Franz Haas | Trentino-Alto Adige

The Haas family has been growing grapes in Montagna in 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 produced are infused with great character, with purity and balance on the palate. To maintain the aromatic quality of his wines, Franz bottled his entire wine production under screw-cap from the 2018 vintage onwards. A revolutionary choice and he was one of the first Italian wine producers to do so.

In wine quality terms, the 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 tannin structure. Of the 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: a blend of Riesling, barrel fermented Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Kerner and barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc. The aromatic quality of the Riesling and Gewürztraminer come through in the glass, but they are given depth and texture by the subtle use of oak on the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. This is undoubtedly one of Italy’s best white wines.

FRANZ HAAS