In the glass
Aroma: peach, apricot, lychee, mango
Palate: passion fruit, exotic fruit, fine acidity, elegant structure
Hofstaetter's single-vineyard Gewurztraminer from the historic Kolbenhof estate above Tramin (one of the village's most renowned farms), on clay-rich quartz-porphyry soils at 360-420 metres. Distinctive dry style with finesse balancing the variety's natural opulence.
What it pairs with
-
Crustaceans with mango salsa
Tropical-fruit register echoes the salsa while the wine's full body suits lobster or crab. -
Aromatic Asian dishes
Hofstaetter's tech sheet recommends the wine as a pairing for Asian dishes; the spice register meets the aromatics. -
Aged Gorgonzola
Per producer note: aged blue cheese is the classical Kolbenhof pairing; the wine's body and aromatic intensity balance the cheese's funk. -
As an aperitif
Producer recommends Kolbenhof as an aperitif on its own; the dry finish keeps it food-friendly without a dish.
History
The Kolbenhof farmstead was owned by Jesuit monks of Innsbruck from 1722 to 1773 and has been a renowned Gewurztraminer site for centuries. Hofstaetter began bottling it as a single-vineyard Gewurztraminer in the early 1990s under the Vigna designation introduced for Vigna S. Urbano.
- 1722 — Jesuits acquire the Kolbenhof estate
- 1992 — Hofstaetter first bottles Kolbenhof as Vigna single-vineyard Gewurztraminer
Facts
- Producer
- J. Hofstaetter
- Grapes
- Gewuerztraminer (100%)
- Classification
- DOC Alto Adige Gewuerztraminer
- Oak
- Fermentation and ageing in stainless steel on the fine lees; no oak influence
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 30 to 50 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3 to 15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1992
Frequently asked about Vigna Kolbenhof Gewurztraminer
What does Kolbenhof Gewurztraminer taste like?
Peach, apricot, lychee and mango on the nose; passion fruit, exotic fruit, fine acidity and elegant structure on the palate. Full-bodied, dry, with medium acidity and a long aromatic finish.
When should I drink Kolbenhof?
Drink between 3 and 15 years from vintage. Young Kolbenhof shows vibrant exotic fruit; cellared bottles develop honey and saffron complexity.
What food pairs with Kolbenhof?
Producer recommends crustaceans, Asian dishes, aged Gorgonzola, or serving as an aperitif. The clay-rich Kolbenhof soils give a drier, more structured Gewurztraminer than typical.
Where is the Kolbenhof vineyard?
Above Tramin/Termeno in the Soell/Sella hamlet at 360-420 metres on east-facing slopes. The soils combine Bolzano quartz porphyry with limestone of the Mendola range.