Aims

South Tyrol’s spectacular vinescape was formed for the most part by glacier activity during the last Ice Age. Vineyards are planted for the most part on mounds of morainal deposits and alluvial sediments, in places also on loess deposits. Wines are consequently produced on a wide variety of soils in the most varied growing conditions.
Lying as they do on the southern side of the Alps , South Tyrol’s central valleys enjoy a mild, sub-Mediterranean climate whose influence also penetrates as far as the Eisack and Vinschgau valley systems. Vines therefore thrive in contrasting microclimates, some reminiscent of the warm, northern tip of Lake Garda while others grow in Alpine surroundings within sight of soaring Dolomite peaks.
Heterogeneous soils and often vastly contrasting microclimates combine to produce the most diverse conditions for winegrowing.
In addition to native grape varieties sold as varietal wines, such as Vernatsch (Schiava), Lagrein and Gewürztraminer, South Tyrol also boasts the generic wines Kalterer See, St. Magdalener and Meraner Hügel. International varieties including Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc also yield impressive results.

South Tyrol’s winegrowing tradition can be traced back beyond two millenniums. In pre-Roman times the valleys were inhabited by the Rhaetians who cultivated vineyards and their good relationships with the Illyrians and Etruscans enabled them to develop a sophisticated wine culture. Their wines became favourites among their subsequent conquerors, the Romans. Archaeological finds as well as surviving names and terms reveal how much later generations took from them.
The Romans adopted the Rhaetians’ – for the times – cutting-edge technique of storing and transporting wine in wooden barrels rather than in animal skins and amphorae. Winegrowing gained in importance with the improvement of transalpine roads and increased trade relations. During the unstable Dark Ages Lombard and later Bavarian peoples settled South Tyrol’s valleys. In Mediaeval times the wine estates belonged to Bavarian monasteries or noble families. Documents prove that the region’s wines were exported as far as northern Germany , where they even graced the tables Holy Roman Emperors.
During the late Middle Ages Tyrol came under the sway of the Habsburgs. Winegrowing was nurtured by the royal court in Vienna and the wine trade flourished until the downfall of the Habsburg monarchy in the wake of the First World War.
As part of the spoils of the War, in 1919 South Tyrol was awarded to Italy together with the neighbouring province of Trentino. The devastation resulting from the war coupled with suppression under Fascist rule brought misery to wine producers. The 1970s saw a revival of trading relations, especially with German-speaking countries north of the Alps , and with Switzerland. The thrust towards producing quality wines capable of holding their own on the international stage began in the 1980s. Although the grower-winemaker tradition had survived in the area of St. Magdalena (Bozen) and Kaltern, it was far from commonplace. Lacking the proper facilities and expertise to make their own wines to a high standard, most vineyard owners were content with supplying their grapes to large commercial wineries or co-operatives. However, in recent years a well-educated generation of ambitious winegrowers with professional expertise began to make, bottle and sell their own produce. Given that growers are far more committed to quality when they vinify their own grapes and market the finished wine themselves, this has caused a breathtaking upsurge in quality.

Members