Sunday, September 14, 2025

At Tenuta Hofstaetter, the first Winery in Alto Adige to use the Vigna (Single Vineyard) Designation on its Labels (in 1987) - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025





From June 16 to July 3, 2025, Annette and I spent time in wine country Italy, by car.

For an overview of the whole trip, go here: Wine Country Italy - Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige - in the Summer of 2025 

Fifth Stop: Trentino-Alto Adige

The last stop of our Italy wine tour 2025 was the Trentino-Alto Adige region. We stayed 3 nights in Lana at Hotel Tiefenbrunn and 3 nights in Bolzano at Hotel Laurien.

We visited 10 wineries, most of them during the second half of the stop when we were based in Bolzano. 

While in Lana, we had a light dinner at Hotel Im Tiefenbrunn in Lana and went out for dinner to Sissi (1 Star Michelin) in Merano and to Gasthaus Appollonia (Bib Gourmand Michelin), up in the mountains, above Nalles. 

While in Bolzano, we had dinner at Toma by Lisa (wine bar), Loewengrube in Bolzano (Michelin listed) and Voegele (Bib Gourmand Michelin) in Bolzano.   

Tenuta Hofstaetter

Tenuta Hofstaetter is right in the center of Tramin. Interestingly, in 2014 martin Hofstaetter bought Weingut Dr. Fischer in Germany/ Mosel. 

Tenuta Hofstaetter (GoogleAI based) 

Tenuta J. Hofstätter is a family-owned winery located in the Alto Adige (Südtirol) wine region of northern Italy. The estate is known for its high-quality single-vineyard wines. 
 
The winery's history dates back to the 19th century. It is currently run by Martin and Beatrix Foradori Hofstätter, with the next generation involved as well. J. Hofstätter is noted for pioneering the classification of single-vineyard wines in Alto Adige, a concept introduced by Paolo Foradori with the Barthenau Vigna S. Urbano Pinot Nero. The winery balances tradition with innovation, using both historic cellars and modern technology. This includes aging wines in both classic wooden barrels and modern concrete vats. A "Wine Tower" was constructed in 1997, a modern architectural statement in the village of Tramin that stands in contrast to the historic church tower.

J. Hofstaetter: A brief history (Wine Folly)

Josef Hofstätter operated a small restaurant in Tramin together with his wife Maria and produced wine in their cellar. Being business savvy and forward-thinking, he founded a winery in 1907 and successfully traded wine. Josef Hofstätter passed away childless in 1942 and his wife continued to run the business, assisted by their long-time employee, Konrad Oberhofer.

Konrad Oberhofer later married Maria Hofstätter’s niece, Luise, and eventually took over management of the winery. As a pioneer of quality wine production in Alto Adige, Konrad Oberhofer bottled his own wines instead of selling them in bulk. He also began to vinify single-vineyard wines. With this he lay the cornerstone for the philosophy of wines of origin at Weingut J. Hofstätter.

Paolo Foradori, son of a vintner family from Trentino, married Luise and Konrad Oberhofer’s only daughter, Sieglinde, in 1959. He brought the Barthenau, Oberyngam, Unteryngram and Oberkerschbaum wine farms into the family estate. Since then, the J. Hofstätter estate has been the only family winery in Alto Adige to own vineyards on both sides of the Adige River.

With the vinification of the Barthenau Vigna S. Urbano Pinot Nero, Paolo Foradori contributed significantly to the success of this grape variety in the Mazon vineyard. In Alto Adige and throughout Italy.

Martin Foradori Hofstätter, son of Sieglinde and Paolo Foradori, initiated an era of modernisation and expansion for the winery in 1992. In 1998, in the course of the remodel and expansion of the estate, the cellar tower was built. It stands quietly restrained next to the imposing parish church steeple yet remains a decisive feature of the village. In the following years a new wine shop, a show vineyard and, as a novelty in Alto Adige, an additional cellar with elegant concrete barrels were created. Besides Vigna Kolbenhof, Vigna Rechtenthaler Schlossleiten, a spectacular Gewürztraminer vineyard above Tramin, belongs to the winery. 

His passion for Riesling led him to venture into the Mosel/Saar wine-growing region in 2014, where he now has prime Riesling vineyards with Weingut Dr. Fischer.

More recently, in 2017, he expanded into the neighbouring Trentino region to the south with the purchase of Maso Michei . This once again highlights the position of the J. Hofstätter winery as one of the largest family wineries in Alto Adige with unique, outstanding vineyard sites.

Martin Foradori Hofstätter is one of the most vehement advocates of the philosophy of origin in Alto Adige. He uncompromisingly pursues the firm establishment of the Vigna classification as a designation of quality and single-vineyard origin.
 
