Viticulture in Tyrol
Although Tyrol is considered by many to be a beer region, there is actually a centuries-old tradition of winemaking and viticulture.
In the following blog article, I will tell you the most exciting information about wine in and from Tyrol.
Story
For this, I'll go back a bit: the first documented mention of Tyrolean winemaking is in Sautens in the Ötztal valley around 965 AD.
Later records show vineyards in Ötz as well as in the middle and upper Inn Valley up to Prutz at altitudes of 900 metres.
Many old field names and districts in Tarrenz, Ötz, Roppen, Pfunds, Imst (e.g. Weinberg) and other sunny places throughout Tyrol also provide evidence of earlier wine growing in this area.
Even in Aurach near Kitzbühel there was a “Weinberg”: in 1353, the citizens were allowed to serve wine from “Mößt” (“must”) to “Martini”.
At that time, North Tyrolean winegrowing was primarily favored by the warm climate and a flourishing economy.
Emperor Maximilian I deserves special mention here: as a special supporter of medieval viticulture, he had vineyards planted near the Martinswand in Zirl at the beginning of the 15th century.
At that time, there were about 25 hectares of vineyards in Tyrol. By comparison, today there are just under 20 hectares.
From the 16th century onwards, there was a noticeable decline in Tyrolean viticulture due to a deterioration in the climate with the beginning of the “Little Ice Age”, which resulted in the abandonment of higher mountain farms and the increase in glaciers.
In addition, wine from South Tyrol became increasingly popular due to better transport routes and more favorable conditions.
The Tyrolean vineyards were gradually abandoned, with only vines remaining along the warming walls of the houses.
Climate & Grape Varieties
Today’s global warming is definitely positive for Tyrolean viticulture:
This favors an advance in flowering due to higher temperatures and a resulting earlier onset of ripening.
In favoured areas, grape varieties can also be planted in the future that would not have ripened until now due to medium-late ripening.
In the Tyrolean Oberland (west of Innsbruck), autumn is usually stable, there is hardly any fog, and the grapes can stay on the vine longer.
Harvesting the grapes later results in greater physiological ripeness and thus higher quality, i.e. wines with more extract, body and alcohol.
In Tyrol, the high temperature differences between day and night mean that
The grapes' acidity is also preserved longer during the night, whereas in South Tyrol, for example, the harvest has to be done about three weeks earlier to ensure the sugar-acid balance is still right. This means that the grapes further north have more time to store valuable aromatic compounds.
White grape varieties in Tyrol:
Chardonnay, Müller-Thurgau, Sylvaner, Kerner, Pinot Blanc and PIWI varieties (Solaris, Muscaris, Souvignier Gris, Cabernet Blanc, etc.)
Red grape varieties in Tyrol:
Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir), Zweigelt, PIWI varieties such as Rösler, Cabernet Jura, Regent, etc.
PIWI = Fungus-resistant varieties:
Breeding for special resistance to fungal diseases of the vines
In Tarrenz, now the largest wine-growing community in Tyrol, the first wine-growing association, “Free Winegrowers of the Tyrolean Oberland,” was founded in 2006.
Since 2011, the Tyrolean Winegrowers' Association ( www.tirolwein.at ) has existed for the whole of Tyrol, which is integrated into the Austrian Winegrowers' Association and enjoys equal status with renowned eastern winegrowing regions.
For my further questions about wine from Tyrol, I met with Andreas Wimmer, deputy chairman of the Tyrolean Winegrowers’ Association:
5 questions for Andreas Wimmer, Deputy Chairman of the Tyrolean Winegrowers’ Association
1)Tyrol is not a typical wine region - but why should you still give regional wine a chance?
Tyrol isn't all that atypical as a wine region – winemaking has been practiced since the 15th century under Emperor Maximilian, who was a major patron. Due to climate change in the 16th century, wine slowly disappeared from Tyrol, but has made a comeback since the early 2000s. A few pioneers have taken up the cause and have gained considerable experience over the past 20 years.
The current vineyard area is 25 hectares, but it's growing steadily. We're very likely to reach 30 hectares within the next five years.
The quality of wine is steadily improving, and Tyrolean winemakers aren't complaining about global warming, but are taking advantage of it. Moreover, wine from Tyrol is a great niche product.
2) Is winemaking a job with a future in Tyrol and why should young people choose it?
Due to the size and price of the land, you won't be able to make a living from winemaking in Tyrol. However, you can turn your hobby into a side job. Of over 80 winemakers, 16 are currently producing enough wine to bottle it. One winemaker, the Flür winery in Tarrenz, is actually able to make a living from it.
3) What distinguishes a Tyrolean wine from a South Tyrolean wine?
One of the things that distinguishes Tyrolean wine is its rarity.
For comparison: Tyrol has 25 hectares of vineyards, South Tyrol has 5,500 hectares.
Due to the diversity in South Tyrol, Tyrolean wine could be compared to wines from the Vinschgau, although it is a little warmer and drier there.
In terms of taste, one could say that in Vinschgau the fungus-resistant varieties (Piwi) are not as common as they are here, but the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc styles are indeed comparable.
The grape variety distribution is similar, with 25% red wine and 75% white wine.
In South Tyrol, for example, 65% of wines are white.
South Tyrol is the coolest region in Italy and produces the freshest wines, which are very popular in southern Italy, for example. The market for South Tyrolean red wines was then found further north in Tyrol.
4) How do you see the future of viticulture in the Alpine region, or what would you like to see happen?
I do see room for growth in the Alpine region, albeit not exponentially. The pioneering achievements of the last 20 years have shown that growing high-quality wines in Tyrol is certainly possible. The quality will continue to improve. The vineyards in Tyrol are truly exemplary, and the small-scale structure inherently lends individuality, making them very appealing.
5) Which Tyrolean wine are you currently drinking?
For tasting purposes, almost all Tyrolean wines are served in the glass.
A tip: You can sample your way through the wines at the "Andy's Wine Times One" event at the Café Museum in Schwaz. It takes place every first Wednesday of the month.
Have you acquired a taste for Tyrolean wines and are eager to try them as soon as possible?
I can also recommend the following events to you:
6th Schwaz Wine Festival, June 28, 2024, from 4:00 PM ( https://www.schwaz.at/kalender/event/6-schwazer-weinfest/ )
Over 100 wines, live music and regional delicacies
Tyrolean Wine Festival in Seefeld, July 20 and 21, 2024 (https://www.seefeld.com/de/veranstaltungen/tiroler-winzerfest-in-seefeld.html)
In addition to the regional Tyrolean winemakers , another European wine-growing region is also invited to the wine festival, presenting its own wines and expanding the tasting selection.
