Hofkellerei Maffei – Apple Cider from Kurtinig
Hofkellerei Maffei from Kurtinig on the South Tyrolean Wine Road does not cultivate and process grapes, but rather presses the finest apple cider from its own cultivated, juicy apples. The idea came to oenologist Giorgio Maffrei, who was responsible for sparkling wines as a cellar master for many years, in 2010. Since then, he has delighted his customers with excellent ciders, such as Iduna and Melino, which have received multiple awards, and is considered a pioneer of South Tyrolean cider, because until then, the production of cider was completely unknown in South Tyrol.
Finest Cider from Hofkellerei Maffei
In the orchards around the farm in the South Tyrolean Unterland, where Mediterranean landscapes with vineyards and apple orchards meet the steep mountain walls of the Adige Valley, Giorgio Maffrei and his wife Erna practice sustainable agriculture through integrated apple cultivation. The particularly gentle cultivation method makes it possible to keep the ecological balance of the orchards in harmony throughout the year. The sun-drenched, fully ripe apples of the Breaburn, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Red Delicious varieties are picked by hand by the two themselves, usually in mid-August.
The subsequent pressing of the plump apples is also done gently. Giorgio loves to produce fresh and fruity cider, and thanks to thirty years of experience in sparkling wine production, he understands his craft perfectly. To produce the cider, he ferments apple juice using pressure tanks and yeast: without the addition of sugar. As with sparkling wine, the carbon dioxide is produced naturally by the fermentation of the sugar contained in the fruit into alcohol. The fermentation tank prevents the escape of carbon dioxide, which can thus bind as a fine fizz in the apple cider. You can buy the two apple ciders Iduna and Melino from Hofkellerei Kartinig in South Tyrol online here.
