Pocket-sized wine country Alto Adige

The Widum Baumann winegrowing estate in Avigna, high above Bolzano, is a bit of a pocket-sized version of the wine country Alto Adige: located at a high altitude, characterized by the mountains, run in a sustainable manner, with a diverse range of varieties on offer and a long history.That history begins in the mid-13th century when the Widum Baumann farm in Avigna was first mentioned in a document. Back then, this used to be the seat of the administrator of ecclesiastical property; the farm itself was a typical mountain farm, however. This would not change until the Widmann family took over. Thomas Widmann, an agricultural economics professional, recognized the potential of the farm and began experimenting with apple farming.In 2012, he added winegrowing to the mix, which was only made possible by climate change considering the altitude of 1,048 meters above sea level. “We began by cultivating eleven different varieties and maturing them in different ways in order to understand which variety and method would yield the best results,” recalls Thomas Widmann. It eventually came down to seven remaining varieties, which are matured as a mixed set (gemischter Satz) according to ancient tradition. “They are harvested together and fermented in wooden tubs or amphoras,” says Widmann.Tradition also rules how cultivation is organized at the Widum Baumann winegrowing estate, dictated by nature, the weather, plants, the moon, and the seasons. The production follows strict biodynamic rules: “We realized something very simple very early on,” says Thomas Widmann. “Keeping chemical treatment to an absolute minimum will yield the most authentic products.”