Alois Lageder

A breath of fresh air at what is probably South Tyrol's best-known winery. With Alois Clemens Lageder as managing director, the sixth generation has entered the almost two-hundred-year-old family winery. He is supported by his two sisters Anna and Helena, who are responsible for events, marketing and sales. Alois Clemens Lageder studied sociology and economics. After various stations at home and abroad, where he deepened his education in viticulture and oenology, he joined the family business in 2015. Here he is now continuing what his father Alois – who is considered a pioneer in biodynamics – started: He is gradually converting the farm to biodynamic farming. Nothing will change in terms of quality; on the contrary, there is probably no more successful biodynamic winery for miles around.

In practice, this means doing without chemical-synthetic plant protection and using preparations and homeopathic teas as aids. It also includes the winery working closely with farmers from the region who bring their cows, cattle and sheep to graze in Alois Lageder's vineyards during the autumn and winter months. This revives the old tradition of transhumance. It helps to increase the vitality of the vines and the biodiversity in the vineyard. The family cultivates around 55 hectares of its own land biodynamically and has achieved its ambitious goal of motivating all 60 or so winegrower partners throughout South Tyrol to convert to biodynamic farming methods by 2024. The ambitious vision has become reality with the 2024 harvest. In addition to the company's own areas, a further 85 hectares have been consistently farmed organically or biodynamically since 2024. In future, this milestone will also be supported by a specially created value system.

The catalogue of values, which was developed hand in hand with the winegrowing partners, reinforces fundamental goals such as diversity, fertility, health and organic farming. These parameters, which are constantly under scrutiny, serve Clemens Lageder and his partners as a guide for healthier vineyard management – always with the aim of creating authentic wines in harmony with nature, true to the motto: "Diversity is key".

The historical roots go back six generations to Johann Lageder, who laid the foundation stone for today's company in Bolzano in 1823. His successors began to press wine themselves and bought the first vineyards. The most successful was Alois III, who in 1934 acquired the Löwengang estate in Margreid, the southernmost tip of the South Tyrolean Wine Route, and motivated numerous winegrowers to supply him with grapes. In the mid-1970s, Alois Lageder took over the winery with his sister and brother-in-law Luis v. Dellemann and led it to success with his strict quality thinking. He always relied on cooperation with friendly winegrowers.

In 1995, the new cellar building was constructed according to the most modern building biology methods and with renewable energy from water, geothermal energy and solar systems and became a showcase model. Collaboration with artists became inspiration and the winery became an event location.

Alois Lageder's assortment is as diverse as the sites in the Etschtal, which was once a huge glacier that cut a swathe southwards from the Alps and Dolomites, bringing with it all kinds of rock. From volcanic porphyry to granite and quartz, fossilised coral from a primordial sea to gravel, clay and loam, there is everything here. "If you plant the right grape varieties in the right locations, not much can go wrong," said Alois Lageder with a smile. Cold winds from the mountains alternate with warm breezes from the south, the ventilation and the temperature differences are ideal. Warm days, cool nights and moderate rainfall are the secret of success throughout South Tyrol. Here in the southernmost part, of course, even more so. And even though Lageger's portfolio comprises about 80% white wines, two red wines are responsible for its worldwide reputation, in addition to the Chardonnay "Löwengang". The Cabernet Sauvignon "Cor Römigberg" and the Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) "Krafuss" have become cult wines and are part of South Tyrol's success story, even part of Italy's wine story.

Since 2017, Alois Clemens has taken another very creative step with the birth of KOMETEN. It is the name for wines made from mostly very rare grape varieties or grape varieties that are no longer indigenous to South Tyrol or not at all, in very small editions that embody the joy of experimentation, innovation and the play with components. He describes the exciting project as follows: "Some KOMETEN burn out and are discarded again, while others can become fixed stars and independent wines of the range. Each of the KOMETS is unique, almost like a fingerprint, and the labels of each bottle are individually designed: A comet's tail, painted on with a finger."

The Alois Lageder Winery is one of the 24 wineries worldwide to be awarded the "Robert Parker Green Emblem" in 2021. This certification is awarded by one of the most important international wine critics' media: Robert Parker's "Wine Advocate". This rare distinction is only awarded to producers who are committed to sustainability, long-term environmental protection and biodiversity. Once a winery has received the award, all of its wines will bear the coveted "Robert Parker Green Emblem". SUPERIORE.DE

"It would be impossible to overstate the influence of Alois Lageder. His courage and dedication made an impact across Italian wine, inspiring dozens or perhaps hundreds of vintners to follow suit." Robert Parker