Culinary partner: Organic Winery Zollweghof

‍South Tyrolean Grape Varieties and Biodynamic Viticulture

How exciting, varied, and enjoyable viticulture can be has been demonstrated for many years by Irmgard Windegger and Franz Pfeifhofer above Lana near Merano. Ancient, local grape varieties thrive alongside new Piwi cultivars, and even the vegetables come from their own garden. In the Jägerhof wine list, treasures from the Zollweghof cellar are prominently featured.

The origins of the Zollweghof winery are lost in the mists of history. People settled here around a thousand years before the start of our era, and exactly when the climate-favored sites were first used for viticulture can only be guessed. What is certain is that organic viticulture has been practiced here since 1990, and since 2005, exclusively according to biodynamic principles with Demeter certification. So, it’s a step forward into the past—but with entirely new aspects.

Two People, One Passion for the Finest Wine

Franz Pfeifhofer is the cornerstone of Zollweghof. He was born and raised here. Trained at the Laimburg Agricultural School, he is a founding member of BIOLAND South Tyrol and the PIWI South Tyrol association, where he serves as chairman. Irmgard Windegger completed her training in Nature and Landscape Management, is a vineyard and cellar guide, sommelier, practices organic gardening, and earned the title “Master in Biodinamica del Vino” in Tuscany. This concentrated expertise benefits not only the vines and garden but also the guests, who get to know the winery and its products through wine tastings, culinary hikes, and cellar tours.

Perfect Terroir for Exceptional Wines

The elevated location at the entrance to the Ultental valley provides a climate that makes Irmgard enthusiastic: “The terroir is simply perfect for our grape varieties. Plenty of sun and just the right amount of rain are complemented by the cool wind from the Ultental. It adds freshness and minerality—couldn’t be better!”

Added to this is the particularly careful care of the vineyards, because at Zollweghof, quality matters more than quantity. All work on the vines is done by hand. “We make sure the grapes hang freely—this replaces at least half of all treatments,” explains Irmgard, while thoughtfully stroking the leaves of a Fraueler vine planted by Franz’s father over 75 years ago.

Advantages of Piwi Vines for Natural Viticulture

In the valley, the terroir is completely different from that up in the vineyards, Irmgard continues. Down by the Waalweg, the fungus-resistant varieties, gradually introduced over the past 35 years and now covering more than 90 percent of the Zollweghof vineyards, prove their worth. Piwi vines are simply more robust and grow without extensive care. A good thing, because where Demeter is on the label, no synthetic fertilizers, chemical plant protection products, or artificial additives like fining agents are used. In this way, Irmgard and Franz cultivate grape varieties that are over 400 years old as well as modern cultivars, both producing excellent wines.

The Wines of the Demeter Winery Zollweghof

In the historic 14th-century wine cellar, white, red, and rosé wines are produced, and sparkling wine is also on the product list. The surprise comes immediately when reading the wine names: instead of the usual Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon, there are Fraueler, PrissLa, or Goldraut. But that’s not all—Irmgard experiments with natural wines and white wines infused with organic herbs. You might think the day at Zollweghof has at least 36 hours when Irmgard talks about all her ideas and activities.

For example, there are the amphorae made from South Tyrolean clay, which she took to Florence for firing. In 2024, unfiltered and unsulfured must was filled into these archaic vessels for the first time. “This only works with perfect grapes; not a single berry can be rotten,” says Irmgard, “and then it’s exciting to see what happens. Our ancestors produced wine like this for millennia.” She sees the natural wine trend as a counter-movement to perfectly designed wines and as an additional piece in the diverse mosaic of offerings.

Guests in Vineyards and Cellars

Interested guests from all over the world are guided by Irmgard through the vineyards and the old cellar, where she shares interesting and humorous stories during wine tastings. Homemade snacks are served alongside the organic wines, from bruschetta to spreads to small vegetable dishes, with ingredients harvested from Irmgard’s organic garden: “This is the most valuable, authentic thing we grow. People really appreciate it.”

Jägerhof guests also regularly visit Zollweghof, usually as part of a guided hike for which the Jägerhof has been known and popular for many years. “I’d be glad if there were more establishments like Jägerhof,” says Irmgard with a smile. Here, two enterprises are clearly aligned in terms of nature, sustainability, and hospitality!

Direct Sale at Zollweghof

Wines from the Demeter-certified winery are available on-site, at the Jägerhof, and in several shops throughout South Tyrol:

Zollweghof
Braunsbergerweg 15
39011 Lana
Tel: +39 334 9298716
E-mail: info@zollweghof.it
Website: www.zollweghof.it

As a guest at Jägerhof, take a hike to the historic Zollweghof winery: book your culinary holiday in South Tyrol directly.