Franz Haas
Owner and Winemaker
Franz Haas was born November 5th, 1953 in Bolzano, Italy. He is part of the seventh generation of the Haas family to have grown grape to wine production in the Alto-Adige region of northern Italy, nestled in the foothills of the Alps.
Franz graduated from the University of Innsbruck (Austria) in 1981 with a degree in business administration, and then completed four years of oenology study in Geisenheim, Germany. In 1986, he took over the family winery, where he currently oversees all aspects of vineyard and cellar management and winemaking.
With an unwavering focus on quality, diligent attention to detail and a lot of hard work, he has succeeded in making the Franz Haas one of the most highly regarded Italian wineries. The winery produces a celebrated portfolio of wines, including Moscato Rosa, a winner of the coveted Tre Bicchieri award.
In addition to his lifelong love of wine, Franz is also a passionate skier and art enthusiast. He is married to Maria Luisa Manna and has two children, Franzi and Sofia.
Founded in 1880, the Franz Haas Winery is a family owned property that has passed from father to son over the years. Today, Franz Haas is the seventh generation to grow grapes on this beautiful estate, nestled at the foothills of the Alps. The altitudes of the vineyards range from 780 to 2,600 feet above sea level. The soil's components vary from sand and clay to limestone. Given the unique landscape, microclimates vary dramatically between vineyards and often within the same vineyard.
Shortly after taking over the winery in 1986, Franz began making significant changes aimed at further enhancing quality, including planting new vineyards with dramatically increased vine density. He also reduced yields to concentrate flavors in the fruit. The quality and longevity of the resulting wines have exceeded expectations. Currently, Haas makes his wines from 75 acres of vineyards, one-third belong to quality growers in key growing areas. He continues to select those varietals which best express the wonderful character, typicity, quality and longevity of the Alto Adige.
