The cooperative winery is located in the municipality of Kurtatsch (Cortaccia) in the Italian wine-growing region of South Tyrol (Trentino-Alto Adige). It was already founded in 1900. The Freienfeld estate in the centre of the village, built in 1521, was the headquarters of the winery until 1923. Then the present winery building on the Wine Road was built. Today the cellar of the estate is used as a barrique warehouse and wine archive and is the venue for exclusive tastings. Andreas Kofler is the chairman and Othmar Doná is the cellar master. We also organize vineyard walks with wine tasting.
The vineyards comprise 190 hectares of vines, which are cultivated by 190 members in a sustainable manner. They extend - unique in Europe - from 220 to 900 metres above sea level, mostly on steep slopes. Following the French model, an ideal location-variety balance has long been the norm. The white wine varieties Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio(Pinot Gris), Müller-Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Goldmuskateller, as well as the red wine varieties Lagrein, Vernatsch(Schiava), Rosenmuskateller, Blauburgunder(Pinot Noir), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot are processed
On the slopes below Kurtatsch there are the best red vineyards, which with temperatures up to 40 °Celsius in midsummer are among the hottest sites in Italy. The Merlot grapes ripen in the steeply sloping vineyards of the Brenntal site on heavy, red loamy soil, which has great similarities with the French area of Pomerol. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc varieties are cultivated below the rock walls on loose, deep soils with a high gravel content. The heat of the milla walls favours an optimal physiological ripeness of the late maturing Cabernet grapes. The white wine grapes grow predominantly on steep calcareous soils at airy altitudes of up to 900 m above sea level and benefit greatly from the cooling nightly down winds.
With reduced yields, strictly controlled cultivation and pure vinification, terroir typical wines are produced. The wines are made from strictly selected grapes with optimal ripeness and uncompromisingly pure cellar management. Before bottling, a strict taste test is carried out. The extensive product range comprises over 30 wines. There are two lines: TERROIR (top line with special character of the area or vineyard, certain wines only in the best vintages) and SELECTION (first selection with reduced yields and strictly controlled cultivation program). Depending on the type and variety of wine, ageing takes place in stainless steel tanks, in large wooden barrels or in barriques. Premium wines include "Chardonnay Riserva Freienfeld", "Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva Freienfeld", "Gewürztraminer Riserva Brenntal", "Merlot Riserva Brenntal", "Cuvée Weis Amos" and the Passito "Aruna" (Gewürztraminer, Gold Muscat)
