About the producer
Falkenstein is located at 650 meters above sea level on a sunny hill near the village of Naturno, in the lower Venosta valley, 12 kilometres from the town of Merano in Alto Adige. Falkenstein emerged in 1995, a testament to Bernadette and Franz Pratzner's bold decision to shift from apple cultivation to the art of winemaking. Shortly thereafter, they proudly unveiled their inaugural production of 600 bottles. Renowned primarily for their exceptional white wines—Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Bianco, and Gewurztraminer—Riesling stands as the flagship wine of the estate. Additionally, they craft a limited quantity of exquisitely elegant Pinot Noir.
In the Vineyard
Organic biodynamic practices
Organic farming practices are utilized but the winery is not certified
Total area under vine
14 Hectares
Location of vineyards
Naturno
Soil details
Sandy and dry soils (glacial moraines), rich in minerals (gneiss, slate, granite, mica and quartz)
Grapes
Pinot Bianco, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Nero
In the Cellar
Winemaker
Franz & Magdalena Pratzner
Yeast utilized
Specifically selected from local surroundings
Filtration stabilization
Light filtration during bottling, no stabilization
Fermentation & aging vessels
Fermentation for white wines take place in 10-40HL acacia barrels, the Pinot Noir in large 35HL oak casks
Additional notes
Winemaking style
Franz and Magdalena embody a traditional approach to winemaking, rooted in heritage and craftsmanship, while simultaneously embracing innovation to continuously elevate the quality of their wines with each passing vintage.
Wines produced
Riesling Riesling Alte Rebe Riesling Anadûron Pinot Blanc Pinot Blanc Phileo Sauvignon Sauvignon Retus Gewurztraminer Pinot Noir
Total production
Depending on the vintage, roughly 100,000 bottles
