Objevte krásy Vinschgau

The Befehlhof estate in Vezzano has tended to vineyards since 1370. Six centuries later, Magdalena Schuster is in charge of the Befehlhof’s winegrowing business and specializes in producing fruity, clear, and vibrant mountain wines of pronounced minerality.

For her, the farm and the wines it produces are inseparable entities. According to her philosophy, the farm represents a dynamic environment that allows the entire family to unleash their creativity. And creativity is exactly what is needed in winemaking: “The work out in the vineyards and down in the cellars is defined by a perfect mix of science, nature, and creativity,” explains the winegrower.

The Befehlhof’s history underscores the importance of creativity. Oswald Schuster was the first winegrower in Val Venosta to grow a Riesling, for example. One of Magdalena’s top priorities is to reintroduce Fraueler. The Befehlhof is one of very few wine estates to produce Fraueler, an ancient Val Venosta wine, as a pure variety.

At 720 meters above sea level, the slate soils in the Befehlhof vineyards also nurture Pinot Blanc, Souvignier Gris, Riesling, Zweigelt, and Pinot Noir. In 2013, the farm was switched to organic cultivation. “Organic winegrowing requires us to closely monitor grapevine and wine cycles to be able to intervene as early as possible, if necessary,” says the winemaker. However, the level of intervention should be kept as low as possible, which also means that the wines ferment spontaneously and are filled when the wine is ready. “This makes our wines more nuanced and complex, and, as a result, more interesting,” adds Schuster.

Considering their history, it should not come as a surprise that the Befehlhof took the lead once more, pioneering the creation of Val Venosta’s first sparkling wine: a Pinot Blanc–Riesling named “Sällent”, after a mountain in Martello. A true gem on the shelves, that is for sure.

Enjoy not only the breathtaking landscape, but also indulge the delicacies from Italy and the tasty meals from local cuisine.

It is not without reason that the Monte Mezzo dì-Sonnenberg carries its name [“Midday Mountain” in Italian, “Sun Mountain” in German]. More than 250 days of sun per year can be counted here, the temperature differentials between day and night are extreme, and the amount of precipitation is lower than anywhere else in Alto Adige. These extraordinary conditions are used by Markus Fliri at the Himmelreich-Hof in Castelbello in order to produce wines with strong character.

Even if Castelbello does not lie within a typical winegrowing zone, wine has been produced at the Himmelreich-Hof since time immemorial. At least for their own use. But in 2004, that was no longer enough for the winegrower Fliri. He wanted to increase the production of quality wines at his estate and also offer them for sale – “interesting, top-quality wines” as the winegrower himself says.

The vineyards of the Himmelreich-Hof, just precisely two hectares, lie at an elevation of 650 meters, and the moraine soils, a remnant of the last ice age, have a high mineral content which can be tasted in the grapes. And thus also in the wine. “It is a matters of importance to us to produce natural, sincere wines with strong character,” says Fliri.

His assortment comprises Zweigelt, a red cuvée to which he has given the name “Himmelreich” [“Kingdom of Heaven”], and Pinot Noir. The young wines are transferred into small oak casks to age there and be able to mature in complete tranquility. In addition to those, there is also Pinot Blanc and, new to the Himmelreich-Hof’s assortment, Riesling.

So its name was not chosen by chance. At least for wine connoisseurs.

The Tabaretta Hut lies on the “Marltschneid”, the Marlt ridge, directly on the way to the Payer Hut. It is a popular hiking destination, a pleasant viewpoint, and an important base for mountaineers climbing the Ortler North Face. From our sunny terrace you can enjoy the beautiful view to the impressive Ortler North Face, the Tabaretta fixed rope route, the Sasvenna Alps and the Ötztaler Alps. The lakes of Reschen and St. Valentin seem to be in reaching distance. Open from early June to mid-October.

Our pantry is well-supplied. Let us spoil you!

Inn. Children welcome. Hot food on pre-orders!

The ideal start off point for mountain hikes and for more demanding mountain climbing excursions, snow shoe trails and ski tours. Enjoy walking along the entrance water resevoir lake path, just off the guesthouse doorstep and, just as equally, enjoy the finest South Tyrolean and Italian cuisine, as well as the specialty trout and game dishes.

For the pleasures the boss puts itself at hand: after traditional South Tyrol cuisine or light - mediterranean and vital. Reservations are requested by telephone.

In our farm you can enjoy home-style and Mediterranean cuisine, from local meat to home-made spits. Our chef, who is also a hunter, will spoil you with special culinary delights.

