Kofererhof Kerner

Kofererhof ‘s History and Philosophy

The Isarco valley, created by the river of the same name, has been formed by the waters of the river’s course as they descend from the mountains to the northeast of Bolzano towards the city itself, where they join the Adige as it flows southwards towards the sea. The valley, very green, enjoys a cool climate, and is dotted with churches and monasteries, but for our purposes its most important aspect are the excellent wines, almost entirely whites, though with an occasional presence of Pinot Noir as well. For generations the most distinguished and best known were those of the Abbey of Novacella, the monumental and historic convent located near Bressanone.

Günter Kerschbaumer’s Köfererhof estate, a small but choice property, was, until 1995, a supplier of grapes to Novacella, and their high quality undoubtedly contributed to the name and fame of those wines. These 27 acres of vineyards contained the major varieties of the valley – Gewürztraminer, Kerner, Müller Thurgau, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sylvaner, Grüner Veltliner – and the local micro-climate, reasonably warm during the day, decidedly cool during the evening and night, were ideal for the production of the fragrant, elegant, and savory white wines which recently have become much sought after in Italian and international markets.

The wines of Kofererhof

All of this was yet to come in 1995, and Kerschbaumer’s decision to strike out on his own was a somewhat risky one at the time, as the viticultural picture was dominated by sizeable cooperative and the larger estates of Alto Adige region. But, as Machiavelli pointed out, fortune is  woman and must be taken with a certain audaciousness. And the proprietor’s important winemaking talents, coupled with the natural advantages of his vineyards’ site, led to a virtually immediate success. It is difficult to select a leading wine in a range so ample and uniformly well made, but the Gewürztraminer and Riesling, both exceptionally aromatic, are sure winners, as is the vibrant, bracing Grüner Veltliner, not a particularly well known grape. But it is his exceptional Kerner, which seems almost a red wine with is ample texture, is certainly a startling surprise.