Vigna Designation and Tenuta Hofstaetter (GoogleAI based) 
 
A
Vigna designation is an Italian term that signifies a strictly defined, geographically limited, and officially recognized single vineyard, comparable to a French Grand Cru. It indicates a specific parcel of land with unique terroir characteristics, subject to stricter quality regulations regarding yield, grape quality, and minimum alcohol content, resulting in wines of exceptional quality and complexity. 
 
Origin pioneers: The Hofstätter winery was the first in Alto Adige to use the Vigna designation on its labels in 1987.
 
Emphasis on terroir: The wines are meant to be a pure expression of the soil, climate, and elevation of a single, precise vineyard plot, allowing the wine's character to reflect its unique origin.
 
Strict standards: To receive the Vigna designation, a wine must come from a verifiably historic, demarcated vineyard site, with lower yields than the standard regional requirements.
 
Notable Hofstätter Vigna wines are:
 
Barthenau Vigna S. Urbano Pinot Noir: Sourced from a prestigious vineyard on the Mazon plateau, this wine was Alto Adige's first officially designated single-vineyard wine in 1987.
 
Barthenau Vigna S. Michele Pinot Blanc: A single-vineyard Pinot Blanc from the Barthenau estate.
 
Vigna Kolbenhof Gewürztraminer: A Gewürztraminer from the Kolbenhof estate, known for its longevity.
 
Vigna Steinraffler Lagrein: A single-vineyard bottling of the native Lagrein grape. 
 



















Wine Country Italy - Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige - in the Summer of 2025
 
From June 16 to July 3, 2025, Annette and I spent time in wine country Italy, by car.
 
For an overview, go to:  Wine Country Italy - Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige - in the Summer of 2025
 











 
Postings

Wine Country Italy - Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige - in the Summer of 2025  

Lake Como 

At Villa Almana in Cernobbio at Lake Como - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025 

Bolgheri 

Dinner at La Tana del Pirata in Marina di Castagneto Carducci, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Winery Tour and Tasting at Tenuta Argentiera, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Florentine Steak - Dario Cecchini Selection - for Lunch at Osteria Magona in Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Running into Marco Balsimelli, Production Director, Ornellaia and Masseto, at Osteria Magona, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at La Macchiole, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Visiting Vigna Lodovico and Tasting Lodovico Antinori's Cult Wines Lodovico and Il Nicchio with his Assistant at Locanda dell' Aioncino - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025 

Dinner at Locanda dell' Aioncino, Bibbona, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Tasting the Wines of Tenuta di Biserno and Staying at Relais di Biserno, Bibbona, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia): Barrel Cellar Tour and Tasting - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Bistecca alla Fiorentina for Lunch at Osteria Enoteca San Guido (Sassicaia), Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Ornellaia, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Dinner at La Pineta, with Chef/ Co-owner Daniele Zazzeri, a Michelin Starred Seafood Restaurant, at Marina die Bibbona, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025 

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Grattamacco, a Benchmark Producer in Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025

Lunch at La Tana del Pirata in Marina di Castagneto Carducci/ Bolgheri/ Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
Bolgheri Turning into an Open Air Restaurant - "Cena in Strada" Dinner 2025: Al Fresco Dinner in the Streets of Bolgheri, Tuscany, with Hundreds of other Wine Lovers - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
Chianti Classico 
 
3 Days at Fattoria e Villa di Rignana in the Chianti Classico Region (Tuscany) - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
 
 
Returning to Badia a Coltibuono in Chianti Classico: 2025 and 2012 - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
 
 
At Isole et Olena Winery, a Major Force behind the Chianti Renaissance in the 1970s - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
At Fattoria Nittardi in Chianti Classico, Tuscany: Art and Wine - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
 
Sunset Dinner at Locanda Poggio al Sole (Hill in the Sun Inn) in Chianti Classico - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
(Brunello di) Montalcino and (Vino Nobile di) Montepulciano
 
 
 
At Argiano, one of the Oldest and most Prestigious Wineries in Montalcino - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
At Castello Banfi, a Renowned Winery and a Luxury Boutique Hotel, in Montalcino, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
A Brunello di Montalcino for Dinner in Montalcino at La Sosta Bistro Wine Bar - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
Dinner at Taverna del Grappolo Blu - Traditional Tavern, Michelin Bib Gourmand, Extensive Brunello di Montalcino Wine List - in Montalcino, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
At Cantina Contucci, a Winery Located in the Heart of Montepulciano, just off the Main Square - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
Wine Cellar and Vineyard Tour at Poderi Boscarelli, a Renowned Family-run Winery of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany, with Owner Luca de Ferrari - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
At Poliziano, a Leading Producer of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, in Montepulciano, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025 
 
Trentino - Alto Adige
 
3 Nights at Hotel Im Tiefenbrunn in Lana, near Merano, in Alto Adige - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
 
An Afternoon in the Mountains of Merano, Alto Adige: Pavicolo and Monte San Vigilio - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
 
 
 
 
Toma by Lisa: Our To-go-to Wine Bar in Bolzano, Alto Adige - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
 
 
 
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