Fläsch

Fläsch is the northernmost municipality of the Bündner Herrschaft in the canton of Graubünden and borders the canton of St. Gallen as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein. The municipality is located at the foot of the Fläscherberg, away from the main transport routes.

The municipal territory extends from the municipal building at about 528 metres above sea level up to the Vorder Grauspitz at 2,599 metres. This includes the Pass Luzisteig, the Regitzerspitz at 1,135 metres and the Fläsch Alps.

Fläsch has around 65 hectares of officially designated vineyard area and, according to the cantonal wine regulations, belongs to the Bündner Rheintal winegrowing region. The vines at the foot of the Fläscherberg grow on deposits of rock rubble from the mountain. Their southerly aspect and the föhn wind support ripening of the grapes in autumn.

The municipality has 14 self-pressing winegrowing businesses that cultivate their vines themselves from vine pruning to marketing the wine. For Pinot Noir, the minimum must weight is 19.4 degrees Brix, or 80 degrees Oechsle; for other grape varieties, 17.2 degrees Brix, or 70 degrees Oechsle.

Vineyards are documented in Fläsch’s medieval history. The municipality was first mentioned in the 9th-century Carolingian property register and, in the 18th century, was known for its location and its wine.

Up to the 1960s, farming families cultivated small, scattered vineyard plots alongside livestock and arable farming. The consolidation of parcels approved in 1966 made it possible to specialise more strongly in winegrowing.

The winery Gantenbein grows mainly Pinot Noir in Fläsch; Chardonnay and Riesling are also cultivated. In the Fläsch vineyards, Burgundian clones have been planted. The winery produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.

At Gantenbein, grapes and must are moved through the cellar by gravity without pumps or filtration. The design and working processes of the winery are guided by gravity, temperature control and the sequence of cellar work.