Weinbau von Tscharner (Schloss Reichenau) – The Alpine Elegance of the Grisons

A castle, a family, and a singular alpine identity

In the heart of the Grisons, where the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein rivers meet, Weinbau von Tscharner carries on one of Switzerland’s oldest winegrowing traditions. Nestled within the majestic Schloss Reichenau, built as early as the 14th century, the estate has belonged to the von Tscharner family for several generations, custodians of a unique architectural and viticultural heritage.

Everything here breathes alpine authenticity: steep terraced vineyards, fully manual cultivation, and a winemaking philosophy built on precision, purity, and restraint.

Alpine Terroirs – Altitude, Light & Minerality

Spread over roughly 6 hectares, the vineyard extends across several emblematic villages of Graubünden: Reichenau, Chur, Felsberg, Jenins and Maienfeld. This scattered vineyard forms a mosaic of some of the Alps’ most expressive terroirs.

Exceptional natural conditions:

Altitude around 600 m – steady coolness, slow ripening.
Cold nights and very bright days – aromatic concentration and balance.
Rhein valley winds – naturally healthy grapes.
Complex soils – glacial moraines, schist, gravel, limestone clay → tension, linearity, mineral finesse.

This alpine environment produces wines that are clear-cut, highly precise, with a distinctive mountain energy.

Grape Varieties & Identity

The von Tscharner family focuses on the noble grape varieties best suited to the mountain climate:

Pinot Noir (Blauburgunder) – the heart of the estate, finesse and depth.
Pinot Blanc – purity, verticality.
Chardonnay – tension, mineral clarity, precision.
Completer (depending on vintage) – a rare ancestral grape of the region.

Viticulture – Manual Precision Serving the Living

Working the steep, stony slopes of the Grisons requires full dedication. The estate maintains a meticulous, artisan approach:

entirely manual cultivation,
low yields for natural concentration,
preserved biodiversity,
harvesting in small crates and strict sorting,
thoughtful, minimal interventions adapted to each parcel.

Vinification – Transparency, Finesse & Balance

Winemaking follows a philosophy of purity and precision:

parcel-by-parcel vinification,
gentle fermentations,
soft extractions to preserve the silkiness of Pinot Noir,
aging in carefully selected barrels with subtle, never dominant oak.

Flagship Cuvées

Cuvée	Profile & Style
Pinot Noir “Gian-Battista”	The signature wine. Bright red fruits, alpine tension, finely carved tannins, pure finesse.
Pinot Noir “Johann Baptista”	More structured, with depth, floral complexity, long and subtly spicy finish.
Pinot Noir “Lauerin”	Amplitude and texture. Old vines on rocky soils → density & elegance.
Pinot Blanc & Chardonnay	Alpine whites of purity, salinity, and verticality. Crystal-clear finishes.
Completer (rare cuvées)	Rare expression of an ancestral grape. A collector’s wine of deep regional identity.

Wine Style – The Pure Expression of Altitude

The wines of Weinbau von Tscharner are defined by:

luminous minerality,
intense alpine freshness,
finely polished tannins,
remarkable aromatic precision,
excellent aging potential.

Conclusion

Schloss Reichenau and Weinbau von Tscharner embody the perfect alliance between historical heritage, exceptional alpine terroirs and family know-how. Discreet yet refined, deeply rooted in the Grisons, the domaine is an essential reference for lovers of precise, elegant and mountain-driven wines. A truly iconic estate, offering one of the noblest expressions of Alpine Pinot Noir.