How bold, how modern can Northern Italy's winemaking be? Julia and Karoline Walch represent the second generation of women leading the renowned Elena Walch estate. In an interview, the sisters share where their journey is headed.
For a long time, Elena Walch was Northern Italy’s only female winemaker. Originally an architect, she entered the world of winemaking as a career changer, arriving in Tramin and Kaltern. “In the beginning, it meant struggling, but I tried to immerse myself in it and find my own way,” Elena explains. With this, she became a pioneer at one of Northern Italy’s largest family-run wineries—especially as an outsider entering the long-established Walch winemaking family. Her determination undoubtedly benefits her successors, Julia and Karoline Walch, today. Many aspects, such as the focus on single-vineyard wines and native grape varieties, were shaped by Elena’s vision. But how do her daughters make their decisions today?
Do you seek joint solutions, or does the most experience—or your mother’s advice—ultimately prevail?Julia Walch: My sister Karoline and I run the winery together now. We joined over ten years ago and are now leading the family business in its fifth generation. Our focus on terroir-driven wines remains unchanged. However, we have introduced several innovations, such as the “Vigna” classification for our two single vineyards, Castel Ringberg and Kastelaz, an ultra-gentle fermentation cellar, and, most recently, the Italian sustainability certification “Viva”. These initiatives have further developed the estate because from the very beginning, our mother Elena wanted this traditional winery to stay young and dynamic.
Cellar techniques have changed significantly. What was strictly frowned upon in 1985—maceration fermentation, must oxidation, malolactic fermentation—is now common practice for many winemakers. How does Elena Walch approach this?Karoline Walch: Overall, our wines have developed toward a more mineral-driven style. Our goal is to produce wines that are a clear expression of their origin, with a strong focus on sustainable practices. In the cellar, we are currently using less barrique and relying more on large wooden casks, especially for our single-vineyard white wines. Additionally, we allow the wines to mature longer on the fine lees. Our new fermentation cellar gives us greater precision and flexibility, allowing us to respond more selectively to different grape varieties and vineyard sites. As for maceration fermentation in white wines and must oxidation—we’re happy to leave those techniques to other winemakers.
Your winery is known for fresh, precise wines that reflect their origin. How do you maintain this style in times of climate change?Karoline Walch: Northern Italy offers a fantastic climate for viticulture—our capital, Bolzano, is often cited as the hottest city in Italy. However, it’s our cool nights and the strong temperature differences between day and night that give our wines their remarkable freshness and vibrancy. Combined with warm daytime temperatures, this allows the grapes to ripen well while developing complexity and depth. Historic, classic vineyard sites remain the most significant. That said, we are also exploring high-altitude locations. Our highest vineyard currently sits at nearly 1,000 meters—a truly exciting site for the future!
After the influential cooperatives, Elena Walch is one of South Tyrol’s largest private wineries. How do you maintain quality at this scale (90 hectares) without catering too much to the market?Julia Walch: Northern Italy is a small wine-growing region, and within it, our winery is among the largest. However, on an international scale, the situation is quite different—we would likely be considered a mid-sized operation. So, we are far from tailoring our wines to market demands. Our goal remains to produce wines that are the purest expression of their origin. We're committed to uncompromising quality and continuously set ourselves new, even higher standards.
Question for all three of you: What is your favorite wine from the Walch cellar?Elena Walch: That would be my very first wine, the Chardonnay Cardellino.Julia Walch: As a Burgundy lover, I’d have to say our Pinot Noir Riserva Aton.Karoline Walch: Our exquisitely refined white cuvée Beyond the Clouds.
Read more: Are these the top wineries in Northern Italy?
