Page 89 - Travel + Leisure India & South Asia (January 2020)
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A $20 (`1,417) wine-tasting, for instance, will get you
four wines from the Vaduz Domain as well as those
produced on the Wilfersdorf Domain higher in the hills,
both part of the prince’s cellar. Royal celebrity spotting is
a bonus as the prince is often at the winery himself,
entertaining his guests. Prince
“The Princely House of Liechtenstein is one of the Hans-Adam II
oldest European noble families, looking back to nearly a is the reigning
thousand years of family history. Their earliest known prince of
Liechtenstein.
ancestor—Hugo of Liechtenstein—was first mentioned in
1136,” explains local guide Elsi Meli, as we walk through The prince’s castle
Hofkellerei’s vineyards along the Vineyard Path. The overlooks the
route is marked by informative signposts covering Vaduz Domain
vineyards.
various stages of wine making—from grapes to liquor.
WORLD’S SMALLEST WINE PRODUCER
Nestling in the Upper Rhine Valley of the
Swiss Alps, Liechtenstein is the world’s
smallest wine-producing country. But
despite its petite size, its wine heritage
goes back to over 2,000 years. Grape
cultivation began before Christ, by a¡Celtic
tribe that had settled in the area, and was
bolstered when the Romans came in. Today,
the country is regarded as one of the best
wine-growing regions in the Rhine Valley
with over 100 wine growers putting out
top-notch varietals.
The Vaduz Domain, part of Hofkellerei,
boasts great terroir along the Rhine. “It is
located in the heart of the wine-growing
region of what’s called the ‘Baby Rhineland’
cultivating Pinot Noir, known locally as the
FROM TOP: DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE ARCHIVE/ALAMY; VOLKERPREUSSER/ALAMY
Blauburgunder or Blue Burgundy, and
Chardonnay grapes,” informs Julia Sohler,
the winery’s marketing manager.
Geography plays a catalytic role in grape
cultivation. “A mild climate, excellent soil
quality, and the warm¡dry föhn¡winds make
Liechtenstein very productive for growing
wine grapes, particularly Pinot Noir and
Chardonnay,” adds Sohler. “Mountain slopes
facing southwest, calcareous soils, and an
average of 1,500 hours of sunshine a year
further boost viticulture.”
As we walk around the vineyard, its
apron-clad staff can be seen fussing over the
grapes, clipping dry leaves with clinical
precision, hoisting vine creepers along sleek
wooden poles, and greeting us with an
occasional “hoi” and a wave of the hand.
TR AV E L A NDLE I S U R E IND I A .IN 85
