Story: Kellerei Kaltern | South Tyrol
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A Significant Beginning: The Founding of the Wine Cooperatives
The year 1900 marks a decisive turning point in the history of winemaking in Kaltern. At that time, 70 estate owners from Kaltern joined forces to form the First Wine Cooperative of Kaltern. Their goal was to take vinification and marketing of their wines into their own hands, thereby enhancing the quality and reputation of their products. In the same year, construction began on a remarkable cellar building located close to the Überetsch railway station. This step laid the foundation for a new era in Kaltern’s wine culture.

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Growth and Merger: The Development into Erste+Neue
In 1925, the founding of the New Wine Cooperative marked another important milestone. It also established its headquarters near the railway station and played a crucial role in the region’s viticultural development. The merger of these two cooperatives, together with the integration of the historic Baron Josef di Pauli Wine Cooperative in 1991, ultimately led to the creation of the Erste+Neue Wine Cooperative Kaltern. This union brought together long-standing experience, innovative spirit, and the passion of numerous winegrowers under one roof.

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The Vineyards: Diversity and Quality around Lake Kaltern
Today, around 430 dedicated winegrowers bring their annual harvest to the cooperative cellar. The members’ vineyards are picturesquely situated around Lake Kaltern and stretch up to the plateau at the foot of the Mendel Mountains. Covering approximately 260 hectares, a remarkable diversity of grape varieties grows here, spread across numerous individual sites, many of which bear evocative names. The grapes from the best cru and top sites are processed with special care and transformed into wines that delight connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike.

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Tradition and Innovation in the Cellar
The carefully hand-picked grapes are turned into exquisite wines in the cellar. Cellar master Gerhard Sanin oversees the entire process with great attention and passion. Almost every day, he tastes the young wines, follows their development, and decides whether they should mature in wooden barrels or stainless steel tanks—depending on the variety and vintage. Every barrel tells its own story, as each vineyard and each year brings unique conditions. Thus, wine remains an authentic product of nature, reflecting the special characteristics of its origin.

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Diversity in the Glass: South Tyrolean Originals and International Classics
Thanks to the experience and spirit of experimentation of many generations, Erste+Neue today produces renowned wines from both regional and international grape varieties. Among the South Tyrolean originals are Gewürztraminer, Lagrein, and Vernatsch, while Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, and Merlot are also among the cooperative’s flagship wines. Particularly popular are the elegant Pinot Blanc and the fruity Sauvignon Blanc. Each wine tells the story of its vintage and origin, inviting you to discover the diversity and tradition of Kaltern in every glass. - Gerardo [TS05/25]

"The First & New was born from the 1986 merger of the two great cellar cooperatives of Caldaro: the First and the New. In 1991, moreover, the members of the Baron di Pauli winery were acquired. Since then, Erste & Neue has been the largest cooperative in South Tyrol in terms of members. Cellarmasters Peter Thuile and Walter Schullian launched an ambitious program to improve wine quality many years ago. The central point of this program is to encourage members to grow varieties suited to their vineyard sites, to avoid fertilizers and sprays to a large extent, and to reduce quantities." - Dr. Jens Priewe
"A fresh wind is blowing through Erste & Neue in Kaltern, one of the oldest cooperative wineries in South Tyrol. Already, the new, young management team with President Manfred Schullian, cellar master Gerhard Sanin and sales manager Hannes Durnwalder can show remarkable results. In a very short time, they have polished up the company's image with products of the highest quality. The top segment of production is the Puntay line, which incorporates the best grape material already selected by the cellar master in the vineyard." - Gambero Rosso
"With 500 members and nearly 300 hectares of vineyards, the Erste & Neue Kellerei Kaltern is one of the largest winery cooperatives in South Tyrol. Around the picturesque Kalterer See thrives at altitudes between 200 and 600 meters on very different soils - ranging from sandy, to loamy to gravelly, from volcanic to calcareous - almost the entire range of varieties in South Tyrol. Thanks to intensive consultation with members and gentle cellar techniques, the Erste & Neue Kellerei produces not only quantity but also quality" - Falstaff