The winery
Tenuta Bessererhof
A family-run winery in Fiè allo Sciliar (Völs am Schlern), South Tyrol, producing characteristic white and red wines of the Isarco Valley, from vineyard sites at altitudes between 350 and 900 m, with a natural approach to viticulture.
- Alto Adige / Südtirol (Trentino-Alto Adige) · Italia
- 8 products
The story
The Mair family has practiced viticulture at Bessererhof since the late 1950s. Initially, grapes were supplied to local wineries; the first vintage vinified and marketed entirely by the family (Otmar and Rosmarie Mair) dates to 1998. Between 2013 and 2015 the farm facilities and the winery were renovated and a tasting room and on-site shop were added. Today management involves multiple generations of the family, and the estate bottles approximately 50,000 to 60,000 bottles annually.
Production philosophy
Natural viticulture with a strong focus on soil quality and exposures: limiting the use of herbicides and fertilizers, manual work on steep slopes, selecting the most suitable sites for each variety, and protecting the vineyards with nets against hail, birds and insects. The approach aims to enhance the mineral expression of the land and the connection between vineyard and cellar.
Terroir and vineyards
The estate is located at the foot of the Altipiano dello Sciliar in the Dolomites, the southernmost area of the Valle Isarco. The vineyards extend across elevations of approximately 350 m to 900 m (Tiso, Val di Funes). Soils range from porphyry debris and sandy‑gravelly ground to patches of volcanic/tuffaceous origin; the presence of dolomitic rock is cited as the source of the wines’ pronounced minerality.
Characteristics
- Grape varieties
- Pinot Bianco
- Pinot Bianco Riserva
- Chardonnay (Riserva)
- Sauvignon
- Kerner
- Sylvaner
- Gewürztraminer
- Moscato Giallo
- Zweigelt
- Zweigelt Rosé
- Schiava
- Bottles per year
- 50000
What makes it distinctive
- Vineyards located at approximately 350–900 m above sea level at the foot of the Sciliar.
- Natural viticulture and mainly manual work on steep slopes
- Family-run producer managed by the Mair family (several generations involved)
- Selection of typical South Tyrol wines: Pinot Blanc, Kerner, Sylvaner, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Zweigelt
- Reported bottled production: approximately 50,000–60,000 bottles per year.