Thomas Plack was precisely nineteen years old when he took over the estate in Colsano at the foot of Monte Mezzodì in the Val Venosta in 1989. Today, in addition to five hectares of fruit orchards, he also manages three hectares of vineyards upon which, as Plack himself says, “new Val Venosta wines” are created.
But what exactly does the winegrower understand “new Val Venosta wines” to be? Plack attempts to provide a definition. “Our wines are fine-structured mountain wines with character that reflect their terroir in an impressive way.” And which are obtained with a great deal of work and diligence, it could be added. Since 2006, Thomas Plack has operated the estate in Colsano exclusively organically. “We hold sustainability and working as close as possible to nature to be near and dear to our hearts,” says the winegrower.
Two of the estate’s own vineyards and one area that is leased currently provide the grapes for the wines. It is exclusively Riesling that grows on the terraces of the steep Tonnerberg mountain. “It is among our highest vineyard locations and thus predestined for Riesling vines which love cool nights but also deal well with the high daytime temperatures,” Plack says. The Krebsenrauth location, on the other hand, provides Schiava, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc grapes.
And finally, one special feature is represented by the leased area around the Kasten manor, which today is planted with Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc as well as Riesling. It was the absolutely first vineyard area in the Val Venosta, dating back to 1974.
And as we have learned from this, new Val Venosta wines also completely go hand in hand with the traditions.

Central yet peaceful position. Family-run inn with stylish furnishings and a friendly atmosphere. Enjoy our South Tyrolean and Italian specialties.

The culinary world of Hotel Eller is a composition of the Mediterranean cuisine and traditional South Tyrolean delights. Our chefs prepare perfect menus in traditional style. Our excellently prepared delicacies range from a solid breakfast with our homemade bacon to a first class gala menu put together with great refinement. The rich choice of fine wines selected from the best South Tyrolean wine cellars will spoil your senses. Are you vegetarian or do you follow a special diet? Our chefs will satisfy your wishes. For our youngest guests we offer special menus composed for their well-being.

Gelateria Ortler in Silandro is the first ice cream parlour in the Vinschgau Valley - the Arnoldo family produced their ice cream in Silandro as early as 1938. Rosmarie Ferlito has been carrying on the tradition since 2020. We use all the wonderful fruit from Val Venosta! Our traditional local varieties of apricots, apples, pears, grapes, all the berries of our mountains, and of course the Vinschgau chestnut! Directly from the best producers in Italy we source citrus fruits, nuts and pistachios but also novelties like mango, avocado, ginger and turmeric.

The Düsseldorfer Hütte is on 2.721m. From there you can start to many peaks round the hut. Looking forward to welcoming you on our terrace with panoramic view to the Ortler.

The Oberetteshütte is located at 2,670m in alpine terrain at the foot of the Weißkugel, at the head of the valley from the mountaineering village of Matsch. The Saldur lakes, a magical lake plateau, are not far from the Oberetteshütte. Sheep graze around the hut, marmots whistle, there is a small climbing garden near the hut. The mighty Matscher Ferner is also within easy reach. Peace and nature are the hallmarks of the hut. The innkeepers cook down-to-earth dishes with good, seasonal and above all regional produce. The farmers of the Matschertal and Vinschgau valley supply the Oberetteshütte with their products, almost all in organic quality. Open: from mid-June to the end of September

Overnight stay with or without breakfast possible. We make the dinner à la carte. There is also a marching tea! We are open for you from mid-June to the beginning of October.

Our cuisine is traditional, with typical South Tyrolean regional dishes and original pizzas from the wood oven New: homemade ice

Heiner Pohl calls his Marinushof in Castelbello “an agricultural start-up enterprise.” And the description comes not by chance. For two reasons: first of all, it originates from a former marketing manager who, secondly, built the estate winery out of nothing.

Let’s turn to the ex-manager: Heiner Pohl was in his late thirties when he crossed over into agriculture. “Up to this very day, I am grateful for this decision every single day,” Pohl says, “including because I built up my operation myself out of nothing, and everything sprang out of my ideas and my ideals.” So it is a start-up in the truest sense of the word which, however, brings satisfaction more at the spiritual level than the financial one. “It’s hard, but it’s very gratifying,” he says.

The vineyards of the Marinushof lie on terraces on steep slopes that are pampered by the Val Venosta sunshine – and by cool nights. “It is precisely the temperature differentials between day and night in the autumn that bring finesse and excitement to our wines,” explains Pohl, who calls his operation a factory. But in the end, the vineyards are for the most part tended by hand.

The product line of the Marinushof consists of varieties that feel right at home in the Val Venosta: Pinot Noir, Zweigelt, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Grigio. “Our wines are characterized by harmony and naturalness, and they age very well,” says the winegrower. And for all those who are perhaps not so familiar with wine vocabulary: “These wines make you most prefer to drink the whole bottle without stopping.”

