Kornell Florian Brigl
Alto Adige - Italy
Philosophy
The Brigl family has a long history in the wine industry. At a very young age, in 1996, Florian Brigl took over the domain. In 2001 the winery was renovated, and new cellars were built on the domain. Ever since, the delicacies of various grapes such as Lagrein, Pinot Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon blanc, pinot blanc and Gewürztraminer, mature there. Each grape and each cuvée shows pure finesse and balance. The Griffin, printed on each bottle, comes from the banner of the local castle Greifenstein. A Griffin is a mythical animal that is half human/ half eagle. This sense of history, and the deep faith in nature is to be found in every bottle of their wines. The 'Staves' series are the flagship of the domain and belong to the absolute top of Alto Adige. their name comes from the bars which are used to tie the vines to, on the steep slopes of the Dolomites.
Terroir
The Dolomites are literally and figuratively a magnificent mountain landscape with sharp, steep and inaccessible peaks, alternating with green valleys, untouched forests and alpine meadows. The Dolomites 'shine' because there are still coral deposits on the mountain walls that reflect in the sunlight; pink in the morning sun to orange-red at dusk. About 150 million years ago, this part of the world was still flooded by the sea of Thetis. At that time, marl, limestone and coral massifs began to form the present-day geological strata, which have since been supplemented by sandy clays with a high porphyry content.
Wines
Despite its northern location, the Alto Adige region is one of the warmest in Italy. The climate is simultaneously Mediterranean and Alpine, very warm during the day with plenty of cold nights, perfect for the grapes to ripen with their full aromatic complexity. Add to that Kornell's precision in the vinification calendar and the result is stunning: elegant, aromatic white wines from the southern sun, combined with the coolness of the Alps. The red wines are loved for their juicy fruit and velvety tannin. The region has no less than 300 days of sunshine, with a wide variation between day and night temperatures. The snow-covered dolomites protect the vineyards from cold winds, thus preventing damage to the vines. The mountain slopes, at an altitude of between 230 and 990 metres above sea level, certainly do not make things easy for the winegrower. Florian Brigl, the dynamic owner and king of mineral wines, can look back on a long family history. As early as the 16th century, the family cultivated grapes and made wine. He decided to continue the tradition when he took over the estate from his father, Leonhard, in 1996. The wine cellars of the Kornell vineyard are hidden behind thick walls. The nearby castle ruin "Schloss Greifenstein", at the top of the archaeologically interesting village Siebeneich, was the inspiration for the logo under which Tenuta Kornell releases its wines. From its sun-drenched vineyards you can see the snow on the peaks of the Alps in the distance, a beautiful image that nicely illustrates the Mediterranean climate with alpine influence. After vinification, the wine matures in barrique barrels, resulting in wines with Mediterranean flair, unique charm and character.