Tiefenbrunner

Leading South Tyrol estate, Tiefenbrunner produces highly individual wines, grown at altitude in spectacular vineyards.The South Tyrol is different. German speaking, it was part of Austria until 1919 and still maintains its own culture, economy and just about everything else separate to the rest of Italy.

Naturally this includes viticulture, with both the location and the grape varieties leading to highly individual wines grown at altitude in spectacular vineyards. Tiefenbrunner are one of the leading growers here, now in the fifth generation of family ownership, although wine production in the area is recorded back to the 13th century. The reputation of the estate was made by Herbert Tiefenbrunner who started as a winemaker in 1943 when he was 15 years old and took over the estate in 1968, retiring in 2000. Now run by husband-and-wife, Christof and Sabine Tiefenbrunner, the estate remains dedicated to making wines of the highest quality from their 25 ha with grapes from another 45 being supplied on long term contracts by local growers. The vineyards are situated on steep slopes at altitudes from 250 metres up to 1000 metres and so comprise some of the highest vineyards in Europe, with the flagship wine, Feldmarschall von Fenner grown at the highest spot and so making the most of the swings in temperature between night and day.

Winemaking is in the hands of Christof and his winemaker Stephan Rohregger being as ‘hands off’ as possible, using stainless steel, concrete, or large old wooden vats, whatever they feel suits the wine the best. The results are wines of great mineral purity, balance and finesse.