It's easy to fall in love with South Tyrol. Especially if you love wine. And yet the region is more exciting than ever. Why? We have put together seven examples of how this wine region is really stepping up its game.
Things are happening in South Tyrol — for wine fans and those who might want to become one. As everyone knows, the region has a lot to offer. There are the Alps in the far north, the Mediterranean orchards in the middle, the Dolomites, of course, and thousands of romantic spots, historic buildings, and places to enjoy yourself in between.
And everywhere: wine. The variety is exciting and unique considering the small size of the region. By that, we don't just mean many different grape varieties, but also geological, cultural, human, climatic and viticultural diversity.
We have diligently compiled a list of events taking place across the region to make it and its wine world even more exciting. Here are our seven reasons why your next trip to South Tyrol will be even more worthwhile.
Reason #1: Sleeping among the vines!
Many wineries are offering new accommodation options that are very close to the wine-making process. Surrounded by vines and immersed in the daily work of the vineyard, these options offer tasting opportunities and the chance to experience the charm of wine at every turn.
This forges a new connection between wine and tourism. It is characterized by closeness and the slow rhythm of nature. It's no surprise that wine tours are in demand. They combine enjoyment, relaxation and authentic experiences with interesting people.
South Tyrol has a wide range of wineries where you can stay overnight, and this number is growing all the time. These range from small winegrowers' farms to converted medieval manor houses, and from cosy holiday apartments to luxury chalets.
A brand new example that has it all is the Castel Sallegg winery, which recently opened its "suites". Brand new and located in the middle of the vineyards in Kaltern, it is simply breathtakingly beautiful.
Go straight from breakfast to the tasting room? No problem. Here, wine and relaxation go hand in hand, whether you enjoy a rosé aperitif on arrival, a glass of Pinot Bianco on the terrace, or an all-round tasting in the afternoon. The old town of Kaltern is just a three-minute stroll through the vineyards away. Simply brilliant!
Reason #2: “It's whistling” - the development of the wines
The wines themselves display a remarkable level of movement. We have been busy tasting them and have been impressed time and again. A new style of wine is emerging that perfectly matches our tastes, offering even more freshness, liveliness and lightness. But the origin is always important.
Some new wines take wine quality to a whole new level. A few that we particularly enjoyed, or have even been blown away by, are:
The Wildmonn winery, previously renowned for its Pinot Noirs, has introduced a new Chardonnay that is unmistakably Burgundian and offers exceptional value for money.
The Neustift winery (with its fantastic monastery) has elevated Sylvaner to new heights. This is Sylvaner with Burgundian characteristics, offering ethereal herbal freshness and an endless salty-mineral finish. The name of this excellent wine is: “Vigna Stiftsgarten” Sylvaner, 2019 vintage.
In the 'young and wild' category, Michael 'Michi' Puff has released a new Pinot Blanc that will undoubtedly enrich the wine scene in the Eisacktal.
Already great for some time: Castelfeder's 'Kreuzweg' Chardonnay. It's perhaps the Chardonnay that would knock a lot of wines off the wall in any Burgundy tasting.
You've heard us talk many times about our love for Daniel Sigmund's cool and elegant wines. Despite not marketing himself for very long, he is already a star of the region for us.
There are actually many more great examples. The big wineries have also achieved a great deal, and continue to do so. One example is the 'Aristos' Kerner from the Eisacktal winery, which is brilliantly mineral and consistently cool in style.
The Vernatsch from the Fliederhof winery is also excellent. Fermented with stems and bottled unfiltered, it is perfectly fresh with plenty of drive. Lageder does the same with his Pinot Bianco, which impressed us once again with its enormous freshness.
We could go on, but we don't want to bore anyone. At this point, we'd simply like to applaud all the producers who are keen to experiment with new approaches and produce truly convincing innovations.
We were also impressed by the clearer focus on grape varieties in some sub-regions. For example, it is good when the Isarco Valley focuses on a grape variety such as Sylvaner and produces exciting wines. The development of Pinot Noir from the Mazon vineyard is also a real joy.
Reason #3: The new vineyard classification in South Tyrol.
Mazon is a prime example of the importance of vineyard classification in South Tyrol. After many years of political efforts, a real breakthrough has finally been achieved here too. Not so long ago, South Tyrolean producers were allowed to start highlighting a number of special vineyard sites on their labels. Some of these sites have the potential to become renowned brands, similar to Chablis, Scharzhofberg or Zieregg.
This development followed extensive identification, evaluation and historical verification of numerous individual vineyards in the South Tyrol region. In total, 86 were identified. Those who immediately cry “far too many” should be reminded of the region's enormous diversity. Of course, the average wine tourist will never be able to remember all 86 vineyards, but that's not the point.
At the same time, a maximum of five grape varieties per vineyard were defined that best express the respective terroir. This may seem like a lot at first, but it is definitely a helpful tool for anyone looking for wines of a specific origin. We found it to be an exciting compass through the region's overwhelming complexity.
We had the pleasure of delving deep into the subject with Martin Hofstätter from the J. Hofstätter winery. What makes this winery special is that they have vineyards on both sides of the region — a unique occurrence, given that the river Adige and its muddy meadows have historically strictly separated the valley. Looking to the other side of the valley is like entering a completely different world from an oenological point of view. This is why the focus on single vineyard sites and terroir is so important.
Our recommendation is to explore the area on a “4x4 tour” through the vineyards. This takes you high up in the J. Hofstätter winery's eight-seater off-road vehicle and deep into the specifics of the vineyards, with a tasting session held directly on site. It's one of the many new oenotourism offerings that the region has to offer.
