Masterpiece: mountain apple juice

Old varieties, new taste. With his Grand Cru line, Thomas Kohl, Italy’s first apple juice refiner based on the Ritten in South Tyrol, has taken pure apple juice to new heights of enjoyment.

There is truly no shortage of apple suppliers in South Tyrol between the rivers Etsch and Eisack, and that also applies to apple juice. And yet Thomas Kohl, who lives on the Ritten high above the provincial capital of Bozen, definitely stands out from the crowd – with what are probably the noblest apple juices between Berlin and Sicily. Wintercalville and Ananasrenette – these are the evocative names of the two rare and exquisite apple varieties that Thomas Kohl offers as juices in champagne style in exclusive magnum bottles.

The two apple varieties were once of great importance for fruit growing in South Tyrol. The stunning Wintercalville was even individually wrapped in tissue paper and supplied to the court of the Tsar in St. Petersburg, while the Ananasrenette was considered “everyone’s darling” because of its unique taste. But neither variety could meet today’s requirements in terms of storage life, and they soon disappeared from the market. But the thought that they were two of the most tasty fruits of all and were highly popular with consumers gave Thomas Kohl no peace, and he decided to plant them again on the Ritten.

Kohl is the opposite of a conventional fruit grower.

He acts like a winegrower and believes in pressing his apples on a single-variety basis. Pure and unadulterated, without any additives or added sugar, he fills the apple juices into elegant bottles, wraps them in tissue paper and packs them in attractive boxes. His products regularly receive top scores in tastings and awards for their exclusive packaging. They are drunk as aperitifs and are served as a non-alcoholic variant, on a par with wine, with fine food in gourmet restaurants. Anyone looking for the perfect gift for people who are worth something special – the host, the business partner, the bride and groom – or a toast to the New Year can be sure of making a big impression with these apple juices.

Today Thomas Kohl’s mountain apple juices are available from his deli farm shop in Unterinn am Ritten and selected stores and vinotheques at home and abroad.