(The podcast is in German)
The South Tyrolean winery St. Quirinus is one of the younger wineries in the region, which also has a wine-growing tradition dating back thousands of years. I met the winemaker Michael Sinn in Oberplanitzing, a district of Kaltern on Lake Kaltern. The young family business, which started growing grapes on the farm in 2009 and began producing its own wine in 2013, now produces almost 60,000 bottles a year and cultivates almost 10 hectares of vineyards at an altitude of between 230 and 700 meters. St. Quirinus stands for biodynamic cultivation (Demeter-certified since 2013), which means minimal plant protection and a high PiWi share of 25-33 percent. The rest of the winery's range (which is larger overall, of course) combines international grape varieties with regional classics.
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc are partly vinified according to site and reflect the diversity of the locations. At the same time, the cultivation of traditional South Tyrolean varieties remains an important concern. Vernatsch - the historic grape variety of the Kalterer See region - continues to play an important role. In the past, Vernatsch was often focused on high yields and simple qualities, but today Michael Sinn, like many younger wineries, focuses on reduced quantities and careful vinification. The resulting wines are lighter, fruity and delicate, but have significantly more structure and expression than previous generations. The traditional red Lagrein variety is also an important pillar of the business. A contiguous vineyard north of Lake Kaltern, partly planted with Pergola vines over 60 years old, provides the basis for a dense, intensely colored Lagrein with supple tannins. In addition to traditional pergola cultivation, younger vineyards are increasingly being cultivated using the Guyot system in order to control yield and ripeness development more precisely. Harvesting is always done by hand, as is customary in South Tyrol due to the small-scale structures of many vineyards.
