As a sommelier, it is my passion to present exceptional wines - but it is the stories behind the bottles that fascinate me most.

Appius 2020 from the St. Michael-Eppan winery tells one of these stories: the visionary project of Hans Terzer, an icon of South Tyrolean viticulture, which is now being continued by his talented successor Jakob Gasser.

This vintage marks the smooth transition between two generations - united by a shared passion and vision.

Appius was created in 2010 to bring together the best of the St. Michael-Eppan winery every year in a single, precisely composed cuvée. More than just a wine, Appius embodies the idea of perfection - the result of careful selection and masterful vinification.

For this prestigious project, a dedicated wine cellar was created by architect Walter Angonese, emphasising the importance of Appius. Each vintage is given an individually designed label by the artist collective Life Circus. With only 8,000 bottles and 800 magnums, Appius is also a coveted collector's item.

The 2020 vintage placed high demands on vines and people. Despite difficult conditions, a wine of exceptional elegance and depth was created. Chardonnay takes centre stage, accompanied by Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco and Sauvignon Blanc.

Vinification is carried out with the utmost precision: fermentation, reduced malolactic fermentation, ageing in barriques and tonneaux, followed by three years of maturation on fine lees in stainless steel tanks. The result is a multi-layered, lively wine with great ageing potential - a quiet dialogue between nature, craftsmanship and time.