Story: Alois Lageder | South Tyrol
Page: 1/2

A family business with history - from the coachman tradition to the top winery
The Lageder family's roots go back more than 150 years and are deeply rooted in the history of winegrowing in South Tyrol. The great-grandfather of today's namesake, Alois Lageder, was already active in the transport business as a coachman and wheelwright, transporting wine from the surrounding valleys and neighboring countries for his customers.

What once began as a sideline quickly developed into a flourishing trade. The founder's son recognized the potential and took the plunge into self-employment: in 1823, he founded the Alois Lageder winery in the old town of Bolzano, which grew rapidly and gained an excellent reputation.

---

Growth and change - from wine merchant to winery owner
The increasing demand for quality and variety in the post-war years led to the construction of a new building in the southern suburbs of Bolzano in the 1950s. Until then, the Lageder family had mainly worked with bought-in grapes. However, with the arrival of Alois Lageder in the current generation, the self-image of the winery was to change fundamentally.

Lageder recognized early on that the future of viticulture lay not only in processing, but above all in controlled cultivation and sustainable interaction with nature. Instead of relying exclusively on processing grapes from other vineyards, he consistently invested in acquiring his own vineyards - always with the aim of influencing the entire quality management process from the vine to the bottle.

---

Variety of sites and top quality - the vineyards of Lageder
Today, the winery has 46 hectares of its own vineyards, including some of the best sites in South Tyrol, such as the Römigberg on Lake Kaltern and the renowned Löwengang and Hirschprunn estates in Margreid. These vineyards are not only impressive in terms of landscape, but are also characterized by exceptional climatic conditions and soil diversity - ideal conditions for characterful and complex wines.

Nevertheless, only some of the grapes processed come from Lageder's own vineyards. The majority comes from long-standing contractual partners with whom Lageder works closely. For him, one thing is clear: quality begins in the vineyard, not in the cellar. This philosophy shapes the work at all levels - both on the company's own estates and at its partner wineries.

---

Sustainability as a living vision - biodynamics and a love of experimentation
Alois Lageder is considered one of the most progressive minds in modern Italian viticulture. He was an early adopter of the principles of organic and later biodynamic viticulture. Today, his own vineyards are cultivated entirely according to Demeter guidelines - and many of his contract winegrowers also follow this example.

The winery is therefore not only a pioneer in terms of sustainability, but also a living laboratory for innovation. Experiments with old grape varieties, new planting methods and climate-friendly cultivation are constantly being carried out on its own land. The aim is to meet the challenges of climate change and at the same time create wines with great precision and identity.

---

Lageder today - between tradition and forward thinking
Alois Lageder embodies a rare balancing act: he preserves his family's heritage and leads it into the future with a clear vision. Today, his wines stand for the highest quality, authenticity and sustainability worldwide. They reflect the diversity of South Tyrol as well as the conviction that genuine wine culture can only thrive in harmony with nature.

The winery has long been more than just a producer of outstanding wines - it is a cultural center, a place of exchange and vision. With concerts, exhibitions and innovative formats, Lageder creates bridges between wine, art and environmental awareness. And so it becomes clear: once you take a look behind the façade, every glass of wine reveals not only the craft, but also the spirit of an extraordinary pioneer. - Gerardo [TS05/25]