Summary
The Peter Sölva winery (Peter Sölva & Söhne) is one of the oldest wine estates in Kaltern in South Tyrol's Überetsch (Oltradige). Documents show that the Sölva family has been growing, pressing and selling wine here without interruption since 1731 – now over around ten generations. Today Peter and Stephan Sölva run the estate, which farms around 12 hectares of vines around Lake Kaltern. The range is split into two lines bearing historic family names: DeSilva for varietal and site wines such as Kalterersee, Lagrein and Gewürztraminer, and Amistar for expressive blends – including a red assemblage modelled on Bordeaux, rounded off with the native Lagrein.
History
The estate's history reaches far back. According to family tradition, Kaspar Anton DeSilva married Susanna Amistar, who came from Spain and ran her own wine farm in Kaltern, in 1678. Their union produced the founder who established the winery in 1731 – the year from which the family's winegrowing is documented. Over time, the original family name DeSilva evolved into Sölva.
Since then the estate has remained in family hands without interruption, passed down from generation to generation. While many Kaltern growers delivered their grapes to cooperatives during the 20th century, the Sölva family still makes its own wines. Today Peter Sölva and his son Stephan Sölva lead the business: Stephan is seen as a young, innovative mind who preserves the traditional heritage while carefully developing the estate further. Besides wine, the house also runs its own distillery for grappa and brandy.
Location & Terroir
The winery is located on Goldgasse right in the village centre of Kaltern an der Weinstraße, about 15 kilometres southwest of Bolzano. The Überetsch is one of the warmest and sunniest wine areas in South Tyrol; nearby Lake Kaltern stores heat and moderates temperatures, while cool downslope winds from the mountains create marked differences between day and night.
The roughly 12 hectares are spread over different altitudes – a deliberate split by grape variety: the red varieties grow in the warmer valley sites around Lake Kaltern at about 220 to 400 metres, the white varieties on cooler hillside sites between roughly 400 and 600 metres. This lets Cabernet, Merlot and Lagrein ripen fully in the warmth, while Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay keep their freshness and aromatics.
Style & Philosophy
The Sölva family combines modern cellar technology with time-honoured winegrowing methods. At the centre is a respectful approach to nature, great attention to detail and a balanced relationship between vine growth and yield. For the top wines the estate relies on truly ripe fruit, a small share of late-harvested grapes and – for some blends – partially dried grapes, which give the wines extra density.
Stylistically the house covers a wide range: from light, juicy reds made from Vernatsch through powerful Lagrein to barrique-aged blends with ageing potential. In the whites, clear fruit and drinkability come first, with Gewürztraminer – a typical South Tyrolean speciality – holding a firm place.
Notable Sites & Wines
The range is divided into two lines, both of which refer to the family history:
- DeSilva – named after the original family name; stands for soil character and old vines and includes the varietal wines, such as Kalterersee from Vernatsch, Lagrein, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Blanc
- Amistar Cuvée Rosso – the red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Lagrein, aged in barrique; a South Tyrolean answer to the Bordeaux blend
- Amistar Cuvée Bianco – a white blend of oak-aged Chardonnay with a share of Sauvignon Blanc
- Amistar Il Secondo – more approachable second wines in red and white
- Amistar Edizione Rossa Riserva and a Cabernet Franc Riserva at the top of the red range
The spectrum thus runs from classic everyday Kalterersee to age-worthy reds for special occasions.
Awards
Peter Sölva is regularly reviewed in the relevant wine guides, including Falstaff, and – above all with its Amistar blends – is considered one of the most distinctive private addresses in Kaltern. The red Amistar cuvée in particular has helped this historic family estate gain recognition beyond South Tyrol, as proof that Kaltern can produce great red wines from international varieties as well as Vernatsch.
