Amidst the vineyards of the Überetsch valley in Alto Adige, former-modern-furniture-maker-turned-natural-winemaker Thomas Niedermayr is making a compelling argument for Piwi varieties: Piwi varieties mean that chemicals and artificial substances can be dispensed with, and experience, empathy and passion mean that nature is allowed free range. Thomas and his father cultivate these crossings in-house, each one taking a 5-6 year investment before even proving to be viable (or not). Perhaps the most compelling argument, though, is the result of that labor of love: wines that are clear expressions of Alto Adige, crystalline and pure, somehow entirely familiar despite the novelty of the varieties. SUMM is a blend of 3 PiWi grapes - Bronner, Solaris, Souvignier Gris - from a vineyard interspersed with bee hives (SUMM is the sound, in German, of a buzzing bee). On the nose: fine yeast, mojito mint & violets; On the palate: lemonade with fresh-cut green herbs and struck stone.
