Sunday, September 7, 2025

Tasting Lagrein at Muri Gries, a Historic Monastery and Winery in the City of Bolzano, Alto Adige, Italy, an Estate known for its Focus on the Native Lagrein Grape Variety - 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.  

Muri Gries

The monastery/ winery is located in the Bolzano district of Gries. After touring Bolzano downton in the morning, we walked there in the afternoon and enjoyed an interesting tasting. 

Muri Gries (GoogleAI based) 

Muri Gries is a historic monastery and winery in Bolzano, Italy, renowned for its production of high-quality wines. The estate is particularly known for its focus on the native Lagrein grape variety. 

History
 
The site was originally an Augustinian monastery founded in the 12th century. The current Muri-Gries Abbey was established in 1845 by Benedictine monks from the Muri Abbey in Switzerland. The Benedictine community continues to guide the daily life within the monastery walls. 
 
The winery and vineyards 
 
The Muri-Gries winery uses the old Augustinian seminary as its cellar. The monastery is located in the Bolzano district of Gries and owns approximately 35 hectares of vineyards in some of the best sites in and around the city. The most prized vineyard is the Klosteranger, a single site directly behind the monastery walls.
 
The Wines 
 
Muri Gries produces a range of high-quality wines from both local and international grape varieties, but is most famous for its Lagrein. Lagrein: Considered the monastery's flagship wine, Muri Gries produces a classic Lagrein as well as a more structured and complex Lagrein Riserva from the Klosteranger vineyard. Other varieties: In addition to Lagrein, the estate produces excellent white and red wines, including Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Noir. 
 
The Klosteranger Vineyard
 
The Klosteranger vineyard's significance stems from its long history, unique terroir, and its status as the source of Muri-Gries's best Lagrein wines. Located within the Benedictine monastery the 2.7-hectare area is protected by the ancient monastery walls, which contribute to the unique microclimate. The soil, composed of alluvial material from the nearby River Talfer, is porous and drains well. The walls retain and reflect heat, providing a warm, sunny environment that is ideal for growing the Lagrein grape. 
 
Muri-Gries (website) 

Wine Estate & Monastery Cellar

MURI-GRIES is more than a winery. Within its historical walls, the daily round is guided by monastery life in combination with work in a busy cellar and the work on its own 35-hectare wine estate with vineyards in the best locations in and around Bolzano. History brought all this together more than a century ago. The routines in the vineyard and the cellar have always gone hand in hand. The work involved is highly specialized. At MURI-GRIES, the driving force is the desire to keep learning and continually enhance the quality of every single wine.

History. Cultural heritage. Natural treasure.

In 1845 the Benedictines moved from Muri in Switzerland to Gries in South Tyrol, where the order took over the Augustinian monastery. In so doing, they inherited a long tradition of wine-growing, which they nurtured in the spirit of a symbiosis of monastery, winery and estate that is still very much in evidence today. The result, in the 21st century, is a range of top-quality wines from MURI-GRIES like the Abtei Muri line, which has been produced from selected grapes from the very best sites since 1989. 

The Lagrein

We have a clear long-standing commitment to Lagrein as a native grape variety. It is a commitment to sustainable working with a variety that feels very much at home in our monastery vineyards and flourishes accordingly. Year after year, the vines deliver increasingly impressive results. That is something we also owe to old vines planted in the 1930s, which we use to select outstanding vine material in our constant endeavour to focus on the distinctive character of Lagrein: an elegant red wine with a strong identity, both highly complex and down-to-earth – and the hallmark of MURI-GRIES.
 
A Historical Overview of the Alto Adige and its Winemaking (Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours)

Trentino-Alto Adige, as this region is referred to in English-language guide books to wine regions, is the northernmost wine region of Italy and a very special place where Italian and German traditions merge. Trentino-Alto Adige is a fascinating and unique region in the Alps.  It boasts of an extraordinary variety of landscapes: snow-capped mountains in the Dolomites, valleys, streams, Lake Garda, and century-old breathtakingly beautiful towns true to their hybrid Germanic-Italian culture.  

This region, situated south of the Alpine Brenner Pass, has been through a rollercoaster of invasions and was a continuous bone of contention due to its strategic importance.  Even in Roman times, the Brenner Pass was strategically significant, on the northern frontier of the Empire. In the Middle Ages, it served as the main connection between Central Europe and Italy for merchants, pilgrims, and armies. Finally, in the early 1600s Trentino (Süd-Tirol)-Alto Adige became part of the Habsburg Empire. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Habsburg Empire and the Central Powers after WW I, this region was annexed by Italy. Countless uprisings by the Germanic population followed and Italy tried to eliminate the German language and culture.

Modern-day Süd-Tirol was created in 1948, after WW II. It was in 1946 that an official agreement was signed which gave this region extensive autonomy. Since the 1970s, most legislative and administrative powers have been transferred to the two self-governing provinces that make up the region: the province of Trento, commonly known as Trentino and the province of Bolzano (Bozen), commonly known as Alto Adige or Süd-Tirol in German. Official languages are German and Italian. The people have Italian citizenship.

Trentino-Alto Adige has a very long history of winemaking, about 3000 years. Trentino-Alto-Adige’s vineyards are true Alpin vineyards on elevations of 700 - 3,300 ft on mostly gravelly soils. Because of the altitude of this region, even in the hot and sunny summers night temperatures are always cool and these diurnal temperature differences are excellent for the production of wines of great finesse. This makes the region famous for single variety crisp, beautiful white wines such as Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc), Gewürztraminer, and the indigenous grape Nosiola. In terms of quantity, more red wine is produced than white. More than 50 percent of all vineyards are planted with the light Schiava (Vernatsch in German). More and more vineyard area has been dedicated to Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir). The red Lagrein vine actually comes originally from Trentino, but the finest Lagrein grows in Gries on flatter, lower-lying vineyards directly near Bozen in Alto Adige. The often almost opaque, dark purple Teroldego Rotaliano, also an indigenous grape variety of the region, on the other hand, comes from one of the few rock-lined valleys in the northern part of Trentino. Trentino is also home of the production of modern style red blends. 
 
Arriving at Muri-Gries 
 
    







Tasting
 





Winery and the Klosteranger Vineyard
 









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
 
 
 
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