The Franz Haas estate was founded in 1880 in the municipalities of Montagna and Egna. The winery has 148 acres under vine and focuses on expressing the character and longevity of the unique Alto Adige wine zone through a wide range of offerings made using local and international varieties.

Points of Differentiation

• A premium line, with no entry-level wines
• A pioneer in high altitude viticulture in Alto Adige, some of Franz Haas’ vineyards are located at 3,700 feet (1,150 meters) above sea level
• Versatile, elegant, food-friendly wines, featuring complexity, structure, acidity and ageability
• Highly concentrated and expressive thanks to the sandy, clayey, and highly calcareous soils
• Their great passion for Pinot Nero has led them to use the highest quality standards, starting with low-yielding Pinot Nero clones and high-density vineyard planting

The History

Since its inception, Franz Haas has been wholeheartedly dedicated to making quality wines that reflect the territory and the great passion and enthusiasm of the eight generations of the Haas family. Consequently, each generation is represented by a Franz who carries on the name, showing their commitment to tradition, which they pair with a good dose of innovation.

The Franz Haas family has always been recognized as leading enthusiasts and experts on the most sensitive and difficult yet satisfying grape to grow: Pinot Nero. But that’s not all, they also craft a wide range of Alto Adige wines with the same painstaking attention – from Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio all the way to Lagrein and Moscato Rosa.

The artist Riccardo Schweizer, who worked together with many renowned artists such as Picasso, Chagall, Cocteau, Paul Éluard, and Le Corbusier, designed many of the wine labels. Maria Luisa Manna gave them to Franz as a token of good fortune for the release of his wines. The first label chosen by Franz was for the Pinot Nero Schweizer, which was released in 1990 (Vintage: 1987).

The Terroir

In the 1980s most of the vineyards were replanted, leaving room for new varieties more suitable to the type of terroir. The grapes are sourced from 60 hectares of vineyards, divided between estate-owned properties, rentals, and contract farmers. The vineyards start at an altitude of 720 feet (220 meters) and climb to 3,700 feet (1,150 meters) with a great variety of microclimates and soils, from porphyry to clay and limestone.

In the year 2000, due to climate change, several hectares were rented at high altitudes are some of the highest vineyards in Alto Adige today. Now, more than fifteen years later, this has proven to be advantageous to producing long-lasting, aromatic wines with strong acidity. Vast diurnal temperature changes and the four additional hours of sunshine per day also contribute to the favorable microclimate. The vineyards are all located in the municipalities of Montagna, Egna, Trodena, and Aldino.

Franz Haas has always paid immense attention to the vineyards, which are cultivated eco-sustainably. They do not always look like impeccably manicured gardens and often the grass among the rows grows high, but by doing so they bring out the magic of nature – a thriving eco-system that includes pollination, plant reproduction and a variety of insects. But above all, Franz Haas continues to give their children the opportunity to see the beauty of blossoming fields.