Archaeological finds of pruning hooks and ladles from the fifth century BC are proof that Alto Adige's wine culture is among the oldest in Europe.
When the Romans ventured into what is now Alto Adige in 15 BC, they were flabbergasted. The indigenous people here, the Rhaetians, were already storing their wine in wooden vessels, while at the court of Augustus Caesar, they were still getting by with leather bags and amphorae.
With the “Via Claudia Augusta”, the first transalpine road, pilgrims and merchants brought not only new knowledge, but also improved vine seedlings from their travels.
Beginning in the eighth century, Frankish and Bavarian monasteries acquired wine cellars in climatically favorable Alto Adige– for their own need, of course. “Potzner” (from Bozen, or Bolzano) and “Traminer” (from Tramin) were the first wines to be named for their origin. The Lagrein variety was first mentioned by the peasant leader Michael Gaismair in 1525.
Alto Adige's winegrowing was especially supported under the Habsburg empire. The repertoire of varieties increased. Riesling and the Burgundy grapes moved into the local vineyards.
Starting around 1980, Alto Adige winegrowing began to experience a sustained upswing. The key to this was carefully considered modernization and a consistent focus on quality. Thanks to the symbiosis of the Alpine character and the charm of the Mediterranean, Alto Adige wines are now more popular than ever before throughout Italy.