Wineries across the world are facing the challenges of climate change and are adapting in many ways. Join us for a conversation with Clemens Lageder and Jo Pfisterer from Alois Lageder to learn more about how they’re approaching and combating the challenges through the use of components in winemaking and varietal exploration.
Founded in 1835, the Alois Lageder winery is now run by the fifth and sixth generations. Over the past few decades, the family has pushed the winery to high standards of quality and environmental responsibility. They began farming their vineyards according to the principles of biodynamics, seeing this holistic approach to viticulture as the appropriate way to keep their vineyards healthy and protect the environment for the long term. Alto Adige is an area that values the cultivation of a wide assortment of different grape varieties, and Lageder has put great emphasis on matching varieties with the proper terroir in this geologically diverse valley to get the best possible quality. As one of Italy’s foremost proponents of biodynamic agriculture, Lageder has worked with its network of growers to help them convert from industrial viticultural practices to organic and biodynamic methods, with a goal of having 100% conversion within the next 5 – 10 years. Lageder has also adopted an array of innovative methods in the winery and cellar that work with rather than against Nature. Under the direction of current owner Alois Lageder, the winery led the transformation of Alto Adige in the 1980s from being known as a region for producing everyday wines to one that can claim world-class wines and the estate was one of the first to make single-vineyard wines in the region.
Today the team at Lageder studies the individual components in the vineyard and in the cellar. By combining different components, they create wines with a strong character. The attention to detail is evident in these wines, as is their origin in top-class vineyards.