Story: Muri Gries | South Tyrol
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The eventful history of Muri-Gries
The origins of Muri-Gries date back to the 11th century, when the Counts of Bolzano established a fortified base in the area that is now known as Gries - then known as Cheller. This complex was intended as a counterpoint to the city of Bolzano, which at the time was under the control of the Bishops of Trento. The name “Gries” first appears around 1185 and gradually replaced the old name “Cheller” in the 15th century. Gries Castle became the residence of Meinhard II of Gorizia-Tyrol, who resided there as an independent ruler. The medieval keep, a striking part of the original castle, is still preserved today in the bell tower of the monastery. In 1407, Duke Leopold of Tyrol handed the castle over to the Augustinian canons, whose monastery in the Au had been destroyed by flooding. They converted the complex into a monastery and built a Gothic church in 1416, which lost its original function in 1788 when the current Baroque monastery church was built.

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A new chapter with the Benedictines
In 1845, a new era began for Gries Abbey with the arrival of the Benedictine monks from the Swiss monastery of Muri. The Augustinians had now left the monastery and the Benedictines found a new home here. From then on, monastic life with agriculture and viticulture shaped events on site. Today, the estate comprises 30 hectares of vineyards, 52 hectares of orchards and a mountain farm with 145 hectares of forest and meadows above Jenesien. In addition to cattle breeding and forestry, the monastery also runs its own nursery, whose flowers are used to decorate the church. For a long time, wine was produced almost exclusively for the monastery's own needs, in keeping with the monastery's policy of self-sufficiency.

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The step to the winery
The Benedictines also took their religious rule “ora et labora” literally when it came to viticulture. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Muri-Gries winery was founded. Wine sales via the Brenner Pass to North Tyrol and further afield in the German-speaking world took off. Typical varieties such as St. Magdalener, Malvasier, Lagrein Kretzer and Ruländer matured in the old vaulted cellars. 1968 marked a milestone in the company's development: for the first time, its own wines were bottled directly in the monastery cellar. Although the open wine business was operated in parallel for a while, the course was set - towards a consistent focus on quality.

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Lagrein and the path to top quality
From the 1980s onwards, Muri-Gries increasingly placed quality at the heart of its work. Lagrein in particular, an old indigenous South Tyrolean grape variety, was rediscovered and brought to the fore. In 1985, Lagrein became the estate's flagship variety - a decision that significantly shaped the reputation of the winery. The return to old varieties and monastic consistency became a recipe for success. Today, Muri-Gries is a modern winery with a clear profile: 85% of production is red wine, 80% of which is Lagrein. The range is complemented by Vernatsch, Blauburgunder and Rosenmuskateller as well as white wines such as Weißburgunder, Ruländer, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. Today, over 90% of the wines are bottled as quality wines - an expression of a long journey that harmoniously combines tradition and modernity. - Gerardo [TS05/25]