SWITZERLAND
Erlita Terte
THE OVERSEAS FABULOUS PINAY WINEMAKER
Erlita and partner Beat during the Weingärtli's first harvest PHOTO BY URS HANHART
Text by Donna Künzler
E
rlita Terte is the co-owner of Weingärtli winery, nestled in Ennetbürgen in the Swiss Canton of Nidwalden. Born and raised in Oscariz, Isabela, Erlita moved to Switzerland in the early 90’s after her studies and had practised as a nurse for 25 years before she became an entrepreneur.
Becoming a Winemaker Although Erlita loves to drink wine and especially enjoys visiting vineyards and wineries across Europe, she never had any interest in winemaking or in starting her own business. However, when her partner Beat, who always 18
Business Entrepreneurs
dreamed of becoming a winemaker, could not acquire ownership to the agricultural piece of land (which was to become their vineyard) he bought a couple of years ago, little did she know that the small condition in the Swiss law will change her life dramatically. Erlita recalls, “Under the Swiss Law only Agriculturists (born or certified) can be in possession of such piece of land. Beat actually did study winemaking but did not get certified as he was not able to do the apprenticeships due to his full time job. So he asked me if I wanted to study Viticulture. I gave it a serious thought and decided to pursue it since I was also looking for something new after years of being a nurse, and I also love plants and gardening. I became curious and that motivated me to go back to school.” Roots&Wings
