Summary
Castelfeder is a South Tyrolean family estate with its office and wine shop in Egna/Neumarkt and its cellar in Cortina sulla Strada del Vino (Kurtinig). Founded in 1969 by Alfons Giovanett, the estate is now in its third generation: Günther Giovanett runs the business, Ines Giovanett is part of the management, and Ivan Giovanett is responsible for the cellar. Across around 65 hectares between Salorno and Bolzano, the family works parcel by parcel and keeps even the smallest units separate so that each variety and each site can speak for itself. Castelfeder is best known for Pinot Noir, alongside Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. The name comes from the archaeologically important Castelfeder porphyry hill, which rises between Ora and Egna and is known as the cradle of South Tyrol.
History
The estate's story begins in 1969, when Alfons Giovanett founded his own winery in Egna/Neumarkt (one source gives 1970 as the founding year). In the same year he planted the Glen site, still considered the estate's historically most important vineyard – an early hint that Pinot Noir would one day play the leading role here.
In 1989, his son Günther Giovanett took over. He moved production to Cortina sulla Strada del Vino (Kurtinig) and launched the premium Burgum Novum range in the same year – two decisions that reset the estate's quality ambitions. Today the third generation is on board: Ines Giovanett in management and Ivan Giovanett, who is responsible for the cellar. Alongside the winery itself, the family runs 'Castelfeder & Partner', a distribution business with around 25 partner estates and some 125 wines from across Italy.
Location & Terroir
The office and wine shop sit in Egna/Neumarkt at around 214 metres, the cellar in Kurtinig at around 212 metres – both in the Überetsch-Unterland district, the southern part of South Tyrol. The vineyards themselves are widely dispersed: they stretch from Salorno at the provincial border all the way up to Bolzano, including plots in the municipalities of Egna and Kurtinig. That spread is deliberate, because it opens up a broad spectrum of soils, exposures and altitudes.
The documented soil types explain a great deal about the wines. The porphyry of the Castelfeder hill stands for the lean, crystalline side of the southern valley. Clay – medium to deep – provides the basis for the Gewürztraminer 'Vom Lehm' (literally 'from the clay'). Sandy components in Termeno, Magrè and Egna bring finesse and perfume, while deep, humus-rich clay soils give Lagrein the substance it needs. Because the estate keeps even the smallest parcels apart, these differences can be worked out variety by variety instead of disappearing into a blend.
Style & Philosophy
Castelfeder's method is unspectacular and consistent: pick the parcels separately, ferment them separately, and only then decide which range each lot belongs in. Ageing follows the wine type – stainless steel for freshness and varietal clarity, large wooden casks for structure without toasty aromas, barrique for the top wines that need time and texture.
The portfolio is clearly tiered. Mont Mès stands for young, fresh wines for immediate drinking. Selection is the varietal range with a sense of origin. Burgum Novum forms the premium and Riserva level, with around three years of maturation. Above that sit the Single Vineyards. The white-to-red ratio is given as roughly 70:30 to 60:40 depending on the source; annual production is quoted at about 500,000 bottles, though that figure rests on a single source and should be read as an estimate.
Notable Sites & Wines
- Glen – the historic Pinot Noir site, planted in 1969 by Alfons Giovanett
- Pinot Noir 'Glener' – the wine that defines the estate's Pinot Nero signature
- Gewürztraminer 'Vom Lehm' (Selection) – grapes from Termeno, Egna and Magrè, on sandy to deep clay soils
- Burgum Novum Riserva – both as Pinot Nero and as Chardonnay
- Lagrein from the Rieder site – on deep, humus-rich clay
From the 2024 vintage, the new UGA wines join the line-up and make the site work even more visible: Pinot Nero Buchholz, Pinot Nero Glen, Pinot Nero Mazon, Pinot Bianco Riserva Tecum and Chardonnay Kreuzweg Family Reserve. Three separate Pinot Nero from three different sites is a clear statement about the house's core variety.
Awards
The most recent confirmation comes from Gambero Rosso: in the 2026 guide, the Alto Adige Chardonnay Kreuzweg Family Reserve Riserva 2021 was awarded Tre Bicchieri. The Kreuzweg Family Reserve Chardonnay Riserva 2019 is reported to have scored 98 Falstaff points – that rating rests on a single source and should be treated with caution. wein.plus lists Castelfeder among the best producers in the region and has awarded gold to one of its Pinot Noirs, among other wines. All in all, this is an estate that stands out less for individual trophies than for broad, dependable quality – with the Chardonnay Kreuzweg as its current high point.