The Überetsch or L’Oltradige in Italian is one of the most important wine areas in the Alto Adige–Südtirol region of northern Italy. Together with the Bassa Atesina (Unterland), it forms the Oltradige-Bassa Atesina area.
It is a hilly section of the Etschtal in South Tyrol, south-west of Bolzano (Bozen), covering the territory of Alto Adige west of the Adige and south-west of Bolzano at the heart of the Alto Adige–Südtirol region. It is a hilly area, at 200-500 m above sea level, along the slopes of the Coast of Mendola under which the Alto Adige wine road and the Oltradige cycle path run. The region is a known tourist destination, famous for its wines, castles of medieval origin surrounded by vineyards, orchards and the lakes of Monticolo and Caldaro.
Communes: Eppan (Appiano). | Kaltern (Caldaro).
Elevation: From 300 to 700 metres.
Soils: Limestone and porphyry near Cornaiano. Around Girlan soils are more acidic moraine.
Vineyards: Gently rolling terrain around Lake Kaldern (‘Lago di Caldaro’ in Italian, ‘Kalterer See’ in Austrian German) including the area around Appiana (‘Eppan’), which are Alto Adige’s largest wine growing zones. The main grape varieties are Merlot and Cabernet on the lower-lying parts of the valley, with Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir at higher elevations, along with Schiava (Vernatsch).
Vineyard area: 2018 1,684ha (61% white, 39% red).