The "Landesweingut Laimburg" is located in Pfatten at the foot of the Mitterberg, 17 kilometres south of Bolzano in the lowlands not far from Lake Kaltern in the Italian wine-growing area of South Tyrol ( Trentino-Alto Adige region). The landmark and patron saint of the area is Laimburg Castle, the ruins of which date back to the 13th century. It is owned by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano. Günther Pertoll is the managing director and Urban Piccolruaz is the oenologist.
Quality development in South Tyrolean agriculture
The "Laimburg College for Fruit, Wine and Horticulture" was founded in 1961, the "South Tyrolean Experimental Cellar" (later the provincial winery) was opened in 1968 and the "Laimburg Agricultural and Forestry Research Centre" was founded in 1975. This laid the foundations for a forward-looking structure. The provincial winery is also an ideator and member of the South Tyrolean quality wineries "Tirolensis Ars Vini" (Viticultori Sudtirolesi).
Part of the research in the area of "cellar management" includes viticultural pilot projects and innovative developments. It is a combination of an experimental and research centre, production facility, training centre and advice centre as well as a guarantor of modern mountain agriculture that produces ecologically and economically with sustainability.
Evidence of ancient viticulture
A discovery of 2,400-year-old grape seeds of the Vitis vinifera species in a Rhaetian settlement between the Laimburg castle ruins and the state winery documents that the area is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the German-speaking world. The ancient Roman road "Via-Claudia-Augusta" once led here from the Po Plains and the Adriatic to the Danube. In 2006, the Laimburg Research Centre took over the sponsorship of the autochthonous Versoaln variety, one of the oldest vines in the world at 350 years old.
Working cellar with a representative function
Since the construction of the "Felsenkeller" in 1989/90, the special operation of the Province of South Tyrol also fulfils a representative function. The 300m² banqueting hall is designed for up to 100 people and serves as a tasting room in the spirit of South Tyrolean wine culture, as well as presenting South Tyrol as a wine region at official events. Guided tours of the banqueting hall and the barrique and white wine cellars are available on request.
Vineyards
The vineyards of the provincial winery cover 20 hectares of vineyards in almost all wine-growing areas of South Tyrol on estates with a wide variety of soils and locations between 200 and 750 metres above sea level. The white wine varieties Chardonnay,Pinot Gris,Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Gewürztraminer, as well as the red wine varieties Pinot Noir, Lagrein, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vernatsch, Schiava Grossa, Tannat, Petit Verdot and Rosenmuskateller, and the PIWI varieties Solaris and Cabernet Cortis are cultivated.
Winemaking
The product range includes various wines from the DOC areas of Alto Adige and Lago di Caldaro. The quality wines are marketed stylistically in two lines; the proceeds are reinvested in research. The cellar work is carried out according to the non-invasive principle (as much as necessary, as little as possible). When vinifying the wines, great importance is attached to the character of the South Tyrolean grape varieties and vineyards.
Temperature-controlled fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. The ageing of the classic, varietal "estate wines" takes place in stainless steel and partly in large wooden barrels. The "Burgselektion" line includes the single vineyards with Ladin names from the legendary world of the Dolomites. They are matured in large wooden barrels or in barriques.
The company's premium wines include the DOC white wine "Oyèll Sauvignon Blanc Riserva"(cold maceration, matured for 10 months on the fine lees in large wooden barrels) and the IGT red winecuvée "Col de Réy" made from the Lagrein, Tannat and Petit Verdot varieties (matured for 24 months in barrique barrels)."
Pictures: Landesweingut Laimburg - Amadeus Waldner
