Between History and the Future: 663 Years of Weingut Schmid Oberrautner

How Florian and Judith Schmid run their family estate in its 21st generation.

Walking through the gates of Schmid Oberrautner winery in Bolzano Bozen Gries district, it immediately becomes clear that this is a place where history is still alive. The estate has been in the same family since 1363; today, Florian Schmid and Judith Gögele are leading it into the future with passion and vision. This extraordinary continuity was recognised this year with the South Tyrolean Economic Award presented by the Bolzano Bozen Chamber of Commerce.

But what is the secret behind the longevity of the estate? Not least, it lies in the courage to embrace unconventional ideas in difficult times – such as cultivating PIWI grape varieties, which are resistant to fungal diseases. Not only have these varieties received major awards, they have also become an important pillar of the winery.

“When the first Covid lockdown was announced in 2020, we were right in the middle of renovations; our farmhouse had no roof. I thought to myself: ‘Florian, now you have time to plant a new vineyard with PIWI grape varieties.’ And that is how the PIWI experiment began – and it worked,” Florian recalls.

“I was certainly less relaxed about it at the time,” Judith laughs, “but I supported my husband’s plans and have been working full-time at the estate ever since.”

Today, the Schmids are reaping the rewards of that decision. The renovation of the house has been completed and, alongside wine, guest accommodation has become an important source of income for the family. The move towards more sustainable viticulture through the use of resistant PIWI varieties has also proved successful.

“We can say that these wines are particularly successful in terms of sales,” Florian says. And the wine world agrees: after taking first place at the PIWI International Wine Challenge 2025, the estate once again impressed in 2026, winning Gold for its Souvignier Gris Orange Wine.

“So the 2025 award was no coincidence,” Florian jokes.

The estate’s roots – the production of high-quality Lagrein wines – have not been neglected despite this new direction. The Lagrein Riserva 2022 was awarded the Grand d’Or Medal at the Mondial des Vins Extrêmes 2025.

For the couple, however, these awards represent far more than recognition of the past. They see them as a responsibility for the future. Taking over an estate with such a long history means carrying a responsibility towards Ullin am Graut from Afing, who was the first to cultivate the farm for Freising Monastery, as well as towards those who will one day take it forward.

For Florian and Judith, therefore, tradition does not mean standing still. It means having the courage to embrace something new.

Over the past few years, the former wine shop has evolved into a place centred around experiences. Regular cellar tours, wine tastings and the popular Weinstammtisch now invite visitors to discover wine where it is actually made.

“Today, people are looking for something special, an experience; they appreciate direct contact with the winemaker,” Judith explains.

Coming from a farming background herself, Judith has naturally become part of another family tradition: that of active women who have always played a role in shaping the future of the estate and participating in its key decisions.

“In 1984, when the great wine scandal happened, my father was already thinking of giving up, but my mother opposed the idea. With a shop and a small tasting area, she helped guide the winery through those difficult times,” Florian recalls.

True to their motto, “there is always something that can be done,” Florian and Judith will continue to demonstrate in the years ahead that the greatest strength of a traditional family business does not lie solely in its age, but in its willingness to reinvent itself time and again.

Perhaps that is the secret behind a winery that has been shaping Bolzano’s wine culture for more than 660 years.

Information: Schmid Oberrautner – Holidays in Bolzano-Gries at the winery

Caption: “While Lagrein represents our historical foundation, Souvignier Gris stands for our responsibility towards future generations,” says winemaker Florian Schmid Oberrautner (pictured working at his winery). Text: Ursula Pirchstaller.