With the prestigious “Wine Icons” award, St. Michael-Eppan Winery reaffirms its status as a pioneering force in how Italian wine is produced, enjoyed, and shared. This milestone reinforces the Winery’s leadership in South Tyrol, backed by 38 Tre Bicchieri awards across 40 editions of the Gambero Rosso’s Vini d’Italia Guide and the prestigious Three Stars distinction.
October 29, 2026 (South Tyrol, Italy) — Marking the 40th anniversary of the Vini d’Italia guide, Gambero Rosso honored 10 wineries as “Icons of Wine” on Sunday, October 25, in Rome. The award celebrates ten outstanding producers that have shaped the evolution of Italian wine over the past four decades. Among them is St. Michael-Eppan Winery, recognized for its pivotal role in modernizing and elevating South Tyrolean viticulture. The Winery received this prestigious distinction alongside Antinori, Bertani, Bruno Giacosa, Ca’ del Bosco, Donnafugata, Ferrari, Gaja, Marchesi Frescobaldi, and Tenuta San Guido.
«St. Michael-Eppan Winery set out on a path of relentless quality that became a catalyst for the revival of South Tyrolean wine and beyond,» noted Marco Sabellico, editor-in-chief of Gambero Rosso’s Vini d’Italia guide, as he invited General Manager Günther Neumair to the stage. Expressing his gratitude, Neumair emphasized the spirit of partnership behind the accolade: «We are deeply honored to receive this special award. It goes beyond a single label, wine, or individual – it reflects 40 years of dedicated work shared by our member families, staff and partners».
«This is what cooperation means in the world of wine. Since 1907, St. Michael-Eppan Winery has set the benchmark for substantial production with uncompromising quality». These opening words of the official award citation also highlight the Winery’s dynamism under the leadership of Günther Neumair and its winemaking vision, now carried forward by winemaker Jakob Gasser, building on a legacy to which Hans Terzer made a defining contribution.
«The cooperative brings together more than 320 families, with vineyards reaching altitudes of up to 900 meters. The strength has always been productive diversification, together with a very strict protocol focused on maximum quality. In 1986 the first vintages of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay Sanct Valentin were released. Then came the turn of the first Sauvignon Sanct Valentin: wines capable of perfectly reading the tastes of an evolving market. With the 2010 vintage comes Appius, a white wine blend that raises the bar of ambition even higher and tells of the desire to push boundaries. A benchmark of freshness, precision and sheer drinking pleasure».
Adding to these honors, the Pinot Grigio Sanct Valentin 2024 earned the coveted Tre Bicchieri award in the 2027 edition of the Vini d’Italia guide. This brings St. Michael-Eppan’s tally to 38 Tre Bicchieri awards over 40 editions, reaffirming its position as a top-tier South Tyrolean producer and earning it the coveted Three Stars (awarded for every 10 Tre Bicchieri achieved). Together with numerous accolades from leading Italian and international wine guides, these distinctions underscore the cooperative’s unwavering commitment to winemaking excellence.
