Alto Adige Meranese di Collina (Sudtirol Meraner Hugel in German), also known as Alto Adige Meranese (or Sudtirol Meraner), is the title used for wines made under the Alto Adige DOC from vineyards around the town of Merano. Merano is located in the far north of Alto Adige, and is the second most northerly wine-producing town in Italy (further south only than Bressanone/Brixen in the neighboring Isarco Valley). Less than 10 miles (15km) from the Tirol region of western Austria, Marano is surrounded on all sides by the Eastern Central Alps. Overlooking it to the east is the 8476ft (2581m) Ifinger peak, and to the north-west the equally impressive Rotelspitze.
The key wine style here is a mid-bodied red made from the local grape variety Schiava. To qualify for the title, these wines must be made from vineyards in the communes of Caines, Cermes, Gargazzone, Lagundo, Lana, Marlengo, Postal, Rifiano, S. Pancrazio, Scena, Tesimo, Tirolo and Merano itself.
There are six lieu-dits offically recognized under this DOC: Kuchelberg, Gneid, Rosengarten, Lebenberg, Labers and del Burgraviato (Burggrafler). These names may be included as part of the DOC title on wine labels, effectively making them sub-sub-regions of Alto Adige.
