The Haas family has been growing grapes in Montagna in the province of Bolzano in the Alto Adige for generations. However, it is only with Franz, who died prematurely in 2022, that they began to produce and bottle quality wines.

Franz studied at Geisenheim before working as a broker of Italian wines into the German market. After several years, he took over the running of the family business. Franz went to tremendous lengths to grow good grapes and strived to preserve the flavours of the fruit during winemaking. As a result, the wines that are produced today are infused with great character and show a rare purity and balance on the palate

Alto Adige, also known as Südtirol, is a picturesque wine region in northern Italy, nestled in the foothills of the Alps and bordering Austria and Switzerland. Though one of Italy’s smallest wine-producing areas, it is renowned for its high-quality, characterful wines and striking Alpine landscapes. The region is strongly influenced by both Germanic and Italian cultures, reflected in its language, winemaking traditions, and grape varieties.

Key wine-producing towns include Bolzano (Bozen), Merano, and Caldaro (Kaltern), each surrounded by steep, terraced vineyards planted at elevations ranging from 200 to over 1,000 metres. This altitude provides a crucial benefit: warm days allow grapes to ripen fully, while cool nights help preserve acidity and aromatics.

Pinot Grigio is the most widely planted varietal, followed closely by Gewürztraminer, particularly around the village of Tramin, from which it takes its name. Other important grapes include Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Schiava (a light, local red), and Lagrein (a darker, more robust indigenous red). International varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir also thrive.

Viticulture in Alto Adige is labour-intensive due to the mountainous terrain, but the rewards are evident in the purity, freshness, and elegance of its wines. The region leads Italy in sustainable and high-altitude wine production.

Pinot Grigio, known as Pinot Gris in France, is a white grape variety that originated in Burgundy as a mutation of Pinot Noir. The grape’s skins have a distinctive greyish-pink hue—hence the name grigio, meaning “grey” in Italian. Despite being the same variety, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris wines can differ greatly in style, influenced by regional climate and winemaking tradition.

The grape typically produces light to medium-bodied wines with bright acidity and delicate aromas. Classic Pinot Grigio from northern Italy is dry and refreshing, with subtle notes of green apple, lemon, lime, and pear, sometimes accompanied by a hint of almond or white flowers. The wine is almost always unoaked, allowing its crisp, clean character to shine.

Pinot Grigio is most famously grown in Italy’s Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige regions, where it has become a staple of modern white wine drinking. In France’s Alsace region, Pinot Gris is made in a fuller-bodied, richer style, often with spice, honeyed fruit, and greater ageing potential. The grape is also cultivated in cooler parts of the New World, including Oregon, New Zealand, and southern England, where it shows lively acidity and a fruit-forward profile.