San Michele-Appiano is one of the great cooperatives of Alto Adige, founded in 1907 and farming some of the most prized hillside sites in the region. Sanct Valentin is their top tier - a selection from the cellar's best parcels - and the Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most decorated whites in all of Italy. The grapes come from vineyards between 450 and 600 meters elevation, southeast-facing, with the kind of diurnal swing that builds aromatics. Most of the wine ferments in stainless to preserve precision, with a small portion in tonneau to round out the texture. The whole package is varietally pure but never loud - mineral, lifted, and built for serious dinners.