Feldthurns in the Eisack valley in South Tyrol,

The growing zone in Feldthurns

Feldthurns lies in central Eisack valley, on a sunny, mountainous slope. White wine grape growing vines predominate the 45 hectares of vineyards, the majority of which are Müller Thurgau and Sylvaner varieties, which together cover more than half of the land cultivated. This area is however also ideal for growing Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Kerner und Pinot Grigio (Ruländer) grape varieties. The percentage of red grape varieties is still fairly small, about 6 hectares, and mostly covered by Portugieser and Zweigelt vines.

The South Tyrolean Eisack valley

In the Eisack valley, the most northerly winegrowing zone in Italy, there are aproximately 250 Hectares of land planted with grapevines. The wines that are pressed here are predominantly white wines. Up until 1950 however about 80% of wines produced were red.
The vineyards lie on steep mountain slopes on the South side of the valley. The soil conditions, with a mixture of sand, gravel and klausite, have an advantageous effect on the quality of the grapes.
The Eisack valley white wines are grown on difficult terrain, but which are on the whole favourable for the vines and substantially help in giving them their special character. Fresh, cool nights, warm to hot days and a good blast of air help to give these white wines their fruity, subtle aroma, their noble elegance, individual, suave dryness and attractive pithiness.
Over the past 15 years, the Eisack valley, step by step, has come to the forefront as a winegrowing area. Young winegrowers are bringing new ideas as well as innovative and quality-oriented thinking with them. But also red grape varieties are being planted thus increasing the attractiveness of this small valley.

The wine growing region South Tyrol

In South Tyrol there are just over 5000 hectares of vineyards. White vines are grown in more than 45% of the South Tyrolean wineries. This figure is growing. The top growers, which make up for 60% of the market share, are Rulander / Pinot Grigio, Weissburgunder and Chardonnay. As far as the other white grape varieties, Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Sauvignon, Grüner Veltliner or Kerner are concerned, we have to say that nowhere else in Italy will you find such fruity, fresh, typical wines which are so full of character. These grape varieties are also the base for producing the high class South Tyrolean sparkling wine.

For over a century in South Tyrol the top red grape varieties Vernatsch and Lagrein, have been cultivated alongside other classical red grape variety vines: Blauburgunder, Merlot und Cabernet.

The three original grape types in South Tyrol:

Gewürztraminer whose name derives from the village of Tramin on the South Tyrolean wine road has, over the years captured a worldwide audience. This dry, white wine is spicy, aromatic, pleasant and full of body.

Vernatsch, the typical and most widely grown grape sort, is the grape from which the Kalterersee and St. Magdalener wines are produced. The wines are ruby red in colour, slightly dry and fruity, very mildly acidic with a minimal percentage of tannins.

Lagrein is a dark garnet red colour, a dry, strong, full mouthed wine, which tastes ever so slightly like violets.


more Information over the winegrowing area of South Tyrol