Popphof

What is more impressive? The history of an estate winery that dates back well beyond four hundred years, or the fact that it has been in the possession of one and the same family for nearly three hundred of them? It doesn’t really matter, because with the Popphof Estate Winery in Marlengo near Merano, both are the case. Wine has provably been made here since 1592, and since 1722 the farm has been in the possession of the Menz family.

Today, it is Andreas Menz who runs the Popphof Estate Winery in Marlengo with his decades of experience in winegrowing, creating wines here in which are reflected, as he himself says, “the efforts of the work in the vineyard, the nutrient-rich soils, and the course of the weather throughout the year.”

Menz, who fills the roles of both winegrower and winemaker at the Popphoff, goes on to add, “In order for these properties to be tasted in our wines, we focus on careful vinification, controlled fermentation, and maturation in large wooden barrels.” He thus sets the tone both in the vineyards that encompass three hectares of grape growing areas and with the production of around 25,000 bottles of wine per year.

One particularity in the product line from the Popphoff Estate Winery in Marlengo is their Lagrein. After all, the Lagrein from Merano – which of course also includes that from the Popphoff – differs significantly from its counterpart elsewhere in Alto Adige. “While the Lagreins from Gries or the Bassa Atesina are already convincing after a brief maturation period through their round, soft tannins, the Lagrein from Merano needs more time to smooth out its rough edges,” the winegrower explains.