About Ignaz Niedrist

For nearly 200 years, the Neidrist family has called the vineyard in Alto Adige home. At the turn of the 20th century, Josef Neidrist and his wife Antonia planted their metaphorical roots on the property and started a small winery which operated until social and political unrest in the region forced them to shut down production. The winery lay dormant for the subsequent decades, but the farm stayed in the family. It was eventually taken over by Ignaz Neidrist and his wife Elisabeth in the 1980s. They saw in the land its potential for producing exquisite wines and so in 1989, decided to reactivate the winery. Since then, family life has cycled around winemaking. They have expanded throughout the region, adding several plots to the core operation and growing their offerings significantly. Now in the hands of the third generation, the vineyard is run by brother-sister duo Johannes and Maria who took over production from their parents with the objective of carrying on their family’s tradition of making delicious wines. 

When we visited the family in Alto Adige last September, we could immediately feel how special a place it was. Nestled in the sun soaked foothills of the Dolomites, Alto Adige is surrounded by a laid back mountain community, influenced equally by Italian and German culture, and born from a robust history. Home to amazing food and a warm, inviting spirit, it is also producing some of the most diverse wine ranges in the world right now. 

And it’s no wonder why. Alto Aldige is optimally located in between Mediterranean and Alpine climates, situated on mineral-rich soils. When Ignaz and Elizabeth began making wines, their intention was to make wines that were expressive of the region’s unique terroir. Their 12 hectare vineyard, situated between 450-650 meters above sea level, expands across Alto Adige’s main historical areas of Girlan, Eppan Berg, Kaltern, and the Gries. Each sub-region is known for its own microclimate. Where Girlan has more sun exposure and glacial morainic soils, Eppan Berg is cooler, shadowed in the early evening, and has clay soils with a high content of chalk. Across their various plots, Weingut Ignaz Niedrist cultivates six main varietals, including Sauvignon Blanc, Schiava, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Lagrein. 

Although much has changed over the course of their long family history, the Neidrist family remains dedicated to preserving the culture and terroir of their vineyard. Everything is farmed organically and grapes are harvested by hand. Compost is used as the only source of fertilizer for the vines and crops are covered to ensure biodiversity. Wines are made using a simple and traditional approach to winemaking with no chemical additives. For a charming touch, the bottles are marked with the same label that Ignaz and Elisabeth created at the start. As the next generation takes the reins, they are committed to carrying on the tradition by retaining small-scale production but invoking new farming and vinification techniques with the goal of continuing to improve upon the quality of their already wonderful wines.