Blog: Kellerei Girlan | South Tyrol

The history of the Girlan Winery: from Vernatsch to Pinot Noir specialist
Welcome to the Girlan Winery, a place where tradition and innovation come together to create excellent wines. In this article, we take a deep dive into the history, winemaking and heritage of the Girlan Winery.

The history
The Girlan Winery has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Founded by passionate winegrowers, over time the winery has become a symbol of quality and tradition. Every bottle of wine tells the story of a land and a culture that has been growing wine for generations.

The Girlan winery was founded in 1923 by just 23 members; today it has 246 winegrowers and has risen to become one of the best-known and most respected wineries in South Tyrol. As early as 1950, as the older vintages still stored in the cellars show, the cooperative began to focus on strict selection of the must in order to improve the quality of its products.

The Girlan vineyards
The vineyards of the Girlan winery stretch across the picturesque landscape of South Tyrol. The unique terroir and favorable climate of this region create ideal conditions for the cultivation of high-quality grapes. Through careful care and sustainable cultivation methods, each vine is nurtured and cared for in order to develop the full potential of its flavor.

The winemaking process
Winemaking at the Girlan Winery is an art that is passed down from generation to generation. From the careful selection of the grapes to the gentle processing in the cellar, every step is carried out with the utmost care and dedication. Modern technologies are combined with traditional craftsmanship to produce wines of exceptional quality and character.

Artificial fertilizers were banned early on, as it was recognized that quantity and quality are incompatible. At that time, under the direction of Hartmuth Spitaler, the winery was one of the first to vinify single-vineyard wines separately. In this way, the winery made it clear to its winegrowers what qualities could be achieved with their grapes. Today's cellar master, Gerhard Kofler, loves individual products full of character. Like many of his colleagues, he has divided his range into three product lines:

The classic line, for good standard wines. The winemaker line, for wines from selected vineyards and varieties. And finally the Selections, for wines that are not bottled every year. The attractive Girlaner labels were designed by the South Tyrolean Paul Flora and are also coveted by collectors. It is remarkable that Spitaler has also succeeded in making excellent and storable wines from the Vernatsch grape in recent decades. In recent years, these have helped to polish up the image of the former mass grape variety among insiders.

The wine collection
The wine collection of the Girlan winery includes a large number of varieties that reflect the diversity and richness of the region. From elegant white wines to powerful red wines, the winery offers a wide range of flavors to satisfy even the most demanding palates.

The Girlan winery has been working with the Pinot Noir grape variety since the 1980s. After the arrival of cellar master Gerhard Kofler and managing director Oscar Lorandi, the focus was increasingly placed on this noble grape variety. During these years, the area under cultivation increased from the initial 20 hectares to around 40 hectares.

Sustainability and responsibility
The Girlan Winery is aware of the importance of sustainable wine production and is committed to protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. By using environmentally friendly practices and promoting biodiversity in the vineyards, the winery is actively committed to a sustainable future.

Conclusion
Overall, the Girlan winery represents a combination of tradition and innovation that is reflected in its exquisite wines. Through its tireless dedication to quality and craftsmanship, the winery has earned a well-deserved place as a leading producer of South Tyrolean wines. Enjoy a glass of Kellerei Girlan and discover the incomparable quality and finesse that goes into every Girlan wine. - Gerardo [TS02/24]

"The winery, founded in 1923, is one of the oldest in South Tyrol. It owes its recent dynamic upswing not least to the commitment of operations director Oscar Lorandi and cellar master Gerhard Kofler, who developed successful new strategies. As part of this, the historic cellar complex was also redesigned from an aesthetic and functional point of view. The 230 suppliers own small plots of land in the entire area of Girlan and on the Unteretsch. They receive advice and instructions from the technicians at the head office, who always keep an eye on the environment." - Slow Wine