Pinot Nero "Ludwig" Once Again Crowned Best Italian Pinot Noir

For the second consecutive year, Elena Walch’s Pinot Nero "Ludwig" has taken top honors at the Italian National Pinot Noir Competition. The 2022 vintage of this Alto Adige DOC wine has claimed first place at the prestigious 27th edition of the national Pinot Noir competition “Giornate del Pinot Nero”, following the success of the 2021 vintage in 2024. This marks the fourth time the "Ludwig" has triumphed in the competition, with previous victories for the 2021, 2017, and 2010 vintages.

The Pinot Nero "Ludwig" Alto Adige DOC 2022 Elena Walch has once again taken first place at the 27th Pinot Noir Days, confirming the winning status it achieved last year with the 2021 vintage. This is the fourth time that the "Ludwig" has emerged as the winner, having already taken first place with the 2021, 2017 and 2010 vintages. 

First produced in 2002, the Pinot Nero "Ludwig" is crafted from a rigorous selection of grapes grown in steep, mid-altitude vineyards between 450 and 600 meters above sea level. It reflects the harmo-ny of two contrasting sites: one vineyard in Glen, facing southwest and located at higher elevations, contributes elegance and freshness; the other, in Barleit near Kaltern and facing southeast, offers warmth, structure, and depth. This duality creates a balanced and complex wine. With a limited annual production of just 12,000 bottles, the "Ludwig" represents a commitment to quality and precision in Pinot Noir winemaking. Its many national and international accolades speak to its enduring excel-lence.

The 2022 vintage benefited from a warm, stable growing season. High summer temperatures led to perfectly ripened grapes with slightly lower but well-balanced acidity, resulting in a wine of remarkable structure, complexity, and ageing potential.

Vinification is both meticulous and passionate. The grapes undergo a 10-day maceration in stainless steel tanks, followed by 10 months of ageing in French oak barriques. In 2015, the estate has built one of Italy’s most advanced fermentation cellars, designed for gentle, gravity-fed processing of whole berries. This cutting-edge facility plays a crucial role in achieving the winery’s goal: to produce red wines of exceptional quality.

Elena Walch, a Milanese architect with Alto Adige roots, changed the course of her life - and the region’s wine history - after meeting her husband Werner Walch. Today, she shares her deep passion for winemaking with her daughters, Karoline and Julia, who have studied viticulture and oenology in Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Adelaide, Australia.

At the heart of the Elena Walch philosophy is a deep respect for nature and a genuine commitment to sustainability. These values are not just ideals - they are actively lived and practiced throughout the family-run estate. While firmly rooted in tradition, the winery embraces innovation as part of a continuous journey of learning and improvement, both in the vineyard and in the cellar.