Köfererhof Weingut

The story

From Grapes To Bottles

For years, Köfererhof sold its grapes to other local wineries. In 1995, the winery began bottling its own wines. Grapes that had previously left the property for those wineries became finished bottles under the Köfererhof name. The move placed the estate's white wine range in its own bottles, including Kerner and the other white grape varieties grown there. Köfererhof has bottled its own wines since that year, after years of selling grapes to local wineries.

From the atlas

Köfererhof Weingut

Köfererhof Weingut in Neustift/Novacella, a South Tyrolean estate focused on white wines from terraced mountain vineyards.

At A Glance

The Producer

Günther Kerschbaumer is the winemaker at Köfererhof, Meinrad Zöschg is the agronomist, and Gaby Kerschbaumer works on marketing. The estate farms six hectares of vineyards and specializes in white wines. Seven white grape varieties grow here, with Kerner among them. Farming uses integrated and sustainable methods with low environmental impact, moving toward organic practices.

Place

Neustift, also called Novacella, is the home of Köfererhof in the municipality of Vahrn, or Varna, in South Tyrol. Köfererhof's Kerner is a Südtiroler wine from Valle Isarco, so the label names a regional appellation alongside the white grape variety. The estate's white focus continues across Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Müller Thurgau, Riesling and Sylvaner.

Soil And Site

Terraced vineyards at 650 to 700 metres sit inside a harsh mountain climate with long winters and later ripening. The vines grow through extreme differences between day and night temperatures. Under these conditions, Köfererhof's white grapes mature into characterful, juicy and fresh wines.

Story

For years, the Kerschbaumer family sold grapes from Köfererhof to other local wineries. In 1995, the estate began bottling its own wines. The change moved Köfererhof from selling fruit to presenting finished bottles under the Köfererhof name. Kerner and the other white grape varieties grown at the estate now appear in wines bottled by Köfererhof.

Vineyards And Cellar

Harvest takes place in mid October, and all grapes are picked by hand. The fruit is processed gently in the cellar to retain each variety's character. Fermentation normally proceeds with indigenous yeasts, except in a particularly difficult vintage.

Wines

Kerner is the named varietal white in a range that also includes Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Müller Thurgau, Riesling and Sylvaner. Most wines ferment and age in temperature controlled tanks. Pinot Grigio and Sylvaner R receive part of their ageing in large acacia casks, so the range includes both tank aged wines and wines with partial acacia ageing.

In The Glass

Across the range, the whites are fresh and aromatic. The Kerner brings lime peel and chalk, followed by seaweed and iodine. Dried herbs and musky white peach add a savory note. Its palate has juicy acidity and crisp orchard fruit. Green melon lingers through a long, refreshing finish, while sour lime remains at the close.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose the 2024 Köfererhof Kerner. It is made from 100% Kerner, fermented and aged exclusively in stainless steel, and bottled in June of the year following the harvest. The wine is light to medium bodied with a clean finish. Kerner presents the estate's white focus through one grape and one cellar method.

Anecdote

In 1940, the Kerschbaumer family acquired and began managing Köfererhof, an estate that dates to 976. The property was already centuries old when the family took responsibility for it. Today Günther and Gaby Kerschbaumer run the estate as its third generation, and the family winery remains based in Neustift/Novacella and focused on white wines.

Final Word

Köfererhof is a South Tyrolean white wine estate with terraced vineyards, hand harvesting and a range of white grape varieties. Kerner is the signature bottle, labeled Südtiroler and associated with Valle Isarco.

Sources

• https://www.koefererhof.it
• https://marcdegrazia.com/producers/kofererhof/
• https://www.skurnik.com/producer/kofererhof/
• https://www.skurnik.com/sku/kerner-valle-isarco-kofererhof-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/
• https://marcdegrazia.com/producers/kofererhof/?switch_language=en