In the Merano area, vineyards covering about 100 hectares make up the DOC production area known as the "Südtirol Meraner". This is where the Vernatsch varietal is exclusively grown.
Merano/Meran and the Vinschgau Valley are protected from the cold winds of the north by the high peaks of the Ötztal Alps. Open to the south, the Vinschgau Valley absorbs the warm Mediterranean drafts funnelling them towards the northern areas. Adequate precipitation, significant fluctuations in day/night temperatures combined with a variety of soil conditions produce excellent grapes with a wide range of bouquets on vinification. Merano’s relatively mild climate and its medium-light sandy soils provide perfect conditions for the cultivation of its high-quality grapes.
The winelands of Merano extend from the vineyards in the town along the famous
Tappeinerweg trail (Lagrein, Vernatsch, Merlot) in the West to Zenoberg Mountain (Pinot Noir, Vernatsch) and Labers to the East (Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer) up to Freiberg Hill and Katzenstein Castle (Merlot, Cabernet). Vernatsch and Merlot find excellent growing conditions even in the peri-urban area of the Merano basin.
The Merano winelands comprise the satellite villages of Lagundo/Algund, Marlegno/Marling, Tirolo/Dorf Tirol, Scena/Schenna, Rifiano/Riffian, Caines/Kuens, Lana and Cermes/Tscherms. This covers a total of 393 hectares of cultivated land at an elevation of between 300 and 800 meters.