Peter Dipoli Fihl Merlot Alto Adige DOC 2019

The Peter Dipoli company was founded in 1987 in the town of Neumarkt, in the Italian wine region of Alto Adige. The founder, Peter Dipoli, was born on February 25, 1954, studied winemaking at the San Michele all'Adige School, and then worked for 5 years at a research station before returning to his parents' farm in Laimburg with the intention of creating his own wines. He conducted thorough research and concluded that the steep slopes near Bolzano are ideal for viticulture. To this end, he acquired a 1.2-hectare vineyard in the Cortaccia province of Alto Adige and replaced the indigenous grape variety grown there with the international variety Sauvignon Blanc, as the high slopes provided perfect conditions for its cultivation. Cool temperatures and a long growing season contributed to the full ripening of the berries while maintaining fresh acidity. The first harvest of Sauvignon Blanc after replanting the vines was collected in 1990. Lacking his own winery, Peter Dipoli vinifies the harvest at a friend's winery and releases the white wine Voglar in a quantity of 1637 bottles. After purchasing another 10 acres of land, the winemaker begins to cultivate Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and releases two red wines, Fihl and Iugum. Today, the company's vineyard area is 4.6 hectares. A new phase in Peter Dipoli's life was marked by the acquisition of an old farm in Neumarkt in 1998, which he converted into a winery. Here, he passionately and inspiredly began creating complex red and white wines that reflect the terroir of Alto Adige. Each year, Peter Dipoli produces about 40,000 bottles of wine. Peter Dipoli can rightly be called a master of winemaking in Alto Adige, achieving incredible success in his craft.