Tenuta San Leonardo : Riesling 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the 2021 Riesling from Tenuta San Leonardo

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a golden-yellow hue, reflecting the grapes’ phenolic maturity and the influence of aging in oak barrels.

Nose

The bouquet reveals great complexity, with aromas of lemon zest and crisp green apple. Notes of melon, tropical fruits and sweet spices enrich the whole, alongside honeyed nuances and a subtle smoky touch.

Palate

The opening is both supple and remarkably fresh. The elegant structure is supported by fine acidity, while the silky texture reveals harmonious integration of oak. The palate unveils flavors of white peach paired with a lingering minerality.

Food and wine pairings

This Riesling pairs ideally with seafood, white fish in a lemon sauce, sushi and sashimi. It also matches beautifully with blue cheeses, fresh cheeses and washed-rind cheeses, as well as steamed shellfish and light vegetable dishes.

Serving and cellaring

The 2021 Riesling should be served chilled, at a temperature between 7 and 10°C.

An alpine Riesling from Trentino-Alto Adige aged in oak barrels

The estate

Founded in 1724, Tenuta San Leonardo has been run by the Guerrieri Gonzaga family for more than three centuries. Now led by Marchese Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga, this Trentin Haut-Adige estate spans around three hundred hectares, with about thirty dedicated to viticulture. Certified organic since 2018 and named Winery of the Year 2025 by Gambero Rosso, the estate obtained Equalitas certification in 2024. The domaine is famous for its Bordeaux-style blends and revived Riesling production in 2013, reconnecting with a 19th-century winemaking tradition.

The vineyard

This 2021 Riesling comes from plots located in the Cembra Valley, in Alto Adige, at an altitude between 600 and 700 meters. The vines, between ten and thirty years old, are planted on sandy-silty soils of morainic origin with a porphyritic base. Southwest-facing, they are trained in Guyot, with a density of 6,000 vines per hectare and yields kept to around 80 quintals per hectare. The altitude and significant temperature swings encourage aromatic development and preserve the grapes’ natural freshness.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage was marked by a mild, rainy winter followed by a spring punctuated by frost episodes that did not affect the estate’s high-altitude vineyards. June and July were particularly rainy, followed by a period of unstable weather between mid-July and mid-August. The welcome rains at the end of August allowed optimal ripening, revealing generous, well-balanced berries.

Winemaking and aging

After a cold skin maceration of around twelve hours, the 2021 Riesling grapes are gently pressed. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks at low temperature for twenty to twenty-five days. The wine is then aged for twelve months on fine lees in 700-liter French oak barrels, first and second fill, to soften the grape variety’s pronounced character while giving it a unique identity.

Grape variety

100% Riesling