The Winery
Our Story
Messnerhof is a small, family-owned winery dedicated to crafting high-quality, authentic wines that truly reflect their origin. Nestled in St. Peter, we are located in the heart of the classic St. Magdalener wine-growing region on the outskirts of Bolzano.
Across 2.5 hectares of vineyards split into two distinct locations, we oversee every step of the journey—from caring for the vines to gentle winemaking, bottling, and aging, all done right here at our estate. Winemaking in the Bolzano basin dates back over 2,500 years, and as one of the oldest farmsteads in St. Peter, the Messnerhof has proudly remained in our family for generations.
Philosophy
We stand for unadulterated, character-driven Alpine wines, shaped by artisanal care, generational knowledge, and South Tyrol's unique terroir.
True Craftsmanship: From planting the vine to labeling the bottle, everything is done exclusively by our own hands. We only vinify grapes grown in our own vineyards.
Authenticity: We are winemakers of our word. With our name and our history, we stand for credibility and a genuine connection to nature.
Experiencing Wine: We offer more than just wine in a glass. Through personal encounters at our estate, we share our passion and create unforgettable wine moments.
Our Vineyards
Our estate spans two unique terroirs:
The Missian Vineyard (Eppan | 0.8 ha): Home to our Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer, as well as our red varieties: Merlot, Syrah, and Tempranillo.
The Home Vineyard in St. Peter (Bolzano | 1.75 ha): Bathed in sunshine, this site features our oldest vines, planted back in 1930. They yield characterful Vernatsch, Lagrein, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot—varieties that have been native to the Bolzano valley for over a century.
The Wine Cellar
Deep beneath the vines, our underground cellar provides a perfect, naturally regulated climate. Following the principle of gravity, the grapes are transferred into the press and fermentation tanks with utmost care—entirely avoiding the use of stressful mechanical pumps.
Here, the wines are crafted with artisanal precision. Depending on their style, they mature either in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels ranging from 225 to 3,000 liters for 9 to 36 months, before being bottled directly at the winery.
Sustainability & Biodiversity
Nurturing our vineyards through natural, ecological, and regenerative farming is close to our hearts. For us, sustainability means taking concrete action:
A Living Vineyard: Year-round green cover and a strict ban on herbicides and mineral fertilizers protect the ecological balance and promote steady, healthy vine growth.
Green Energy: All estate buildings are heated using wood chips sourced from our own land, and our electricity is generated by our rooftop photovoltaic system.
Natural Cooling: Thanks to our deep underground cellar design, energy-intensive cooling systems are completely unnecessary.
Lightweight Bottles: Since glass production accounts for the largest share of carbon emissions in winemaking, we use lightweight bottles to keep our carbon footprint as small as possible.
Grapvine Sponsorship
Whether as an extraordinary gift idea or for your own pleasure: with a grapevine sponsorship, you become part of our community of wine lovers. As a sponsor, you take on a share of our dedicated vineyard in the form of one or more grapevines, directly supporting the cultivation of regionally typical grape varieties at the Messnerhof Winery.
Winemaker and cellar master Bernhard Pichler will give you expert insights into the craft, microbiology, and finesses of winemaking. Of course, you can also visit your grapevines at any time and see the loving care in the vineyard for yourself.
Your Sponsorship Benefits at a Glance:
A Look Behind the Scenes: Look over the shoulder of an experienced winemaker and cellar master and gain exclusive insights into the winery operations.
Hands-on Guarantee: You have the opportunity to work in the vineyard yourself during various maintenance activities and the grape harvest, all under expert guidance.
Personal Certificate & Labeling: You will receive a celebratory sponsorship certificate, and your grapevines will be labeled with your name.
Free Choice: The location of your sponsored vine within the vineyard can be freely chosen.
The Reward for Your Support: For each grapevine, you will receive the annual yield in the form of one bottle of wine.
Exclusive Discount: Enjoy a 5% discount on the entire range of the Messnerhof Winery.
A Good Cause: Your contribution actively helps to preserve terraced steep-slope viticulture, maintain historic dry-stone walls, and support regional nature and landscape conservation.
The sponsorship can easily be ordered right here in our online shop.