The winery Gumphof is nestled in the steep slopes at the entry of the Isarco Valley and its vineyards stretch from an altitude of 350 to 550 metres (1,150-1,800 feet) above sea level. The four hectare (ten acres) are planted with Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Schiava and Pinot Noir wines.
At an age of 28, Markus Prackwieser started a quiet transformation and has produced his own wine since. His wines have been sought after both nationally and internationally, especially his outstanding Praesulis Selection wine range. The name Praesulis derives from the nearby Castle of Presule.
The vineyards on the steep slopes at the bottom of the Sciliar mountain range, have an inclination from 50 to 70% and as a consequence most work has to be done by hand. This has never discouraged Markus Prackwieser, who took the winery over from his father in 2000, but presents just another challenge to the young winemaker.
The unique microclimate and soil composition offer optimal conditions for achieving quality grapes. During the day the vineyards are under the influence of the Mediterranean climate from the Bolzano basin, at night it is tempered by a cooling breeze setting in from the Isarco Valley. The combination of these changes in temperature, together with the scree-debris soils consisting of porphyr and the alluvium from the river Isarco, as well as the direct sunshine on the steep slopes form the best conditions for the grape varieties growing at the winery Gumphof.
One of Markus Prackwieser's main skills is it to take all these given factors into equal consideration and to manage the viticulture according to them. He makes use of particular cultivation methods achieving that the grapevines root deeply, thus receiving the precious minerals straight from the soil. In addition as every terrain has its own characteristics he pays attention to analyse them carefully and to plant exclusively the most suitable varieties of grapes. The soil, climate and grape type are all important but it is Markus Prackwieser's dedication and knowledge which give consistancy and quality to his wines.
The aim is to produce wine, that embodies the character of its surrounding and the people who create it. To obtain fully riped grapes the wineharvest takes place in gradual phases. The grapes are continuously checked for best quality and undergo very strict selection, this applies in particular to the Praesulis Selection Wines. They are renowned for their complexity, aromatic statements, long finish and mineral notes. It takes care and plenty of time for the wines to fermentate and mature in the large steel tanks and wooden casks. The Classic Wines are distinguished by their lively, fresh - fruity characteristics and their fine palate.
Three young winemakers, from three different Southtyrolean winegrowing areas, Günther Kerschbaumer from the winery Köfererhof in Novicella, Markus Prackwieser from the winery Gumphof in Fiè allo Sciliar and Christian Plattner from the wine estate Waldgries in S. Maddalena are joint partners. Their regualar visits to vineyards, tastings and study trips provide the basis for their discussions and are an enrichment for every single member of the team. Everyone shares his knowledge and experience with each other which helps to overcome difficulties.
Günther, Markus and Christian support and complement one another, they also realize common projects at exhibitions and adopt advertising and marketing strategies together. The strive to become more and more bound up with their wines, their terroir and their own tradition, characterizes the dynamic team.