New year, fresh palate. Susannah’s latest post on Avvinare is a quick toast to what made 2025 meaningful—and a nicely distilled snapshot of where Italian wine culture is headed. It’s concise, grounded, and forward-looking. As she puts it, “This short post is just to say Happy New Year/Buon Anno.” —Susannah, Avvinare
Why This Matters
Behind every great bottle is a story, and this one matters. It reflects broader trends shaping how wine is made, sold, and enjoyed. Stay curious—your palate will thank you.
Key Takeaways
- Key themes: Kerner, Garda DOC, Alto Adige—stay informed on these evolving trends.
- The takeaway? Keep exploring, keep tasting, and don’t be afraid to try something new.
Kerner, Cooperatives, and Alto Adige’s Quiet Power
One highlight: representing Cantina di Bolzano and introducing more folks to Kerner. If you’re newer to Kerner, it’s an aromatic white born from Riesling and Schiava, thriving in Alpine pockets like Alto Adige. Expect a dry, brisk profile with stone fruit and herbal lift—great with fresh seafood or anything that appreciates mountain-fresh acidity. Susannah’s focus on a cooperative winery also matters: cooperatives in Italy aren’t just volume machines; the best (like many in Alto Adige) combine vineyard diversity with quality control, giving producers stability and consumers consistent, terroir-driven wines.
She also worked with the dynamic Garda DOC, highlighting ten denominations under its umbrella and a forward-thinking move: a low-alcohol classification. That’s not a gimmick—Italy’s consortiums can set style expectations and guide innovation. Garda, wrapping around Lake Garda and touching Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino, is home to breezy whites and rosés that lean toward crispness and freshness. Lugana (powered by the Turbiana grape) often shows a little more texture and aging potential, yet still plays in the dry, food-friendly lane. In short: Garda DOC is opening space for producers to flex while meeting modern drinking habits.
Teaching, Pairing, and the Gen Z Perspective
Susannah’s teaching stint at City Tech (CUNY) underscores something I’ve seen on the West Coast: Gen Z is curious, values transparency, and isn’t shy about asking why a label reads the way it does. Wine classes that pair Italian regions with dishes—like the ITA Table Talks series she joined—help people connect the dots from vineyard to plate. That’s the real gateway to lifelong wine enjoyment: taste, context, story.
Burgundy Study: Deep Dives That Pay Off
Leaning into the Wine Scholar Guild’s Master of Burgundy program is an elegant flex. Burgundy is the ultimate lesson in nuance: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay translated through slope, soil, and microclimate. Whether you’re team Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, or more curious about Chablis’s taut, mineral whites, Burgundy rewards patience and precision. Susannah’s plan to complete that certification in 2026 tells us her compass is set on depth, not just volume.
Style Snapshot: What to Know If You’re Buying
- Kerner (Alto Adige): Dry, medium-bodied, citrus/stone fruit, alpine herbs; chill it properly and avoid over-chilling—aromas deserve breathing room.
- Garda DOC (Lugana + nearby denominations): Dry to off-dry whites and rosés; fresh, lake-influenced styles with clean lines and food-friendly acidity.
- Low-alcohol classification (Garda DOC): Expect lighter body, crispness, and a focus on balance over heft.
Best occasion: Weeknight dinners, picnics, and casual celebrations—any moment that wants clarity over complication.
Best pairing direction: For Kerner: sushi, grilled trout, herby salads. For Garda DOC: lake fish, light pasta, soft cheeses.
Why These Highlights Matter
Brand ambassadorship isn’t just pouring samples—it’s translating culture. When someone spotlights a cooperative, a lesser-known grape, or an innovative consortium move, they’re helping drinkers make smarter, more values-aligned choices. Teaching Gen Z stakes out the next decade of wine conversations. And studying Burgundy? That’s sharpening the blade—if you can speak Burgundy, you can contextualize nearly any Old World region.
In Susannah’s words, the past year had challenges, but the takeaway is optimism: new writing projects (including Substack), continued teaching, and more ambassadorship. Honestly, that’s the kind of energy wine needs right now—less gatekeeping, more bridges.
Here’s to the year ahead: more Kerner on Tuesday, more Garda DOC at brunch, and a little Burgundy theory to season the weekend. Happy New Year indeed.
Source: https://avvinare.com/2026/01/01/happy-new-year-buon-anno-2025-highlights/
