Wine estate and agricultural operation in the Maggia Delta: wine, rice, grain, pasta, polenta and spirits from Ascona

Cantina alla Maggia

Ascona (CH)New on Amplifa

1930Founded

11.5 ha vines, 85 ha fieldsCultivated area

1997First rice cultivation in Switzerland

About Cantina alla Maggia

Cantina alla Maggia is a wine estate and agricultural operation in the Maggia Delta in Ascona, Ticino. It traces back to the agricultural enterprise Terreni alla Maggia, founded in 1930 and owned by the Bührle family (today the Anda family) since 1942, and has borne its current name since 2024. On 11.5 hectares of vineyards, Ticino DOC wines are produced, including Merlot, Kerner and Bondola; the estate was a pioneer of Kerner cultivation in Ticino. On 85 hectares of fields between Ascona and Locarno as well as in the Magadino plain, rice (variety Loto), corn for polenta, durum and soft wheat and brewing barley are grown. From these, own products such as pasta, polenta, flour, vinegar, gin and whisky are made in fully regional value creation (KM-0). Since 2017 the operation has been part of The Living Circle and supplies the affiliated hotels and restaurants directly from its own agriculture.

Site: Ascona
Processes: Visits and tastings, Events, Own online shop, Enoteca Alimentare, Farm-to-table delivery to The Living Circle establishments
Materials: Merlot, Kerner, Bondola, Loto, Durum wheat, soft wheat, corn, Brewing barley
Founded: 1930
Industries: Viticulture, Agriculture (rice, grain, corn), Spirits, Delicatessen/Gastronomy

01
Cultivation of vines, rice, corn, wheat and brewing barley
02
Winemaking and processing into pasta, polenta, flour, vinegar and spirits
03
Bottling and marketing via own shop
04
Farm-to-table delivery to The Living Circle establishments

Products and Crops

Reben

Merlot, Kerner, Bondola

Ticino DOC wines, with pioneering work in Kerner cultivation and commitment to the native Bondola variety.

Reis

Loto

Cultivated since 1997, the first rice fields of Switzerland, suitable for risotto.

Getreide

Durum wheat, soft wheat, corn

Basis for pasta, polenta and pizza flour in KM-0 production.

Gerste

Brewing barley

Harvested since 2006 for beer production and the first Ticino whisky.

Locations

Ascona

Wine estate and agricultural operation (Maggia Delta)

Materials: Vines, rice, corn, wheat, barley

Products

**Melodia, Rosso del Ticino DOC 2021**Viticulture · Red wine

**Kerner Ticino DOC**Viticulture · White wine

**Ascona Riserva, Merlot Ticino DOC Riserva 2021**Viticulture · Red wine

Inside the production

Terreni alla Maggia – agriculture in the Maggia Delta

Landscape in the Maggia Delta near Ascona

Industries

ViticultureAgriculture (rice, grain, corn)SpiritsDelicatessen/Gastronomy

Additional services

Visits and tastingsEventsOwn online shopEnoteca AlimentareFarm-to-table delivery to The Living Circle establishments

Reference customers

The Living Circle (among others Castello del Sole, Storchen Zürich, Widder Hotel, SchlossBrauerei Locher (barley/whisky cooperation)

History

1930
Foundation of the agricultural enterprise Terreni alla Maggia
1942
Acquisition of Terreni alla Maggia and Castello del Sole by the Bührle family (today the Anda family)
1948
Start of wine production; pioneer of Kerner cultivation in Ticino, commitment to Bondola
1989
Part of the Maggia Delta becomes a bird sanctuary at the initiative of the Anda family
1997
First rice cultivation in Switzerland (variety Loto)
2001
Cultivation of corn for polenta and durum wheat for pasta (KM-0 production)
2006
First brewing barley from Ascona for beer and the first Ticino whisky
2017
Part of The Living Circle
2019
Inauguration of the Sentiero dell'orto
2020
Market launch of Gin Delta Spirits
2021
First orange wine 'Ricordi'
2022
Castello del Sole and Terreni alla Maggia united under one management
2023
Ettore Biraghi becomes head winemaker; yuzu white wine vinegar and soft wheat cultivation
2024
Renaming to Cantina alla Maggia; first pizza flour '100% Ascona'