The Pitzner Winery in Kardaun, near Bolzano, combines centuries of history with modern, environmentally conscious viticulture. At the entrance to the Eisack Valley, brothers Markus and Thomas Puff cultivate selected vineyard sites around South Tyrol's capital. Diverse soils, sunny slopes and distinctive climatic conditions provide the foundation for a varied selection of white and red wines. Through dedicated manual work, a respectful approach to nature and their individual winemaking style, they create wines that express their origins in a distinctive and authentic way.
The history of Pitzner Winery
The origins of the Pitzner estate date back approximately 700 years. The historic building beneath Karneid Castle once served as a weaponsmith's workshop. Even the name Pitzner reflects this past, deriving from the term “Büchsner”, an old German word for gunsmith. In 2014, brothers Markus and Thomas Puff took over the family business from their father Martin and continued developing the winery according to their own vision.
Location and vineyards around Bolzano
Pitzner Winery is located in Kardaun, just a few kilometres east of Bolzano. Its vineyards are spread across several individual sites, each differing in altitude, soil composition and climatic conditions. The growing areas include Kardaun, Gries, Rentsch, Frangart and Oberplanitzing. In Gries and Rentsch, red grape varieties such as Lagrein and Merlot find particularly favourable conditions. Around Kardaun, varieties including Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay thrive, while Oberplanitzing is used for cultivating Pinot Noir. In Frangart, grapes are grown for the red Hexagon cuvée. The vineyards are characterised by well-ventilated slopes and predominantly sandy soils formed from weathered porphyry. Some areas also contain glacial moraine deposits. Warm summer days and significantly cooler nights encourage aroma development in the grapes and contribute to the distinctive character of the wines.
Grape varieties and wines of Pitzner Winery
The Pitzner Winery portfolio includes both traditional South Tyrolean grape varieties and internationally established varieties. The main white grapes include Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer. Depending on the grape variety and winemaking approach, they produce fresh, aromatic or more full-bodied wines. Among the red wines, Lagrein, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Vernatsch play an important role. The different expressions of Lagrein in particular demonstrate the versatility of this traditional South Tyrolean grape variety. The selection is complemented by distinctive red wine blends and selected Riserva wines.
