoids dangerous stagnation of humidity and guarantees rapid drying of the grapes after the rains – and by an insolation throughout the day. Production begins with a slightly delayed manual harvest to enhance the aromatic richness of this variety. In the Cellar, the individual containers are distinguished on the basis of the characteristics of the grapes, so as to diversify the vinification process. All the grapes are cooled in the cell at 2-3°C. The following days those with a yellow/golden color are removed from the stalks and left to rest in the press for 4/5 hours in contact with the skins (cryomaceration) to increase the extraction of the aromatic precursors of this variety. The yellow/green colored grapes are instead de-stemmed and immediately subjected to soft pressing. From both portions a free-run must is obtained which is followed by natural decanting. The start of fermentation takes place in special stainless steel tanks, specially designed for the " Musivum " project, with selected yeasts and with a progressive and controlled increase in temperature from 14° to 18°C. Once fermentation has started, 65% of the volume continues its journey in the new barrique cellar: 50% in second passage oak barrels, where it remains for the refinement phase and the other 15% is aged in new French oak barriques at medium roast. The remaining 35% completes the fermentation in steel. During the refinement the 3 portions are kept separate, with frequent movements of the fine lees, up to 2 months before bottling, when they are brought together to amalgamate the different components, i.e. those fermented and aged in the various woods with the one fermented and aged in steel .