Er zijn meer dan 200 wijnmakerijen in Zuid-Tirol waar je alles over uitstekende Zuid-Tiroolse wijn kunt proeven, kopen en ontdekken. Er zijn kleinere bedrijven die slechts één soort druif verbouwen, maar ook coöperatief beheerde, grotere wijnhuizen. In Zuid-Tirol raken wijn en architectuur steeds meer met elkaar verbonden. Veel wijnmakerijen zijn bijvoorbeeld architectonisch prachtige constructies die zorgvuldig zijn geïntegreerd in het landelijke landschap. Informatie over de vele wijnhuizen in Zuid-Tirol, inclusief openingstijden, bars en wijnproeverijen, vindt u hier.
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.