However, the history of the Kränzelhof is much older. The original farm, dating back to the 14th century, has been run by the von Pfeil family since 1968. In 1981, the young winemaker Franz began producing wines aged in oak barrels, a stylistic signature that still distinguishes his wines today. Initially, he also grew apples on his small farm, but von Pfeil prefers to focus on a single culture: the more artisanal and creative one of winemaking. In 1986, the old mill was transformed into a tavern, which in 2011 gave rise to the current Miil Restaurant featuring cuisine by Othmar Raich. The restaurant was joined by the Essbar bistro, resulting in two venues dedicated to creative, regional, seasonal and organic dining. The Kränzelhof is thus a place in which numerous aspects of hospitality and good living come together, ranging from viticulture to catering and from art in nature to the expert cultivation of gardens.
Historically, gardens are places where Nature is highlighted in all its beauty: spaces where vegetation is shaped by human imagination and creativity according to precise aesthetic and cultural ideas. Just think of the Italian gardens created during the Renaissance, and characterized by order and symmetry in which Nature was controlled and harmony and rationality were clearly expressed. English gardens, developed in the 18th century, are a different story, since they feature freer and more spontaneous landscapes, with irregular paths and landscapes capable of inspiring emotion and contemplation. It is precisely these iconic, quintessentially English “green jewels” that have inspired the Kränzelhof Gardens for the past twenty years.
“The years have flown by, but every day is a new beginning” says Franz von Pfeil. “Our desire is to surprise, excite and create joy every time someone comes here. Every moment is different from the last” he emphasizes. “Together, the trees, lawns and installations become living sculptures, changing with the light and the seasons.”
The artists and their creations are part of the garden, and when visitors are immersed in this environment, they can perceive the emotions their works communicate more freely. Unlike a gallery in which art can appear distant, too intellectual and repulsive, here beauty finds a spontaneous dimension in which to express itself, surprising, awakening the senses and allowing people to get in touch with their own emotions. Every visitor can find a corner of their heart where they can pause or identify a favorite path, between light and shadow, dense vegetation and open spaces.