Franz Gojer is an iconic Alpine producer, nestled in the mountain town of Bolzano, in the Italian province known as Alto Adige to the Italian-speaking population, or as Südtirol to those who speak German (Südtirol is the preferred term on Gojer’s labels). He tends just 6 hectares of his family vineyards passed down to him in 1982, planted on steep hillsides with regional varietals like Kerner, Schiava, Lagrein and Weissburgunder. Another 2 hectares are leased nearby. Yields are expectedly low here, and his winery, Glögglhof, turns out less than 4,000 cases of wine per year. 

Gojer’s wines exemplify what makes the Alpine terroir so extraordinary, and this is a merit that can only be achieved through humility. It may be the fact that they are not flashy, nor cosmopolitan, nor laden with credentials, naked and free of DOC-gifted neckties, that makes the Franz Gojer wines such outstanding ambassadors of this region. What they are is exceptionally pure, nuanced, and food-friendly.

The St. Magdalener vineyards are located on fairly steep hillsides with the vines trained in the traditional Pergola system, just around their estate of Glögglhof in the Santa Maddalena Classico DOC. Lagrein and Schiava are harvested and fermented together, spending 5-6 months in large neutral oak casks.  This wine is rife with black cherry and raspberry, soft silky tannin and loaded with flavor.  Slight chill and you will be thrilled. 

Pairing: pork loin, suckling pig, soft cheese. 

Grapes: 95% Schiava, 5% Lagrein

Soil: Morainic soil with porphyry

Viticulture: practicing regenerative agriculture