Furner Hottlinger – a nearly forgotten South Tyrolean heritage grape returns

Characteristic of the variety: The side stems leading to the berries are red.

There are grape varieties that simply make wine. And there are grape varieties that tell stories.

The Furner Hottlinger – also known as Furner Hottler – definitely belongs to the second group. One of those old, robust, slightly stubborn red varieties that shaped South Tyrol long before modern grapes took over. According to the Laimburg Research Centre, it is one of the oldest – if not the oldest – autochthonous red wine varieties of South Tyrol. And: both spellings are officially registered in the EU grape protection list.

A piece of history – deeply rooted in the Valle Isarco

In the 19th century, the Furner was widespread in the Valle Isarco. Mid-late ripening, high in acidity, strong in growth – a vine perfectly adapted to the local climate and producing reliable yields. The wines were ruby-red, fruity, with soft tannins and clear notes of cherry and red berries. Simple, honest, light – and wonderfully easy to drink

With time, the variety faded from memory. New grapes arrived, agriculture changed – and the old local varieties almost disappeared. Only a handful of growers kept it alive.

Family history: A wine for work – and for life

For us, the Furner has a deeply personal meaning. Our father Hans often told us how, as a boy, he carried the wine out to the fields in big three-litre jugs – for the farmers, workers and helpers. Drinking water wasn’t always safe back then (jaundice & more), so the Furner gave strength, warmth and energy. In the past, the Furner was planted exclusively on pergolas and along pathways. Not for decoration, but out of pure practicality: farms needed every bit of land for fields and pasture. So the Furner grew at the edges, where it didn’t “take away” valuable space. And since this variety is naturally productive and robust, it still yielded enough wine for the family, fieldwork, and celebrations. Such a wine that was part of everyday life. Part of survival.

We are bringing the Furner back – the right way

Today, only tiny remnants of this variety still exist in South Tyrol.

At Weingut Oberfurner, we are committed to reviving it – patiently, respectfully and with care. We are raising new young plants, preserving the old ones and vinifying the Furner as a pure, single-varietal wine. A wine that, because of its history, its acidity and its rarity, requires explanation – and that’s exactly what makes it so special.

And because it’s so exclusive, it will be:

• not sold online

• not available in retail

• only available for tasting here at our winery

A wine that does not travel the worldbut stays where its roots are.

What defines the Furner today?

The Laimburg research centre’s description confirms what we taste in the glass:

• very high acidity

• low alcohol (max. 10% vol)

• ruby colour

• aromas of blackcurrant, raspberry, sour cherry

• light to medium body

• soft tannins

• a unique, ancient varietal identity

A red wine that exists nowhere else in the world in this form.This isn’t marketing – it’s fact.

Why do we do it?

• Because old varieties are identity.

• Because wine shouldn’t be only a trend.

• Because every region must preserve its own stories.

• And because the Furner has been part of our family for generations – in the vineyard, in the cellar and in life.

For those who seek the authentic

Furner Hottlinger isn’t a wine that tries to please everyone.It’s a wine for explorers. For story-seekers. For people who understand that wine is culture – not just a drink.

If you want to taste it, you have to come to us.And that’s exactly what makes it so special.

Book your wine tasting now and try a red wine you’ve truly never tasted before.

Sources: PDF “Historische Lokalsorten” by Laimburg (Josef Terleth & Ulrich Pedri) and https://glossar.wein.plus/furner