Vintage: 2022

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2022HA102B226 x 75ScrewcapContact Us
Producer

The Haas family has been growing grapes in Montagna, within the province of Bolzano, for generations. However, it was only with Franz, who died prematurely in 2022, that they began to produce and bottle quality wines. Franz studied at Geisenheim in Germany before working as a broker of Italian wines in the German market. After several years, he took over the running of the family business.

Franz Haas went to tremendous lengths to grow quality grapes and strived to preserve the flavours of the fruit during winemaking. As a result, the wines that he produces are infused with great character, purity and balance on the palate. To maintain the aromatic quality of his wines, Franz Haas bottled his entire production under screwcap from the 2018 vintage onwards. A revolutionary choice, as he was one of the first Italian wine producers to have done so.

His Pinot Nero is one of Italy’s best. It is light in colour yet bursting with varietal character on both the nose and palate, with a lovely tannic structure. Of his whites, the Pinot Grigio is classic and fresh, and the ‘Lepus’ is an excellent expression of Pinot Bianco. The flagship wine is the ‘Schweizer’ Manna, which comprises a blend of Riesling, barrel-fermented Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Kerner and barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc. Rich and complex with abundant ageing potential, it stands among Italy’s finest white wines. The aromatic quality of the Riesling and Gewürztraminer shines through in the glass, complemented by depth and texture achieved through a subtle use of oak on the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Vineyards

The grapes for this wine are grown in hillside vineyards in Alto Adige and Trentino. The soils in Alto Adige are very rich and deep with a good content of clay and dolomitic limestone, originating from the erosion of the mountains above. In 2020, Franz Haas took a long lease on some Pinot Grigio vineyards in Trentino. Many of his vineyards in Alto Adige have moved to a higher altitude (750-900 meters above sea level) to extend the growing season and give his wines greater aromatic complexity. Because of this, Franz felt he needed a more weight and structure in the wine, something he provided by including the Trentino grapes in the blend. The Trentino soils are characterised by a higher rock content and limestone and the vineyards are lower lying (300 meters above sea level). The vines from both Alto Adige and Trentino are 15 years old and Guyot trained. Yields are 60 hectolitres per hectare and the vineyard exposure ranges from south to southwest.

Vintage

The 2022 vintage was a particularly hot and dry one; as a result, the wines are more savoury. Thanks to the high altitude of the vineyards, they were able to create the perfect balance between quantity and quality. Rainfall in July irrigated the vines and put them in good stead toward the end of the growing season. September brought slightly cooler conditions allowing the grapes to ripen at a gradual pace and retain acidity and freshness. These wines have a wonderful aromatic freshness, acidity and length in the mouth.

Vinification

Grapes were hand picked and selected in the vineyards. Fermentation took place at controlled temperature almost exclusively in stainless steel tanks, with a small quantity in barrique.The wine aged for about four months on its lees, separately, as during the fermentation process, to add complexity and give the wine a fuller body. Finally the Pinot Grigio remained three to four months in bottle before release.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

This Pinot Grigio is intense straw-yellow in colour, with a fragrant floral bouquet of sage, hay, almonds and sandalwood. After some time in the bottle, notes of honey and lime blossom develop. On the palate, it is fresh and medium bodied with great finesse and elegance.

Alcohol (ABV)

13%

Acidity

6.2 g/l

Residual Sugar

3.5 g/l

pH

3.55

Other wines from this producer

Producer
Wine
Product Code
Features
Style
Franz Haas`Lepus` Pinot BiancoHA103
W
White
GewürztraminerHA104
W
White
`Schweizer` MannaHA105
W
White
`Schweizer` Moscato RosaHA107
Sw
Sweet
Pinot NeroHA109
R
Red
`Schweizer` Pinot NeroHA121
Vegetarian
Vegan
R
Red