Story: Kellerei Bozen | South Tyrol
Page: 2/3

The History of Cantina Bolzano - From Tradition to Modernity

The Beginnings: Roots in Gries and St. Magdalena
The story of Cantina Bolzano begins in 1908, when 30 winegrowers from the Bolzano district of Gries decided to form a cooperative. Their primary goal was to vinify one of the region’s most important grape varieties: the indigenous Lagrein. Just a few years later, in 1930, another small cooperative was founded by 18 winegrowers in the St. Magdalena district. Their aim was to process the Vernatsch grapes into what would become the now-legendary St. Magdalener wine.

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A New Era: The Merger of Two Traditions
These two Bolzano wine communities remained independent for many decades, each cultivating their own traditions and specialties. In 2001, they took a decisive step into the future by merging to form Cantina Bolzano. With the union of the Gries and St. Magdalena wineries, the number of members grew to today’s 224. This merger not only brought together two historic wine cultures but also marked the beginning of a new chapter for winemaking in Bolzano.

Following the merger, the two locations were also consolidated. In 2015, the foundation stone was laid for a new, underground winery building in the Moritzing district. A largely undeveloped hillside plot was chosen for this purpose, offering both space and the perfect environment for modern winemaking.

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Innovation at the Heart of Tradition
For the first time, all activities of Cantina Bolzano—from grape delivery to sales—were brought together at a single location. In autumn 2018, the first grape harvest was fully processed in Moritzing. On an area of 20,000 square meters, the carefully hand-picked grapes can now be processed as gently and naturally as possible. This is thanks in part to a new production method: grapes are delivered at the highest point of the building and then glide down into the cellar for storage. This gravity-flow process minimizes mechanical stress and ensures consistently high wine quality.

The expanded production facilities also allow for the separate processing of grapes from individual vineyards, preserving the unique character of each site. Moreover, the new winery building is energy-optimized and constructed according to the latest KlimaHaus® standards. The stable soil temperature of the hillside, into which the winery is built, is used for the natural cooling of the underground rooms, saving valuable resources.

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Architectural Highlights and Symbolism
One of the architectural highlights of the new building is the courtyard-facing façade, which features a second skin: a vine leaf made of bronze-colored, perforated aluminum. As an essential part of the vine, the leaf stands for vitality and serves as a symbol of wine production in South Tyrol’s capital.

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Conclusion
The history of Cantina Bolzano is a story of vision, courage, and respect for tradition. From its humble beginnings as two small cooperatives, it has grown into a modern, innovative winery that honors its roots while embracing the future. The new building in Moritzing not only represents a technical and architectural milestone but also embodies the winery’s commitment to sustainability and quality. Cantina Bolzano stands as a shining example of how tradition and innovation can come together to create something truly special in the world of wine. - Gerardo [TS05/25]