Winebow Producer Book

Trentino Alto-Adige, Italy

Winery Overview KRIS winemaker Franz Haas, seven-time Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri award winning winemaker, is the 7th generation in winemaking artisans in the Alto-Adige province of Italy, a region whose culture is a unique reflection of Germanic heritage and Italian nationality. Today the winery is located in the hillside town of Montagna. The winery is co-owned by Franz’s wife, Maria Luisa Manna-Haas, who assists in the tasting and blending process. Her passion for art and culture compliments Franz’s obsession with science, technology and precision winemaking, to develop wines such as the blockbuster consumer favorite KRIS Pinot Grigio. Developed by late Italian artist, and close family friend, Riccardo Schweizer (1924 – 2004) each of the wine labels conveys KRIS’ expressive style. Schweizer, a native of Alto-Adige, studied cubism in Paris under Pablo Picasso and John Miro. These labels are close to the family’s heart having been commissioned by Maria Luisa as a gift to her husband Franz. Location of Vineyards KRIS Pinot Grigio IGT Delle Venezie takes full advantage of the “delle Venezie” designation by marrying the best fruit from the appellation’s three permitted regions. Veneto fruit provides the delicate floral notes and the classic almond finish. Grapes sourced from the southwest facing slopes of Montagna receive ample sun and contribute ripe, yet fresh, citrus and pear fruit. Soil from the Mulinat vineyards is gravely and well drained, which helps to limit yields and intensify flavor. KRIS Pinot Noir is carefully selected from hillside vineyards nestled among the Apennine foothills of the Otrepo Pavese region of Lombardy. These highly reputed vineyards offer many different microclimates of varying exposures and elevations which contribute to the distinctive component in the final blend. KRIS Heart Rosso attains its quality from the combination of ample Mediterranean sunshine, perfect soils (calcareous, marl and stones) and right climate condition on north-facing slopes resulting in top-quality fruit vintage after vintage. Winemaking Philosophy Franz Haas studied economics at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, and honed his winemaking skills with four years of oenology studies in Geisenheim, Germany. His focus on quality, low yield production methods and unique mastery of classic Alto-Adige grape has gained him much acclaim.