Franz Haas Schweizer Manna 2023
Golden yellow in the glass, this wine opens with a complex and layered bouquet of elderflower, pistachio and rose petal. Soft and elegant, the palate is concentrated, with a mineral character and hints of herbs and passion fruit. Thanks to the high percentage of Riesling, it has considerable potential to age and will develop layers of honeyed, nutty complexity.
The climate here is more continental than Mediterranean with very hot summers and quite cold winters, as the weather is not moderated by any nearby water. Int he summer, Bolzano is one of the hottest cities in Italy, despite being only 70 kilometres from the Austrian border, as the heat is trapped in the mountainous valley. The fruit is sourced from five vineyards located in the municipalities of Montagna, Egna, Aldino and Bressanone at altitudes ranging between 350-800 metres above sea level. The soils are quite different from one another in their composition and are a mixture of dolomitic, porphyric, sandy and marly, with south-westerly exposures. The grape varieties are harvested separately as they ripen at different times.
Each variety was vinified separately. The Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were fermented in oak barriques while the Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Kerner underwent fermentation in stainless-steel vats. Following fermentation, all the wines were blended to undergo a10-month ageing period on the lees. Finally, the wine was bottled and aged for an additional few months prior to release.
| RRP | £35.99 |
| Bottle size | 75cl |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13% |
| Awards | Silver, IWC, 2025 |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Trentino-Alto Adige |
| Subregion | Alto-Adige |
| Grapes | Riesling 40%, Chardonnay 20%, Gewürztraminer 15% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 4.5 |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
| Winemaker | Franz Haas |
The Haas family have grown grapes in Montagna, within the province of Bolzano, for generations. However, it was only with Franz, who sadly passed in 2022, that they began to produce and bottle quality wines. Franz studied at Geisenheim in Germany before working as a broker of Italian wines in the German market. After several years, he took over the running of the family business.
Franz Haas went to tremendous lengths to grow quality grapes and strived to preserve the flavours of the fruit during winemaking. As a result, the wines that he produces are infused with great character, purity and balance on the palate. To maintain the aromatic quality of his wines, Franz Haas bottled his entire production under screwcap from the 2018 vintage onwards. A revolutionary choice, as he was one of the first Italian wine producers to have done so.
