Centuries-old heritage in the Isarco Valley

Near the 12th-century Novacella Abbey, the Pacherhof estate is part of a deep-rooted winemaking tradition. Historical records suggest its cellar predates the abbey, highlighting its cultural significance. Today, the estate continues to operate as both a working vineyard and an architectural reference point in South Tyrol, blending agricultural legacy with contemporary relevance.

A sunken cellar and a tower of light

Visitors reach the new cellar through a tunnel carved into the hillside, arriving at a trapezoidal underground structure. Above it, a bronze-clad tower rises with pyramidal clarity, housing an office and tasting room. Its bold geometry contrasts with the soft contours of the surrounding peaks while maintaining a natural presence in the landscape through its earthy tone and scale.

Production hidden, expression revealed

Winemaking takes place entirely below ground, with harvested grapes entering through a discreet opening. The tower’s frameless bronze-toned windows lend it a monolithic, sculptural identity. A concrete wall signals the entry to the cellar, guiding movement across the site. Functional clarity and spatial hierarchy are paired with deliberate material and formal restraint.

Material tension between old and new

The dialogue between past and present is expressed through contrast: rough plaster and metal define the new intervention, while the historic cellar retains its smoother plaster and timber elements. The result is an architectural ensemble that honors the site’s layered history while embracing a refined and contemporary architectural language.

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