Altitude, Vertigo and a Stunningly Good White Wine
At the start of the year I introduced a new wine from Corvée — Altigo, a vibrant mountain white named for the altitude and vertigo of the Dolomite vineyards where it's grown. And it sold out fast, which didn't surprise me; Up and down their lineup, Corvée's wines are as spectacular as the mountain views from the vineyards, and Altigo was no exception.
When Mario first told me about this new wine, my first instinct was to grab my hiking boots and hop on a plane to Italy so I could taste it for myself. Well, I waited until the Winter Olympics were over, then made my way to Trentino this past May. Perfect timing for a hike through the vineyards, as it turned out.
The night I arrived in Trento, Mario and I sat down for dinner, where we shared a bottle of the new vintage of Altigo, and one glass in, I knew we needed more of this.
For those of you who missed the original offer, or just want a refresher on what makes this wine so special, that story is below — and for those of you ready to replenish your cellars with a fantastic everyday white, details are at the end.
Mario calls it Altigo, a neologism that combines “Altitude” with “Vertigo” to evoke the emotion and sense of awe experienced in the presence of the Dolomite Mountains that surround the vineyards. And it’s a vibrant easygoing young wine meant to be enjoyed everyday… after a hike, après-ski or aperitivo.
The Corvée vineyards occupy a precarious perch along the steep mountain slopes of the Cembra Valley, just east of Trento. They span across a series of terraces, arranged more vertical than horizontal. From 400 meters to over 700 meters in elevation, each of these various tiers offers a different micro-climate, held together by dry-stacked stone walls, sculpting the mountains into a quilt of terraces. Each elevation is planted with a specific variety, all supported by tall pergolas that maximize exposure to sunlight and afternoon winds.
Corvée Altigo
Dolomiti Bianco 2025
This white blend brings together three different varieties, from three different terraces at different altitudes: 400m, 500m and 700m, where the vineyards of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Müller-Thurgau grow. The Grigio packs a punch of flavor, the chardonnay adds layered complexity and verve, while the Müller-Thurgau adds a touch of richness. If you’ve enjoyed any of the Corvée wines in the past, you know they are wines of great finesse, freshness and energy. My guess is you’ll be wanting to have a few of these around — a perfect everyday white with that blast of mountain freshness.
I’ve said this before: Corvée has the trifecta of a wine-importer’s wishlist: compelling wines, superb quality, and an affordable price tag!