The wine-grower

The Prackwieser family has owned the Gump Hof for more than 200 years. The building itself, however, goes as far back as 1546. Markus discovered his passion for wine in the mid-90s and took over the family heirloom from his father in the year 2000.

The Gump Hof stands out for its open and experimental approach to wine and is also characterised by the exchange of best practice among other wine-grower friends, without forgetting specialist trips to the wine-growing regions par excellence: the Wachau valley, the Burgundy region, and the Loire valley (which also included a poignant visit to the cemetery where the unforgettable Didier Daguenau rests).

The wine reflects the character of the terroir as well as that of the wine-growers thanks to the knowledge passed down from one generation to the next, personal experience, time, patience, and the constant endeavour of improving one’s taste.

The vineyard

The vineyards of the Gump Hof face the southwest and feature a 50 – 70% steep incline. They stretch between 400 to 800 metres above sea level and are characterised by fluvial gravel and for their sunny position. The lime-rich moraine terrain rests on solid Bozen quartz porphyry and offers the ideal conditions for the varieties grown here.

The peculiarity of this special location are the ever-changing winds which blow over the area. During the day, the Ora, a typically Mediterranean wind, blows in from Lake Garda, while at night the fall winds from the Dolomites cool the grapevines, lending that special fresh note to the complex wines. No surprise then that wine-growing is experiencing an impressive renaissance on the steep hills of the southern wall of the Eisacktal valley at the foot of the Schlern Massif.

The farm

The Gump Hof is located on the northern-southern route cutting across the Alps, hailing back to the Middle Ages, and its history can be traced back to the story of Castle Prösels. Frescoes in the inner courtyard recount the story of a group of knights, princes and royalty crossing the mountains and the gorge of the Eisacktal valley on the back of horses and came to the castle.

Even Minnesingers like Oswald von Wolkenstein told their stories in the castle and sang about women, the wine in the castle, and the birds, an allegorical image for the beautiful arts, lightness and freshness. The farm is still characterised by those values thanks to its respectful approach to its surroundings and by growing typical grape varieties using traditional growing methods as well as giving it all their best to maintain and care for these traditions.

The wine cellar, carved out of the original rock wall of the cliff, is not only a prime example of integration into the natural landscape but also offers the best possible conditions to expand the wine production.