The year 2025 celebrates the 125th anniversary of Cantina Kurtatsch, the southernmost wine cooperative in South Tyrol, which year after year marks important steps in defining the quality of its wines.
In the heart of South Tyrol, Cantina Kurtatsch is celebrating an important milestone: its 125th anniversary. Since 1900, the South Tyrolean cooperative has been combining history and tradition, and today, with 190 members bound together by the motto Viribus Unitis, looks to the future with a strong shared commitment.
Cantina Kurtatsch has a more than century-long history behind it, marked by challenges and achievements, as told by Andreas Kofler, the president: “The first decades of the cooperative were traversed by difficult events such as World War I, the spread of phylloxera and economic difficulties. After the post-World War II years a change of mentality matured that led to overcoming a quantity-oriented production to embrace a new vision based on quality. A vision that we still carry on today in our daily choices.”
This spirit of renewal has led to the construction of a new barrique cellar, the purchase of state-of-the-art barrels, and a targeted conversion of the vineyards, focusing on prized varieties linked to the terroir.
Over the past two decades, Cantina Kurtatsch has brought new winemaking creations to life, revamped its image and expanded its headquarters with architecture that reflects its deep connection to the South Tyrolean soil. A path of lasting growth, made possible by the shared responsibility and mutual trust of its 190 members.
The Selection Line, a sustainable future
Cantina Kurtatsch’s commitment to the future is embodied in tangible actions for sustainability. The Selection, with the new vintage, features a cleaner, more authentic and sustainable design. The reduction in weight from 550 to 395 g allows for a savings of 135 g of CO₂ per bottle – or approximately 107 tons of CO₂ per year.
Sustainability was also prioritized in the choice of cardboard material: composed of 75% from recycled material, printed only minimally and featuring a natural, bright appearance-perfectly in keeping with the design.
Cabernet Sauvignon Freienfeld 2022
The Cabernet Sauvignon Freienfeld, with its first vintage in 1988, was a tangible symbol of the transformation that led Kurtatsch Winery to prioritize quality over quantity. To this day, Freienfeld is still one of the winery’s most iconic wines and is produced only in optimal vintages.
This year, in particular, marks an important moment: the Freienfeld 2022 is the first vintage produced under the leadership of Erwin Carli, the young winemaker who took the helm in 2022. It is a choice in continuity with the great passion and legacy of Othmar Doná, who strongly believed in careful and forward-looking work on red wines, particularly Bordeaux varieties.
Merlot Brenntal: 30 years of a unique territory
The year 2025 also represents an important milestone for the Merlot Brenntal, which is celebrating its 30 years: a wine that symbolizes an extreme and strongly identifiable territory. Located north of Cortaccia, the Brenntal area is among the hottest in South Tyrol, with temperatures that can reach 40°C in summer.
The vines grow on steep, intensely sunny slopes, sinking their roots into sandy, loamy soils with a characteristic reddish color. In the evening, cool descending winds mitigate the heat, helping to define the wine’s balance: a Merlot of great strength and concentration, with dark, ripe fruit, but always shot through with a fresh, alpine note.
The strength of UGAs
Brenntal is one of the Additional Geographical Units (UGAs) recognized by the Ministry, and Cantina Kurtatsch can boast a record: as many as nine of its labels come from areas included in the 86 parcels identified in November 2024. They are Graun, Penon, Penon-Hofstatt, Penon-Kofl, Glen, Mazon, Frauenrigl and, of course, Brenntal.
Since the 1990s, the winery has developed an approach based on the concept “Zone by Zone, Wine by Wine”, with the aim of maximizing the potential of each variety. A vision that translates into a precision viticulture, low yields and targeted vinification, in harmony with the pedoclimatic characteristics of each UGA.
The result? Wines that tell the story of the land with authenticity and depth, turning each glass into an exploration of the South Tyrolean landscape.
