Franz Haas, `Lepus` Pinot Bianco

The Haas family have grown grapes in Montagna, within the province of Bolzano, for generations. However, it was only with Franz, who sadly passed 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.