Discover the brand Tenuta Castel Englar: here’s our interview.

On a hill in the southern part of the province of Bolzano stands the best-preserved gothic castle in all of South Tyrol. It overlooks the surrounding areas, rich in vineyards and orchards. We are talking about Castello Englar and the agricultural estate Tenuta Castel Englar. This enchanted place has been owned by the Counts Khuen-Belasi since 1640, almost 400 years, and is located in Appiano in the Wine Road, a municipality that is aptly named "Land of castles, lakes, and wines".
The owners' family has always cultivated the grapevines in Tyrolean land and has been devoted to winemaking for generations. Today the business is run by Johannes and Maria Kuhen-Belasi.

Tenuta Castel Englar is located in a hilly area, with excellent lands. Beauty also plays a fundamental role as the landscapes make the estate a suggestive and unforgettable place for anyone who visits.
The territory at the foot of the hill is exposed to East and South, with altitudes between 450 and 550 meters above sea level. The estate covers 13 hectares, of which about 7 are cultivated with vineyards.

The secret to the quality of their products lies in the soil: the calcareous gravel soils and partially volcanic porphyry and the hilly area with significant temperature variations are the ideal elements for high-quality viticulture.

We appreciate these realities, these producers of unique, certified, and award-winning delicacies: they are true treasures embedded in our Peninsula between seas and mountains and in the most remote paths of villages and countryside. We do not just live their products, but we want to discover more closely the protagonists of this brand. That is why we sent some questions to those who manage communication with us.

Stay with us to learn about the Tenuta Castel Englar: read the answers!
 

• Who are we talking to?
  I am Johannes Count Khuen-Belasi, owner.
   
• Is the company family-run? For how many generations and from what year exactly?
  The house and vineyards have been owned by the family since 1620.
   
• In what year was the company founded, and who was the founder? What was the founder's training or what was the working and professional field he came from if different from the current one?
  The company was founded in 2014 by Johannes Khuen-Belasi, the host is an orthopedic doctor by his professional training.
   
• What is the true reason or triggering fact behind the establishment of this company, and when did it happen?
  The basic idea was to optimally utilize our vineyards again, with the goal of combining the collaboration of our hotel with wine production.
   
• What is your relationship with the land of origin and its uniqueness? And why do you want to tell it through your products?
  We are young in the market yet possess centuries-old wisdom regarding wine.
   
• What was the first product you created?
  In 2014 we created Riesling, Pinot Bianco, and Schiava.
   
• Which product do you consider as your “flagship” today?
  Pinot Bianco and Pinot Noir.
   
• What is the product that has most represented the beating heart, philosophy, and soul of the company throughout its history?
  Chardonnay.
   
• Speaking of today: how much has the company expanded since its inception? Can we have some numbers?
  We started in 2014 with two hectares and 10,000 bottles produced; today we work with 10 hectares.
   
• At this moment: more tradition or more innovation?
  For us, it is essential to maximize the value of our terroir and give the wine the right time, that is, what is needed for it to express itself at its best.
   
• What has been the most important evolution of the company to get to what it is today?
  Cantina Englar embraces the principle of minimal intervention both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Therefore, the manual harvesting of grapes, as well as spontaneous fermentation, are essential practices.
   
• Talking instead about the future: what tomorrow awaits the company? Are there any planned changes or new evolutionary processes?
  What has been done so far should now be stabilized, and quality should continue to grow.
   
• Do you plan to create new products?
  Last year we created our first cuvée, the Blanc de Castel.
   
• Having focused on Spaghetti & Mandolino, how important is online sales for you, what has your relationship been in the past with this sales channel, and how do you see it in the future?
  The online market is essential to reach all our customers at home.
   
• Value: what has been, what is today, and what will it be in the future for your company?
  The knowledge and enjoyment of wine and viticulture should be passed down from generation to generation.

S&M