A topsy-turvy village

The wine village of Girlan was once bigger underground than above ground. The ensemble of cellars with Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Early Industrial components is unique in Europe, an important witness of the past, and refl ects the village's identity.

The cellars were used by vintners and wineries for centuries. Lovely Girlan, at an altitude of 435 meters above sea-level, is considered to be one of the oldest wine villages of South Tyrol. Wine-growing was a dominant economic factor here starting in pre-Christian times. Of the roughly 1100 hectares of vineyards belonging to Eppan (South Tyrol's largest wine-growing community), about half is found in Girlan. At the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, there were 24 wine producers here. Today, two of South Tyrol's twelve winery cooperatives, four private wine cellars, two sparkling wine producers, and two distilleries are found here.

Cellars in olden times For centuries, the cellars were simply there to be used by the vintners and wineries. The cellars – at ground level or below – were quite sizable, and had impressive vaulted ceilings – but were still viewed simply as part of the work-a-day world where wine was stored and matured. By the way: The cellars were always built from top to bottom. The oldest cellars are often not even below ground, but rather at ground level. Only when more room was needed did they delve into the earth.

The "underworld" of today Since 2007, due to efforts of the "Girlan Wine World," the community government, and other institutions, the wine cellars in the village center are under "ensemble protection." Active wineries and vintners still use these cellars to store their wines, as do farmers and private citizens – but also for storing bacon, smoked sausage, and generally as a larder. They are also popular venues for special events. The impressive wine cellars of former wineries are now owned by the community, and efforts are being made to better present them to the public.

You can go on a tour and explore Girlan's impressive "underworld."

Experience Girlan's wine cellars You can go on self-guided tours of Girlan's "underworld." When wandering around the village, you'll frequently see signs with QR codes allowing you a "closer view." Just scan the codes and you'll be able to look "behind the scenes" and take part in a virtual exploration of Girlan's "underworld." This is a great way not only to learn more about the cellars, but also enjoy the wines. Such events as the "Girlan Wine Summer," the "Cellar Nights," and the Girlan "Cellar Fest" (once every four years) shouldn't be missed. For more info and dates, please ask at the Eppan Tourism Agency.

Some of the impressive cellars are now owned by the community, which is making efforts to make them more accessible to the public.

glücklich – my feeling!

Maybe we aren't the world's biggest brand … but we're happy to be small and incredible.

One thing is clear: We love happiness, the feeling of vitality, and collecting special moments. With verve and a yearning for adventure, we took our new collections and visited our favorite locales along the famed South Tyrolean Wine Route. How about a little sample? There's more to discover in our little boutique at the Rathausplatz (main square) in St. Michael. Besides our own label, we also present fashions created by small tailor shops and young designers from the vicinity – fashions that are in harmony with our style and share our philosophy.

contemporary alpitude

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