Enjoy silence, peace and recharge yourself with new energy. Live a new experience every day. Enjoy the sun, the fresh air. Just relax. Welcome to Hotel Cristallo. The picturesque town of Sulden slumbers in the heart of the unique and majestic mountain landscapes of King Ortler. It is a jewel in the middle of unique mountain settings. A place where you can forget the passing of time, set your soul free and follow the natural rhythm of the days as they go by. Our hotel is in the heart of all this, in the middle of green meadows and ice-capped giants. For generations our family has run this hotel and it has met many friends. You will pass unforgettable hours either in our bathing area or in the elegant recreation rooms. But the heart of it all is our chefs Leo and Karl. For 16 years they have been pampering our guests with delicious South Tyrolean and Italian specialties. Forget everyday life and come to see for yourself. Welcome to Hotel Cristallo.

Four-star ratings are rare for vineyards. But the Calvenschlössl Winegrowing Estate in Laudes in the community of Malles began with a vineyard at 1,000 meters and even went a step further in 2013. Or, to put it better, higher. In the monastery meadow of the Benedictine Abbey of Marienberg, Europe’s highest vineyard was planted. The German word for vineyard is Weinberg, meaning wine mountain, and that can completely be taken literally here.

In 2004, Hilde Van den dries acquired the Calvenschlössl castle. “Immediately afterward, the desire came upon us to make top-quality organic wine,” Van den dries says. But that is easier said than done, since the slopes around the house are not only steep, they also are situated at elevations between 970 and 1,005 meters above sea level.

In any case, the extreme locations have also turned out to be a stroke of luck. The southern exposure bestows upon the grapes ample sunshine, the elevation provides coolness, from which grapes with high sugar levels and prominent acidities result. In addition, in both vineyards the focus is not only on resistant grape varieties such as Solaris, Souvignier Gris, Zweigelt, and Cabernet Cortis, but also on careful dealings with nature and thus on a holistic method of agriculture.

And that also holds true in the winery. “The energy from the spontaneous fermentation from the natural yeast strains of the grapes lend our wines their unmistakable finesse and their unique character,” Van den dries is convinced. The elevation is therefore not the only special ingredient in the wine from the Calvenschlössl Wine Estate in Laudes.

The well being of our guests is very important to us. In our kitchen, so we use a lot of fresh produce from our own farm.

The utmost importance is attached to culinary delights at the four-star Hotel Weisses Kreuz. Our cooking team perform miracles in producing South Tyrolean and Italian delicacies with technical perfection, and attach great importance to the quality of the ingredients. Regionality, freshness and taste take priority on your holiday.

At Café Claudia, regular guests appreciate the friendliness of the hosts Claudia and Roland, the comfortable atmosphere, the high-quality products and the attention to the individual wishes of their guests. Delicious cappuccino, great ice cream, homemade cake and hearty snacks, bacon and regional specialties can be especially enjoyed on the sun terrace with a view of Lake Reschen or in the cozy rooms.

Cult on Stelvio Pass Welcome at the Berghotel Franzenshöhe on 2.188m, your hotel on the Passo Stelvio road Cultic, trendy yet traditional, authentic, personal and rustic is the Berghotel Franzenshöhe in a quiet, fantastic location on the Stelvio the Cultural Region Vinschgau in South Tyrol. We are Karin H. Wallnöfer in fourth generation owner of this historic property at Passo Stelvio and her stable 7-member team. Focused on the welfare of all our guests, whether they are motorcyclists, summer skiers, cyclists, nature lovers or vintage car fans, we are not only concerned about our gastronomic standards, the personal well-being of our guests is dear to our hearts. Therefore not only the marmots of the Stelvio National Park in the pastures surrounding the Franzenshöhe feel at ease. Also, you get our money’s worth!

Bar near by the bycicle road Val Venosta

The Angergut farm is located in Castelbello. Its grape growing areas are spread out along the sunny slope of the Val Venosta between Castelbello and Sluderno and range up to 900 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level. They are thus among the highest situated vineyards in all of Alto Adige. Within that context, although the elevation is in fact a prominent feature, it is by far not the only one that distinguishes the estate winery in the Val Venosta. “Our vineyards are typical for the Val Venosta: sunny, dry, and windy,” explains winegrower Tobias Mitterer.

The interplay of sun, location, soils, and wind form the natural foundation for outstanding wines. But with sustainable and gentle management that is close to nature, the Mitterer family does their part for their well-organized, practical, and carefully arranged vineyards. In that way, classic Alto Adige wines – first and foremost the reds Schiava and Pinot Noir primarily in the higher situated vineyards, but also Zweigelt, and then also the white wines such as Kerner and Riesling – are made in the old family tradition and served up in their own farmhouse inn. And in addition to the wine, it goes without saying that other products from their own farm also show up on the table there.

The Angergut is therefore far more than “just“ an estate winery. It is a classic Alto Adige mountain farm, a farmhouse inn that is popularly frequented, but first and foremost a deeply rooted family operation.