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.
Two geographical locations that share an ancient connection come together at the Wieserhof Estate Winery in Völlan/Foiana. One of the two vineyards of the winery is located in Völlan above Lana, the second vineyard in Castagnara-Masetto near Lake Garda. But what is so special about that? Both vineyards have been connected by an ancient trade route for about 3,000 years now, which is why the Wieser family named its wine project after this route: La Traversara.
Hubert Wieser and his wife, Silvia, have been working on the “La Traversara” project for about 20 years now. They are the second generation to work the land at the Wieserhof estate. And their daughters Maya and Emma are now the third generation on the Wieserhof. The family produces four wines, which, just like the vineyards of the Wieserhof, are connected in many different ways.
Both vineyards—the one in Völlan and the one in Castagnara-Masetto—are located at approximately the same altitude (600 meters above sea level) and are home to the same two grape varieties (Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc). “The grapes of both vineyards and both varieties are aged in an identical process in wooden barrels, but they turn into four very characteristic wines, which each tell their own, unique story,” explains Hubert Wieser.
Again, that perfectly fits the Wieserhof Estate Winery from Völlan, which also tells us a story: a story that started approx. 3,000 years ago and tells us of the fusion of two geographical locations and cultures.
Engadiner Wines, located in Gleno in the municipality of Montagna, is a fairly young wine estate—in more than just one way: Under the brand “Engadiner Wines,” the Zelger family started to produce wines, each of them imbued with a distinctly unique character, from their own grapes as recently as in 2021. And the Zelgers themselves are still young both in age and spirit and turned their hobbies – nature, agriculture, and wine – into a family business.
The Engadiner Wines wine estate has two locations. One of them is the family estate in Gleno, a location most famous for its Pinot Noir. Located in the south of Alto Adige at an altitude of 650 meters, their vineyards benefit from intense sunshine during the day and cooler temperatures at night. These fluctuations in temperature produce fresh, elegant wines.
The estate’s second location is their wine gardens in Ora, located at the valley floor, where Lukas Zelger mainly grows Lagrein, as the soils rich in porphyry and the comparably high temperatures are especially beneficial for this variety.
In addition to their varietal Pinot Noir and Lagrein, the Engadiner Wines estate also offers a Kerner characteristic for the variety. “It is our philosophy to produce wines typical of the terroir and true to our standard,” explains Lukas Zelger.
The Hof Pomaria estate in Caldaro has an unusual name which refers to the Latin “pomus,” which means “fruit tree.” That comes as no surprise: the estate is located in the Palude di Caldaro area and is surrounded by orchards. But the Rellich family business has a second leg to stand on, and not just in the geographical sense: the grapes, which are then single-handedly matured into top-quality wines, are cultivated in Cortaccia.
Regarding wine, Klaus Rellich took over from his ancestors, who had been cultivating grapes and making wine for generations. Rellich uses an area of approx. 1,500 square meters for that. “The calcareous gravel and loamy soil in the hills of Cortaccia create ideal prerequisites for winegrowing; moreover, the sunny site and good ventilation are conducive to bringing forth excellent grapes,” explains the winegrower, who cultivates Pinot Blanc, Merlot, and Schiava grapes in his vineyards.
The reference to the excellent suitability of the area for winegrowing is not just a marketing trick employed by the Rellich family, by the way: it is historically documented. The old field name “Frauenrigl” was already mentioned in very old documents; today, it is the single vineyard that forms the foundation of the wines produced—and mainly sold—at the Hof Pomaria estate in Caldaro: from Pinot Blanc and a classic Schiava to a Merlot Rosé.