Story: Fachartikel | Melange
Whenever the sliding door slides open, I push aside the black velvet curtain and enter, I am impressed by this place: 1,232(!) wines are waiting to be discovered on more than 400 m2. I don't know how to keep track of all this liquid temptation and that's exactly what I ask Tobias Strunz, the friendly boss of this epicurean treasure island. He leans back, relaxes and smiles. “The overview of the immense range is thanks to my father's preparatory work. We have known many winegrowers for decades, and we not only have business partnerships but also friendships. But to stay on the ball, you have to deal with the topic of WINE every day.” Tobias Strunz particularly supports small factories that produce organic wine. But how did it all begin?
“My parents founded an 'Eldorado' for Italian wine in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1978 under the most modest of circumstances,” he explains. “My background as an IT specialist gave me the idea of expanding the store with an online store and I joined the company. We were able to attract new customers via mail order without losing our regular customers. We discovered the premises of a former TENGELMANN store in Huglfing and moved there in 2015,” recalls Strunz.
A stroke of luck not only for local wine lovers, but for the whole region! I've been shopping at ITALIAN WINE DEPOT for two years now and am delighted with the selection, but above all with the expertise, friendliness and humanity of Tobias Strunz. This man is not only a professional merchant with an encyclopaedic knowledge of Italian wines, but sometimes also a cultural philosopher who I enjoy listening to and learning from.
“Wine is a cultural asset!” explains Tobias Strunz, ”Wine transports history and stories in equal measure. When you buy a good bottle of Chianti from Tuscany, you have a piece of Italian history in your glass that evening. That may sound far-fetched, but for me wine is more than an attitude to life, it's art,” says Tobias Strunz enthusiastically. “My father liked to use the term 'author's wine' when it came to small, fine producers. The boss personally stands in the vineyard and oversees the entire process from the grape to the bottle. He is responsible for the quality. This goes so far that you can taste the winemaker's signature. In a word: wine is a bottled work of art.” In addition to exquisite wines, DAS ITALIENISCHE WEINDEPOT also offers a fine range of various sauces, pesto, pasta, pastries, oil and other Italian specialties. I tried many of them and was never disappointed. Vin Santo, Prosecco and grappa are of course also a must. But why does Tobias Strunz only sell “Prodotti italiani”?
“Italy is an incredibly interesting country,” enthuses Strunz. “Due to the shape of the boot, we have an extremely varied climate, which is characterized by an alpine character in South Tyrol and extends to Sicily with its almost North African climate. This means that thanks to these different growing regions in one country, I don't need to represent several countries in order to offer a sensational range of wines.”
The wide-ranging clientele appreciates this: They are people who have a connection to culture and art and are therefore willing to invest a few euros more in a sensual taste experience. They are rewarded with high product quality, or to quote William Shakespeare:
“He who drinks good wine sleeps well, he who sleeps well does not sin, he who does not sin is blessed.” I have reached the end of my article, am now treating myself to a glass of Lugana and hope that many more advocates of the fine art of living will be able to experience THE ITALIAN WINE DEPOT in Huglfing and head for this treasure island. - Michael Scheingraber [03/25]
| Name | Fachartikel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | Melange | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
