Cantina Tramin

Cantina Tramin operates as a cooperative, owned by its member growers. The winery is led by managing director Wolfgang Klotz, while winemaker Willi Stürz, who has been with the cooperative since the early 1990s, plays a key role in defining its modern style. Under his direction, the winery has gained international recognition for the purity and intensity of its wines.

Cantina Tramin was founded in 1898 by Christian Schrott, a local priest and politician, as one of the first cooperative wineries in Alto Adige. The aim was to provide small growers with a sustainable model for producing and selling wine. Over the decades, the winery expanded its vineyard holdings and modernized production. In the 1990s, a strategic shift toward premium winemaking elevated its reputation, particularly through the introduction of high-end wines such as the Gewürztraminer-based Nussbaumer.

Cantina Tramin is based in Tramin (Termeno), in the Alto Adige region of northern Italy. The vineyards are spread across the slopes of the Adige Valley, benefiting from the region’s Alpine-Mediterranean climate. Vineyards are located between 250 and 850 meters above sea level, with key sites in the areas of Söll, Rungg, and Kastelaz, which offer ideal conditions for aromatic varieties like Gewürztraminer.

The cooperative's vineyards cover about 280 hectares, with a focus on sustainable farming practices. Gewürztraminer thrives in the region’s limestone and clay soils, while Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc also perform well. The higher-altitude vineyards provide natural acidity and structure, key to the freshness of Tramin’s wines. Strict vineyard management ensures low yields, emphasizing quality over quantity.

Cantina Tramin is known for its precise and expressive style, with a strong emphasis on terroir. Winemaker Willi Stürz employs a mix of stainless steel, oak, and concrete vessels to preserve aromatic intensity while adding complexity. The flagship wines, particularly Gewürztraminer, are crafted with extended lees contact and controlled maceration to enhance texture and depth.

Cantina Tramin is best known for Nussbaumer, one of Italy’s benchmark Gewürztraminers, renowned for its aromatic complexity and aging potential. Other notable wines include Epokale, an off-dry Gewürztraminer aged in a former silver mine for six years, and Stoan, a structured white blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, and Gewürztraminer. The winery also produces high-quality Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.

The winery offers guided tastings and vineyard tours, showcasing its modern architecture and panoramic views of the Adige Valley. Visitors can explore the influence of terroir on Gewürztraminer and other wines, with structured tastings of its premium selections. The proximity to the village of Tramin allows for a deeper exploration of the region’s wine culture.