Story: A lance for South Tyrolean wine culture | News

'Das italienische Weindepot' is a family business in Upper Bavaria with over 45 years of history, which was founded in 1978 by my father Gerhard 'Gerardo' Strunz. The idea of founding a wine shop with exclusively Italian products and a focus on South Tyrolean wines was revolutionary at the time. To this day, 'Das italienische Weindepot' is completely self-financed; we are not dependent on external investors or subsidies.

At a time when Lagrein, Vernatsch and co. were still fairly unknown in Germany, my father began importing the first crates from South Tyrol. At that time (1978), he started a successful collaboration with the Schreckbichl winery, with which we still have a close business relationship and friendship with the family of Luis Raifer.

Soon many other wineries from all over Italy, but especially from South Tyrol, expanded the range, so that today we are proud to offer a selection of over 400 South Tyrolean wines from more than a dozen South Tyrolean wineries. These include well-known brands such as Alois Lageder, Terlan Winery, Andrian Winery, Girlan Winery, Bolzano Winery, Kaltern Winery, Kurtatsch Winery, Neustift Monastery, Muri Gries Abbey, Nals Margreid, Schreckbichl, Erste + Neue, St. Michael-Eppan, Merano Winery and Tramin Winery. There are also smaller producers and wineries such as Baron di Pauli, Pfannenstielhof and Thurnhof. And new ones are added almost every year...

The range of wines on offer, especially from the South Tyrol region, is impressive: the more than 400 labels include all price categories, from simple wines in liter bottles to prestigious wines such as the Gewürztraminer Epokale (Tramin Winery). These include more than 65 different varieties of South Tyrolean Lagrein (e.g. Lagrein Riserva Taber from the Bolzano winery), more than 55 varieties of South Tyrolean Vernatsch (e.g. Alte Reben Gschleier from the Girlan winery) and 45 different South Tyrolean Gewürztraminers, to name but a few.

In modern times, with the entry of his son Tobias into the company in 2001, 'Das italienische Weindepot' has developed into a modern online mail order business that today supplies almost 50,000 customers throughout Europe, without the usual 'insane discounts' on the Internet. Our customers are mainly private individuals looking for their favorite wine, supplemented by a handful of retailers, restaurants and hotels (including Schloss Elmau in Elmau and the Heinz Winkler residence in Aschau im Chiemgau).

Even after the death of Gerhard 'Gerardo' Strunz in 2021, nothing has changed in terms of the family atmosphere and the company's principle of success. Today, his son Tobias is the second generation to run the Italian wine depot and is building on his father's life's work to continue it successfully. In addition to the daily administrative and organizational tasks, Tobias personally takes care of all regular customers and advises them in the store with the passion and knowledge that his father has passed on to him over the last 20 years.

No major or even risky changes are planned, as 'Das italienische Weindepot' reached its final destination with the move to the Alpine-style warehouse in Huglfing. The retail store and the mail-order business are maintained in equal measure, with the emphasis on personal contact with customers. More focus is being placed on organically produced wines and sustainable shipping and packaging methods. And, of course, the one or other new arrival (especially from South Tyrol) is not to be missed! - Tobias [TS04/24]