The
Föranerhof estate is located at 800 meters above sea level in the village
of Unterinn/Auna di Sotto on the Ritten/Renon plateau. At this altitude, you
would not typically expect to find any vineyards, but the Föranerhof has been a
wine-growing business (among other things) for several generations. “Our estate
is located close to the altitudinal limit up to which wine growing is still
possible, which means that not all varieties can be grown here successfully,”
explain Verena Plattner and Toni Mittelberger, who run the farm together with
their daughter Cecilia and her family.
The area
under vine of their business amounts to 8,000 square meters, and they grow
four carefully selected grape varieties – two red and two white – which are
adapted to the special conditions present at the Föranerhof estate. In terms of
white wine, the Sylvaner is particularly resilient, just like the Müller
Thurgau, which by no means only barely survives here: “At these altitudes, the
wine develops especially pronounced flavors,” says Cecilia, who, together with
her partner, is responsible for turning the family’s grapes into wine. Wine
growing has been her passion ever since she was little.
The red
varieties grown here are Schiava (Vernatsch), a grape absolutely typical for
Alto Adige, and Zweigelt. “This grape variety from Austria is one of only very
few strong red wines that can be grown at 800 meters above sea level,” says
Toni Mittelberger.
But wine is
not the only line of business at the Föranerhof. For more than 30 years
now, the farm has had its own little nursery growing garden and balcony plants.
The family also grows fruit, which is then either dried or used to prepare
syrups, fruit spreads and jams.
