During a ceremony and subsequent dinner on Thursday at the Vinum-Hotel Oberwirt in Marling, the "WineCultureAmbassador" award was presented for the first time to the renowned cellar master Hans Terzer.
"As a Wine Culture Ambassador, Hans Terzer embodies the extraordinary commitment to the prestige of South Tyrolean wine and, through his achievements, has strengthened and further developed the traditional and multifaceted world of wine in our region," said jury member Sebastian Marseiler in his laudation. Representing the WineCulture Marling, which initiated this annual award, Mayor Walter Mairhofer presented the honoree with a plaque designed by Laurin Kofler, inspired by the staves of a wine barrel. Congratulations and greetings were also extended by Provincial Councilor Arnold Schuler, who attended the celebration alongside former Bavarian Minister Helmut Brunner.
Biography of Hans Terzer:
Hans Terzer, born in Bolzano and raised in Entiklar near Kurtatsch, began his apprenticeship with Herbert Tiefenbrunner. He continued his training at Laimburg, where he also worked as a cellar master. Thanks to his teacher Ander Weiss, he became cellar master of the St. Michael-Eppan cooperative winery at just 21 years old. His work as a cellar master has been pioneering for South Tyrolean wine culture. This includes the introduction of temperature control in cellars, a commitment to absolute quality and quantity reduction, and the production of clean wines. He deliberately focused on white wines and established the successful Sanct Valentin line. Numerous awards followed, including the first Gambero Rosso 3 Glasses award for his Sauvignon Sanct Valentin in 1994, an accolade he went on to receive 18 more times.
Another groundbreaking aspect of Terzer’s work is his policy on vineyard locations, which he consistently implements with winegrowers, earning further recognition, such as in 1997 when he was named one of the ten most promising cellar masters of the century: "Hans, il perfezionista" (Gambero Rosso). In 2000, St. Michael-Eppan was named "Winery of the Year." For years, he served as the knowledgeable president of South Tyrol’s cellar masters. The crowning achievement came in 2017 when Germany’s leading lifestyle magazine honored him with a lifetime achievement award.
However, Hans Terzer continues to innovate, creating outstanding red wines. With the new premium line Appius, he introduced a signature cuvée and his personal dream wine. But Hans Terzer keeps dreaming and has much more to accomplish.
For now, he can enjoy the title of WineCultureAmbassador of Marling. His contributions have significantly shaped South Tyrolean wine culture, strengthening it both within the region and beyond its borders. The expert jury that selected Hans Terzer as South Tyrol’s Wine Culture Ambassador of 2018 included author and cultural mediator Sebastian Marseiler, the creator and organizer of the Merano Wine Festival Helmuth Köcher, the president of the South Tyrolean Sommelier Association Christine Mayr, wine journalist Heike Platter, and IDM’s marketing director Thomas Aichner.
About WineCulture Marling:
In Marling, a focus has been placed on centuries-old traditions, and in recent years, numerous initiatives and a growing number of wineries and distilleries have emerged. This led to the establishment of an annual award in 2018 to honor a personality whose work and dedication strengthen the wine culture of the region and represent it as an ambassador beyond local borders.