Gold in the Glass – and Roots in Red Clay

A visit to Walter and Anke Gamper at the Raßlhof in Tramin

When Walter Gamper talks about his wines, it doesn’t sound like textbook enology. It sounds like a conversation among old friends. “The red soil of Tramin speaks to you,” he says. “You just have to listen.” You realize quickly: this is more than winemaking. This is history, character, and devotion growing in the vineyard.

The Gamper family has cultivated the Raßlhof since 1889. Today, Walter runs the farm in its fifth generation. At his side is his wife Anke, who moved to Tramin from Germany in 2002 – calling herself, with a smile, a “green German.” With a background in hospitality and a deep love for authenticity, she brought new energy to the estate, the Buschenschank, and the cellar – blending joy, clarity, and patience for nature’s rhythm.

It quickly becomes clear: this estate is more than a farm – it’s a legacy. Walter says, “I’m the Bua vom Mari – Mari’s boy. My father led the farm with heart. He didn’t tell me what to do. He trusted me.” That quiet passing of responsibility lives on – in the vines, in the cellar, in every plant.

The Raßlhof is nestled in one of South Tyrol’s most distinctive wine landscapes and today covers about 2.0 hectares. Walter cultivates five different vineyard sites, each with its own microclimate, soil, and expression. “You’ve got clay, gravel, limestone – all within a few kilometers. And every vine gets exactly what it needs.” The entire production comes exclusively from the family’s own grapes – no purchases. The Raßlhof is a classic Private winery where the wine remains in family hands from the vine to the bottle.

“I want to know where every bunch comes from. I know every vine and its story – from pruning to pressing.”

His pride and joy grows in the red clay: Gewürztraminer. Rich, spicy, deep – a grape with soul. “It brings our village into the glass,” says Walter. “I always say: it’s our soul note.” Since 2014, the estate has been organically cultivated; in 2023, it received official certification – making it one of very few DOC-certified organic wineries in South Tyrol of this small size. They bottle about 10,000 bottles a year. “We’re not about quantity,” says Walter. “We’re about character.” Anke adds, “It wasn’t a strategy, it was conviction. Organic isn’t a trend – you have to live it, down to your bones.”

Alongside Gewürztraminer, the Gampers grow Lagrein, Pinot Blanc, Schiava – and, since purchasing a site in Prutznay, also Cabernet Sauvignon. “That brown-gravelly soil is the perfect stage for it. We gave up apples because we felt: wine is our path.”

Walter is also the winemaker – by choice and conviction. “Every time, I ask: what does this wine want to become? Then I give it space. It’s not about forcing – it’s about allowing.” Each bottle bears his signature – clear, vibrant, and honest.

Their wines are named with heart: “Nathan” and “Linus,” after their sons. “Malefiz,” a playful yet bold rosé. And “Arment’l,” a sincere Schiava from the vineyard of the same name in Rungg. Every wine reflects its origin – and the family behind it. Every drop tells a story.

“That’s our gold in the glass.”

In the old vaulted cellar – lovingly transformed into the Farm bar Gamper and farm shop – Walter and Anke welcome guests with open arms. They serve what the farm produces: juices, vegetables, jams, and house-smoked speck. “And if things get a little hectic,” Anke laughs, “just remember: wherever there are people, there’s humanity.”

The future of the Rasslhof is already rooted – in their sons Nathan and Linus. For now, they’re off exploring the world, gathering experience. But the farm is here – patient, growing. And waiting. Walter looks out over the vines. “In the end, it’s about respect. For the vine. For time. And for the person who drinks the wine.”

(Interview Erica Furini)

June 2025