Who we are
Around the turn of the millennium, there was a growing need in the wine village of Girlan to preserve the traditional and historically valuable cellars of the village for posterity.
The citizens' concern was fuelled by the fact that three large wineries in Girlan were closing down or relocating, thus freeing up large areas for new use.
The interest of the real estate industry was not long in coming, and with the redevelopment of the huge building volume, the underground cellars were also in danger of being demolished or becoming garages or storage rooms.
In March 2008, therefore, 15 citizens of Girlan founded the "Weinwelt". Its primary and only goal is to protect the historically unique heritage of the underground cellars of Girlan, to document them and to pass them on to future generations.
What does the term "Vineum" stand for?
The term "Vineum" is not, as is often mistakenly assumed, a synonym for "Weinwelt", but stands for the idea of a wine experience world in Girlan. It is used
as a name for the association founded in 2011 to carry out the planning competition,
as an umbrella term for the overall project to save and use some of the cellars that are no longer in use, and
as the name of the cellar of the former Josef Brigl winery, which was transferred to the ownership of the municipality of Eppan by means of a regional planning agreement.
The main entrance of the project „vineum – Weinerlebniskeller Girlan”
Plan of the cellars in Girlan
The “Vineum cellar” at the ex-winery Josef Brigl
The most important milestones of the "Weinwelt" in fast motion:
08. September 2008
“Regional planning contract with the municipality of Eppan under Mayor Franz Lintner regarding the realisation of a cellar for the project 'Weinwelt Girlan' with acquisition of the property".
05. October 2011
The municipal council of Eppan decides with 21 votes in favour and seven abstentions to purchase the cellars required for the "Vineum" project and to provide an additional one million euros.
However, only the Europe-wide planning competition will be carried out. The "Vineum" association is founded for this purpose. Its members are: the chairperson of "Weinwelt Girlan", the four cellar cooperatives of the municipality, a representative of the private wineries, a representative of the tourism association and the mayor of Eppan.
In 2014, the Bressanone architect Matteo Scagnol and the exhibition designer Thomas Hundt from Stuttgart emerged from the competition. However, the project did not progress because there was not enough interest from the wine industry and tourism operators to keep the idea alive.
02. February 2019
The municipal building commission grants building permission for three flats in the cellars of the ex-winery Josef Brigl - although they have been under ensemble protection since June 2007. However, the construction company did not start the conversion.
21. February 2019
The Eppan municipal council decides with 19 votes in favour, one against and four abstentions on the purchase of the cellars adjacent to the "Vineum" cellar (premises of the ex-winery Josef Brigl). The municipal administration is to start negotiations with the owners. In July 2020, the municipal council confirms this decision and also provides for the necessary funding.
21. December 2020
Municipal finance officer Reinhard Zublasing wants to purchase the cellars from the construction company. However, the construction company already sold cellars to a company in Bolzano at the beginning of December 2020 and plans to start the construction process in March 2021.
26. July 2021
In a debate between "Weinwelt Girlan" and Reinhard Zublasing, the responsible municipal councillor, the latter confirms the "political will of the municipal administration to bring all the Girlan cellars in question into our possession".
29. July 2021
The municipal council revokes its decision of 16 July 2020. This is an administratively necessary step in order to place the acquisition of the cellars on a new basis that takes into account the changed framework conditions.
28. October 2021
The municipal council approves the utilisation concept of the "Girlaner Kellerwelten". The approved concept provides for a so-called mixed use in which culture and business go hand in hand. In doing so, the municipal council pursues three goals:
preserving the cellars for the community and the public.
creating the conditions for the investor to operate successfully in the medium and long term.
adding value to the wine village of Girlan which brings the village and its inhabitants together and attracts guests.
