Tyrolean drops: Tasting at the Romasi winery

It's hot and the road climbs steeply. Bend after bend, it winds its way through the forest until I reach the Hattingerberg and the top of the vineyard. The district of the municipality of Hatting (approx. 20 kilometers west of Innsbruck) is idyllically situated on a sunny plateau, where there are otherwise only a few farmhouses and private homes. The village is crossed by the Peter-Anich hiking trailwhich I wrote about here a few years ago.

Welcome to the Romasi Wineryone of the newest wineries to be established in North Tyrol in recent years! Hardly anyone would have thought that wine from the Innsbruck region could be enjoyed in the past. The small Gutleben winery in Itzlranggen is one of the few in the Innsbruck area where wine is sold.

According to the list of members of the Tyrolean Winegrowers' Association, there are 13 winegrowers selling wine in North Tyrol. The Tyrolean Winegrowers' Association itself has a total of 82 members, including even more private winegrowers and interested parties. One of them, who is even on the board, is Robert Zangerl, a trained winemaker and owner of the Romasi winery. Today he shows me around his winery and tells me about winegrowing in Tyrol.

Wine from the Romasi winery has only been available for a short time, since last year to be precise! That's when the first harvest took place and the second will follow this September. "How do you become a winemaker anyway?" I ask. By being a wine lover, because "when it comes down to it, I've drunk a crate of beer in my life," laughs Robert. So a few years ago, he trained as a winemaker in Krems an der Donau, while his partner Silke trained as a sommelier. Together they now look after the vineyard, the harvest, the pressing and the guests.

The wine is grown on around one hectare on the Hattingerberg and on a slightly smaller plot in Platten near Telfs. A total of four different varieties grow on their land: Solaris, Blütenmuskateller, Chardonnay Stella and Zweigelt Stella. There are around 4,500 vines from which the various wines are bottled in the fall. Robert reckons that each vine produces around two 0.75-liter bottles, which means that around 9,000 bottles of wine can be produced here every year.

The range includes a fizzy sparkling wine Solicante, a Cuvee from Solaris-Muscaris and the two separately: a Solaris and a Muscaris.

In the fall, when the grapes are harvested, they are first left to macerate for nine to twelve hours before being pressed. The first juice settles in the tank after around 24 hours, and the cloudy, viscous parts are removed or pressed again. Robert then adds the yeast bacteria for one to three days, and after fermentation (a further ten to 14 days) the wine is filtered and bottled. After two months, the first young wine is ready, ideal for Törggelen - which is also conveniently offered at the Romasi winery. The so-called Junker wine is already available in October!

The whole family is involved on the harvest days in September. Speaking of family, anyone wondering where the name of the winery comes from: not from South Tyrol, even if it sounds like it. Ro stands for Robert, Ma for his son Maximilian and Si for his partner Silke.

Depending on the weather, tastings at the Romasi winery take place in the winery's own wine cellar or outside in the fresh air. The tastings take place for groups of six or more, regularly on Thursdays at 7 pm(registration via the website - there is no need for six people to register, just a total of six). The tasting includes a two- to three-hour wine tasting with regional finger food, optionally also a shuttle cab, for example from Innsbruck.

The tasting can also be booked for company events etc., as can the location. If you've always wanted to get married in the Tyrolean vineyards: Here's your chance! With up to 60 guests, you can celebrate here in a beautiful location with a view of the Inn Valley and plenty of good wine.

Celebrations are also offered in combination with Gasthof Neurauter in Hatting (and a shuttle service) down in the valley. Incidentally, the inn is the only other "outpost" where the wine from the Romasi winery is served.

On September 28, 2024 the Hofschank inauguration takes place, on December 14 the already very popular "Christmas at the vineyard". Brass bands, wind instruments and singers create a contemplative atmosphere. You won't find après-ski music here. Registration is required for the tastings (Thursday, 7 pm), for example via the website! And for all other questions, you can find the contact details here:

weingut-romasi.at
Hattingerberg 25, 6402 Hatting
Tel. +43 (0)664 4640852