Wines from Moncalisse

History

Moncalisse is a young Trentodoc house. Its official site says it was founded in 2016 by Julia and Karoline Walch, who come from a long established winemaking family in Alto Adige. Trade press describes the two as sisters and as the daughters of Elena Walch, and says the project took about ten years to bring to life, with the sisters making sparkling wine from 2009.

The estate stands in Trentino, not Alto Adige, in the foothills of Monte Calisio above Trento. The mountain is known for ancient rock carvings left by the communities that lived there.

The land and the vineyards

The vineyards cover 12 hectares on a single slope at about 600 metres above sea level. The altitude, the local microclimate and a variety of soils all shape the wines. The estate says it follows sustainable practices and pays attention to biodiversity.

At the heart of the property is a parcel of old Chardonnay vines, which the estate treats as its most prized plot. The cellar was designed with curving white walls that follow the contours of the vineyard, and a terrace looks over the valley and the mountains.

The wines

Moncalisse makes only Riserva wines, all by the traditional method with long ageing in bottle. The Trentodoc Moncalisse Extra Brut Millesimato Riserva spends 56 months on the lees. Montis Arcentarie, a Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Riserva made from 100 percent Chardonnay from old vines, rests for 80 months.

James Suckling gave the 2017 Montis Arcentarie 97 points and placed it at number 93 in his Top 100 Wines of Italy 2026.

Today

The winery is open to visitors. Production is small and focused, with the aim of showing what a single hillside at 600 metres can do for sparkling Chardonnay.

Founded

2016

Area

Monte Calisio, Trentino

Vineyards

12 hectares

Main grapes

Chardonnay

Owners

Julia and Karoline Walch