Reason #4: The clever link between wine and tourism.
Anyone who delves into the specifics of tourism marketing and viticulture may quickly become frustrated. In many regions of Germany, for example, successfully combining the two seems to be difficult. Yet both could benefit fantastically from each other.
When tourists become enthusiastic about wine, producers do well, and when many wine enthusiasts visit the region, tourism booms. But this is often not the reality. What is needed are people who understand the problem and can create the right links. South Tyrol is now one step ahead in this respect.
Here is a simple yet ingenious example: Most people who travel by car are unaware of the extensive network of cycle paths in this region that connect all the exciting places. The only thing missing are guides with an understanding of wine — enter the ‚Wine-Bike-Ambassadors'.
Accompanied by certified guides with wine knowledge, you will be led at a relaxed pace through the South Tyrolean vineyards, where you will enjoy views of the grape varieties and wineries. It's an experience not to be missed! It's a great way to enjoy the beauty of the landscape while learning lots of new things.
However, this is not just a copy of the beer bikes that are popular in some regions, complete with matching alcohol. Here, you experience the landscape, people and climate in a relaxed manner on an e-bike, before tasting the matching wines at the winery. It's an experience that creates a surprising connection between the region and its wines.
Reason #5: Travelling in the spirit of the times („Zeitgeist“)
We live in a hectic world. It is full of distraction and superficiality, and many people feel that it lacks meaning or grounding. This is one of the reasons why more and more people are turning to active holidays, which provide added value and meaning.
'Travel with added value' may be the right marketing buzzword. Today, people want to grow as individuals, so they come back from their holiday better than when they left. In other words, they want an intense experience that they can talk about later, with new experiences and things they have learnt. And what could be better than wine?
After all, wine knowledge is still considered somewhat elitist. Anyone who can talk intelligently about wine is sure to impress at any party. So, what's the best way to learn the basics?
South Tyrol now has the right offerings for that, too. Our highlight is a perfectly planned day with brilliant views, great wines and plenty to stimulate the mind. This idea came from the Kurtatsch winery in the village of the same name.
On the fascinating 'Wine Expedition', you start at an altitude of 900 meters, directly amongst the vines, with a fantastic view. From there, you continue on an incredibly varied hike — mostly downhill, with a few uphill sections — to twelve stops at the most important vineyards in total. At each stop, you will taste the corresponding wine and learn interesting facts about the location, terroir and grape variety. Those who pay attention and ask questions will be richly rewarded.
There is also a delicious morning snack and a three-course lunch at one of the restaurants in Kurtatsch. The finale is reaching the architecturally impressive vinotheque of the Kurtatsch winery. It's rare for a layperson to experience such an immersive day in the world of wine. Everything is meticulously planned and executed with great attention to detail, from the aesthetic and informative signage at each location to the practical transport bags for your wine glass.
If you don't learn something new here, it's your own fault! It's a completely new approach to wine, lovingly designed to create a real sense of identity.
Reason #6: Hotspots for architecture enthusiasts
Fans of architecture and history can also learn something new in South Tyrol. After all, wine has always been about the tension between origin and innovation. This has been translated into architecture in the most diverse, yet always fascinating, ways.
There are many possible stops on the tour. If you like old things, you should definitely start at the Alois Lageder estate. The historic buildings will make you feel almost reverent, as if you were visiting an old church. In the courtyard, you will be immediately absorbed by the breathtaking scenery.
Many wineries have invested in architecture to blend seamlessly into the landscape, almost disappearing into the vineyards. The Manincor winery building is an absolute masterpiece. From the outside, all you can see are the beautiful historic buildings. However, buried deep underground is a cutting-edge building incorporating innovative ideas on energy efficiency and cellar technology.
The Tramin and Kurtatsch wineries, for example, have excitingly designed tasting rooms with plenty of natural light. The Tramin winery's modern building, clad in green steel to resemble vine leaves, is an architectural statement in a class of its own. In Kurtatsch, a tour of the winery is highly recommended. Here, the design of the vineyards has been imaginatively incorporated into the building's architecture.
Reason #7: The passionate connection between gastronomy and wine.
South Tyrol has always been a region of culinary pleasure, of course. However, a lot has changed here in recent years. For wine and gourmet enthusiasts like us, this is a dream come true, as many places have significantly expanded their wine lists and improved their quality.
The close relationship between restaurateurs and wineries is evident in every interaction. Visitors who keep their eyes open for exciting events and tastings will quickly find what they are looking for.
A great example of this is the 'South Tyrolean Wine Culture Prize', an award from the South Tyrolean Wine Consortium. Since 2004, it has been awarded to businesses that demonstrate a particular commitment to regional wine culture, recognizing passion and expertise in the field of South Tyrolean wine.
For all culinary fans, the exciting thing is that recent years' award winners are the perfect guide to exciting restaurants in the region. Each one is an experience.
We had the pleasure of meeting Bastian Winkler. He is the head sommelier at the Ansitz Steinbock restaurant in Villanders, which won the award in 2024. The wine list is simply great fun, offering depth and breadth, surprises, young stars and old favourites, as well as almost all the exciting newcomers to the region. This is what a real commitment to South Tyrolean wine looks like.
We also immediately felt at home at the Panholzer restaurant, wine bar and vinotheque, located right next to the Manincor winery. It won the South Tyrolean wine culture award in 2018. Another great recommendation is the Oberwirt in Marling, which won the award in 2012. The wine list here features over 500 top national and international wines.
Conclusion:
South Tyrol has probably never been more worth a visit than it is today. Go see for yourself!