Ignaz Niedrist

While resolutely Italian these days, Alto Adige used to form part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1919, hence the strong Germanic influence on the architecture, the language and the grape varieties cultivated. The Niedrist family have farmed their vineyards for over 200 years, but it was Ignaz and his wife Elisabeth who brought the winery to new heights in the 1980s when they made the controversial decision to leave the cooperative to bottle under their own label. 

The estate currently counts 11 ha of vines with an annual production of 50,000 bottles and their vineyards are located throughout the region, using the best plots for each varietal. The warm flatlands of Bolzano are used for the reds, while the whites are farmed through the gentle hills of Cornaiano and up into the high elevations of Appiano Monte up to 600m altitude. From the stony, mineral Pinot Bianco to a lush, musky Sauvignon. The reds represent a range of indigenous red varieties, including the pale reddish pink of Schiava and the inky purple of Lagrein. His Pinot Noir delivers the best expression of the Burgundian grape varietal that the country has to offer. While not certified, the family practices organic farming, and yields are kept extremely low, a third lower than the appellation laws stipulate.