Apple farming and wine making in Schenna near Meran

Above Meran/Merano in South Tyrol's fertile Etschtal Valley, the Schenna/Scena municipal district extends across the sunny foothills. In this mild Alpine-Mediterranean climate, the seemingly unending days of sunshine provide excellent conditions for fruit farming with pears, stone fruit (especially apples) all thriving throughout these sprawling farmlands. Central to Schenna's cultural landscape, its vineyards yield excellent grape varieties that are pressed and matured into outstanding wines. Beneath the rugged slopes and in the gentle valleys, the wine estates of Schenna forge their craft with pride and passion, combining skill, dedication, and decades of experience.

Apple farming in the Etschtal Valley
The Meran basin offers ideal fruit farming conditions, with its southwest-facing mountain slopes receiving the most abundant sunshine. From the valley, the apple orchards reach into the slopes up to 800 m where some of the most flavoursome varieties are grown. Schenna’s apple farmers work in tune with the rhythm of nature, practicing integrated fruit farming without using toxic pesticides. Beneficial both to humans and the environment, organic farming yields the highest grade produce, distinguished by the “PGI” quality marque that permits full traceability. Every year, April brings with it the breath-taking spectacle of apple orchards in bloom at various elevations that extends across the valley and foothills. The autumn harvest season begins in early September and lasts until mid-October.




Viticulture in South Tyrol
Wine in the upper Etschtal Valley has existed for thousands of years. Found artefacts and old records attest to vinification by the ancient Rhaetian tribes, who even at that time were maturing their wine in wooden barrels. In the Middle Ages, wine production was mainly routed to monasteries and archdioceses in Bavaria. Centuries later, the Danube Monarchy actively encouraged the practice of viticulture, and grape varieties such as Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir were introduced into this region south of the Alps. Goldmuskateller and Rosenmuskateller are relative newcomers while indigenous varieties such as Vernatsch, Lagrein and Gewürztraminer go back many centuries. Despite its small size and limited output, the wine-growing region of South Tyrol boasts a disproportionate number of award-winning wines, recognised locally and abroad – also in the top-flight international wine guides.

With their vineyards covering an area of around just 30 hectares, Schenna's winemakers resolutely put quality before quantity. The sunny conditions stretch all along the Mitterplattweg trail on Schenna’s western municipal boundary over the steep slopes of the Kirchenhügel church hill. Throughout this fertile region, the quality of the wines produced is nothing short of remarkable. Many wine farms in South Tyrol have upgraded and ramped up their production to create some of the most delectable wines. Besides Vernatsch, which is the standard local red grape variety, there also the full-bodied Lagrein and Pinot Noir. Noble whites are dominated by Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Sauvignon grapes.

The Waale: old irrigation canals feed the thirsty soil
In Meran and its environs including Schenna, the orchards and vineyards have long been irrigated by the age-old “waal” canals dating back to the 13th Century. Alongside these channels that bring water from the mountain down to the valley are a system of "Waalwege". These paths were used to maintain and service the canals although nowadays they mostly serve as hiking trails.



TIP
Visit the Rametz Wine Museum in Meran-Obermais/Maia Alta slightly below Schenna where you’ll learn about the history and evolution of viticulture in this region.