Drink of the Week: Alois Lageder “Misto Mare”

While American winemakers are beginning to experiment more with field blends (a variety of grapes grown and fermented together to produce a single wine), the practice has long been common across Europe. In Italy’s far northern region of Alto Adige, the dramatic, sloping hillsides of the vineyards echo the nearby Dolomites. Here, historic family winery Alois Lageder recently released the first iteration of their Misto Mare field blend—an intriguing and delicious example of the region’s diversity and sustainability efforts.

For the Misto Mare, Alois Lageder collaborated with several of their vineyard partners who are still in the process of converting their land to organic and biodynamic farming practices and awaiting certification. The field blend was created with more than 14 red and white grape varieties and vinified as a white wine, using partial whole cluster fermentation and partial malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged in stainless steel, with 50 percent resting on the lees for three months.

The resulting wine is an intriguing tour for the senses through Alto Adige. Richly aromatic with notes of stone fruit and grassy florals, the Misto Mare is medium-bodied with enough structure to carry through crisp, late summer evenings. Lively flavors of citrus and jasmine and a subtle salinity keep the wine bright and fresh. And at less than $20 for a bottle, it’s an easy gateway into a region that is excelling at combining its winemaking history with forward-thinking practices. $15.94, empirewine.com