Muri Gries
Just under 30 hectares of vineyard area, 52 hectares cultivated with orchards, a mountain farm in Campitello near San Genesio with 145 hectares of fields and woods dedicated to livestock farming are part of the current agricultural company of the Muri-Gries convent. To these is added conventual horticulture. For centuries, this monastery, located in Bolzano, has remained self-sufficient regarding agricultural products and food.
Even the wine produced has long been intended for the private consumption of the monastery. The turning point comes in 1845, the year in which the monks apply the traditional Benedictine rule "ora et labora" also in the conventual vineyards; the Muri-Gries cellar thus opens its doors at the beginning of the 20th century. The first sales of bulk wine cross the Brenner and reach German-speaking countries: in the ancient cellars, fine wines such as Santa Maddalena and Malvasia, Lagrein Kretzer and Pinot Grigio mature. Muri-Gries is today a classic producer of red wine with 85% red wines and 15% white wines.
In the field of red wines, Lagrein (80%) is clearly predominant. The rest is divided between Schiava, Santa Maddalena, Lago di Caldaro Scelto, Pinot Nero, and Moscato Rosa. Regarding white wines, particular attention should be paid to Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio (Rulander), Chardonnay, and Gewurztraminer (Traminer aromatico). Today, over 90% of production consists of quality wines sold in 0.75-liter bottles. The merit of this monastery is the harmonious way in which modern winemaking techniques are reconciled with the traditional and rigorous processing methods inherited from the ancient Benedictine rule.
Just under 30 hectares of vineyard area, 52 hectares cultivated with orchards, a mountain farm in Campitello near San Genesio with 145 hectares of fields and woods dedicated to livestock farming are part of the current agricultural company of the Muri-Gries convent. To these is added conventual horticulture. For centuries, this monastery, located in Bolzano, has remained self-sufficient regarding agricultural products and food.
Even the wine produced has long been intended for the private consumption of the monastery. The turning point comes in 1845, the year in which the monks apply the traditional Benedictine rule "ora et labora" also in the conventual vineyards; the Muri-Gries cellar thus opens its doors at the beginning of the 20th century. The first sales of bulk wine cross the Brenner and reach German-speaking countries: in the ancient cellars, fine wines such as Santa Maddalena and Malvasia, Lagrein Kretzer and Pinot Grigio mature. Muri-Gries is today a classic producer of red wine with 85% red wines and 15% white wines.
In the field of red wines, Lagrein (80%) is clearly predominant. The rest is divided between Schiava, Santa Maddalena, Lago di Caldaro Scelto, Pinot Nero, and Moscato Rosa. Regarding white wines, particular attention should be paid to Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio (Rulander), Chardonnay, and Gewurztraminer (Traminer aromatico). Today, over 90% of production consists of quality wines sold in 0.75-liter bottles. The merit of this monastery is the harmonious way in which modern winemaking techniques are reconciled with the traditional and rigorous processing methods inherited from the ancient Benedictine rule.
