The Dolomites in Every Bottle

The Dolomites are not just a backdrop for winegrowing in South Tyrol - they are part of its character. Their pale limestone peaks, sudden cliffs, and deep valleys shape the air, the water, and the soils that influence every vineyard in this alpine-Mediterranean landscape.

At Baron Longo in South Tyrol, this connection between mountains and wine is particularly tangible. Our vineyards stretch from Egna (220 m above sea level) in the Adige Valley up to Montagna in the Trudner Horn Nature Park (1,050 m a.s.l.), a dramatic altitude range that mirrors the contrasts of the Dolomites themselves: warm valley floors, cool mountain breezes, and steep slopes shaped by complex geology.

In the lower sites near Egna, the proximity to the Adige River brings a milder climate and Mediterranean influence. Sunlight reflects off the water, winds circulate through the valley, and the soils retain warmth; conditions that lend structure and depth to varieties like Lagrein and Weißburgunder. Here, the Dolomites feel distant yet ever-present, framing the horizon and influencing weather patterns that move through the valley.

Higher up in Montagna, inside the Trudner Horn Nature Park, the vineyards sit closer to the mountain world. Nights are cooler, mornings are crisp, and the growing season is slower. The mineral-rich soils - shaped by limestone, dolomite and porphyry influences - contribute to the freshness and aromatic lift of our high-altitude Sauvignon Blanc, while our Chardonnay, cultivated at around 400 m a.s.l., benefits from slightly warmer sites that give it a fuller, more rounded expression. At this elevation range, the mountain influence remains unmistakable - quieter, sharper, and more mineral in expression.

Biodynamic farming further deepens this relationship between landscape and wine. By working in dialogue with natural cycles rather than against them, the vineyards remain closely attuned to their surroundings: to the rhythms of the Dolomites, the vitality of the soils, and the balance of the ecosystem within the Trudner Horn Nature Park.

From valley to mountain, from Egna to Montagna, the diversity of South Tyrol’s terrain is reflected in the wines that grow here. The Dolomites are not simply a view; they are a living presence - carried, in subtle ways, into every bottle of Baron Longo wine.