Baron Longo

In 2012, he took over his family’s estate from his father, leasing the orchards to focus his work on viticulture. Three years later, he released his first wine.

By 2020 his entire production was certified organic. Moreover, production increased from an initial 4,000 to an impressive 80.000 bottles. Not only that, he also managed to tweak the elegance of his wines!

Let the wines evolve at their own pace …

… and the same is true of Anton Longo himself. Neither loud nor opulent, his wines are instead rather quiet and shy. Nonetheless, they show fruit, elegance, finesse, and balance. However, they all need time to develop, from fermentation to maturation in wood to time in the bottle itself. When opening his flagship wine, Liebenstein, a blend of old vine Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, he even recommends keeping it at least ten minutes in glass before tasting.

Treasures from the Dolomites

Emilio Foradori, the famous winemaker from Trentino and a friend of Anton, is convinced that both Baron Longo’s vineyards and his wines are treasures waiting to be discovered.

His twenty hectares of vines are all planted around the family’s small Villner Castle in Neumarkt between 270 and 1,000 metres above sea level. Not surprisingly, the soils are quite different, ranging from limestone and gravel to porphyry and moraine scree. The climate is typical for the alpine Dolomites, a symbiosis of cool mountain air and warm Mediterranean elements with corresponding diurnal temperature swings, which are important for the grape’s aromatic development.

About two thirds of the vineyards are planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. The smaller red portion is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Lagrein and Merlot.

Three clearly defined collections

Anton Longo classifies his wines into three clearly defined collections. They reflect origin, style, and quality standards in their own unique way – united by a biodynamic philosophy and the craftsmanship of young Baron Anton Felix von Longo-Liebenstein.

The entry is the Felix Anton line – a tribute to the family’s patriarch, Felix Anton Reichsritter von Longo. The fresh, harmonious cuvées and varietal wines represent elegant drinking pleasure with depth. Whether as a white Bianco from Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco, as a Rosato from Merlot, as a powerful red wine blend from Lagrein, Cabernet and Merlot, or – brand new – as a varietal Felix Anton Lagrein: These wines combine accessibility with character and charmingly reflect their origin in the Dolomites.

The Terroir line is aimed at wine enthusiasts who appreciate varietal wines with a distinct terroir. Constructed from oak, these powerful, elegant single wines showcase the unique microclimate and soils of the Dolomites. This includes the minerally-fresh Urgestein (Sauvignon Blanc), the aromatically-complex Hohenstein (Gewürztraminer), and the profound Friedberg (Lagrein).

The top one is the Nobilis line – Grand Crus from the oldest vineyards of the house. These wines are vinified only in excellent vintages, age in oak and have great potential for aging. Named after the family names of the young baron, Liebenstein (Chardonnay), Schlossberg (Pinot Bianco), and Wellenburg (Cabernet/Merlot) stand for depth, complexity, and an uncompromising understanding of quality.

Either organic or nothing at all

Born in 1985, Anton Longo studied both agriculture and viticulture in Bolzano. In his constant search for innovative solutions, he counts on the support of experts, advisors and experienced organic winemakers such as his friend, Emilio Foradori.

The change to Demeter certified organic farming was thus simply a “conditio sine qua non” for Anton Longo. The same is true of spontaneous fermentations with natural yeasts, biodynamic implements, following the rhythms of the moon and his own compost made of horse manure sourced from his sister’s stables.

However, when speaking of biodynamics, he draws a clear line between his wines, which he defines as “close to nature”, and “natural wines” such as orange or raw wines.

For him, organic farming is one of the best tools available to face the pending climate change, with all its weather extremes, because it makes the vines stronger and more resistant.

Providentia, Fortitudo, Constantia is the family’s motto. Anton Baron Longo is now interpreting those words – foresight, courage and persistence – in his own way.

www.baronlongo.com