Alle Restaurants in Kaltern

Wine and mountains have a lot in common. They can be exciting, challenging, fulfilling. Pressing a good wine is like scaling a peak. It requires hard work, determination, expertise, and routine.

Erste+Neue have broken new ground time and again for over a century, combining Alto Adige wine culture and tradition with innovation. Always on the lookout for new paths to take, we have ventured to undertake many a first ascent and made history in the Alto Adige wine scene. We were founded in 1986 following the merger of two wineries, Erste Kellerei (1900) and Neue Kellerei (1925), and entered into yet another trendsetting union in 2016 with Cantina Kaltern.

Today, Erste+Neue stands for premium Alpine wines pressed in harmony with nature and using state-of-the-art technology, complemented by a generational legacy of expertise and love of experimentation.

The fact that winegrowing has a great deal to do with tradition becomes clear with the Peter Sölva & Söhne Estate Winery in Caldaro. Since 1731, and thus for ten generations now, wine has been produced here – and it is done so today with the same passion in both the vineyard and the winery. Wines come into existence with an edge – “No mainstream wines,” as Stephan Sölva puts it, who runs the estate winery today.

Twelve hectares of grape growing areas make up the traditional estate winery encompasses, which Sölva describes looking both forward and back equally, “Having a centuries-old history in the wine industry, respecting it, and running it authentically in the present and the future,” this is the hallmark of his estate.
Tradition and authenticity are therefore the keywords according to which the work is done at Sölva, and consistency could be added as a third. Thus Peter Sölva follows his own path that is characterized by consciousness of quality and a broad palette of grape varieties, some of which are unusual for the area: Lagrein, Gewürztraminer, Teroldego, Petit Verdot, Tannat, and Grenache.

The results of this combination are two lines with a very unique signature: the designation “Amitar” is carried by Sölva’s late-harvest wines, while “Desilva” designates terroir wines from old vines. “What is important is that the origin from our vineyards can be noticed in the character of the wine, and that our wines carry the signature of our estate,” Sölva tells us.

As can be seen with this estate winery in Caldaro, that which is new can thus best be combined with tradition. And the results can clearly be seen each time.

The wines from Baron Di Pauli were already drunk at the court of the emperor in Vienna and that of the tsar in St. Petersburg. And in 1999, a new chapter was added to the long history of the Baron Di Pauli Estate Winery in Caldaro. That was when the foundation was laid for the cooperation with the Cantina Kaltern, which drove forward a prestige project with upper echelon wines.

The Baron Di Pauli Estate Winery consists of two farms: the 10.5 hectare Arzenhof, that is located on a hill at Lake Caldaro and, at 4.5 hectares, the substantially smaller Höfl unterm Stein in Sella above Termeno. Because the locations of the vineyards are so different, the two locations also deliver very different grapes. Thus the Arzenhof grapes are made into the Bordeaux blend Arzio, the Carano Lagrein, and the Kalkofen Lago di Caldaro, while the grapes from Sella turn into the Exilissi and Enosi Gewürztraminers and a cuvée of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Blanc.

But it doesn’t matter which grape variety or which wine – one guiding principle holds true for all of them: no compromise! “The yields in the vineyard are reduced to a minimum so that the vines can concentrate all of their energy on a few grapes which are then harvested by hand,” explains estate manager Baron Carl Philipp von Hohenbühel. The ideal composition of the soils, the Mediterranean climate, and the considerable temperature differentials between day and night make their contribution to top wines being created at the Baron Di Pauli Estate Winery.

Wines that would also be drunk at imperial courts. If there still were any left.

In 2005 Andreas Sölva takes over the parental vineyard in “Kaltern/Caldaro”; Since 2007 he vinifies his own wines, as “Garage vintner and individualist”  he´s aspiring to demonstrate the uniqueness and variety of the region around the lake Caldaro. He follows the evolution of the grapes, supporting the natural processes and focuses his work exclusively on quality. His goal is to
harvest them at their best state or ripeness. The vineyards are located in and around “Kaltern/Caldaro”. The “Riegel Pulvernoa” (around 300m. a.s.l.) is planted with 80 to 100 year-old vine grape varieties of “Großand Mittervernatsch” and part of it is planted with Cabernet Franc and Tannat. On the “Riegel Barleit” (around 400m. a.s.l.) I am cultivating exclusively “Weissburgunder”
(pinot Blanc). The third site (around 420m. a.s.l.) lies in the district of “Oberplanitzing” and since 2008 it is planted with “Riesling”.

Caldaro - Ora - Montagna - Aldino - Nova Ponente - Obereggen - Val d'Ega - Bolzano - Caldaro

For three generations, the Andergassen family has been making wine in the wine cellar of the Steflhof estate in Caldaro, and two of them are still at the helm even today: the senior with a watchful eye on tradition, and the junior with one on innovation. But it doesn’t matter whether it is father or son: the credo at the Steflhof is that a vintage already has its beginning in the vineyard. “That is where the bouquet and the individuality of the wine are decided,” explains Georg Andergassen.

So it is certainly no wonder how much value the Andergassens place upon the leaf trimming, but above all else on a strict reduction of harvest quantities and the correct harvest time. “Hitting these is a challenge every year,” says Georg. And this challenge is only to be met with a great deal of knowledge and experience, just as a great deal of experience and knowledge about the taste of the customers is needed in order to find the right time for pumping, blending, and bottling.

The fact that the Andergassens have the right knack for this is proven by their wines, first and foremost a fruity Chardonnay, a Lake Caldaro superiore with fine tones of almond, and a full-bodied Merlot that is aged in oak barrels. Anyone wishing to be convinced of the constantly high quality of the wines at the Steflhof would do best with a winery tour. And that concludes traditionally – how could it be any different? – with a tasting.

Cozy, familiar ambience in the village centre of Caldaro. The perfect place where to try excellent home-made ice cream. A must for every ice cream lover. We also suggest to try the fine pastry, featuring cakes, strudel as well as pralines and many other specialties.

The Seppi family has run the Oberpreyhof in Caldaro since 1885. So it’s no wonder that particular attention has been paid to tradition here. Or, as Markus Seppi puts it, to “maintaining the heritage of the forefathers to pass on to the next generation.”

For the Seppi family, those are more than just pretty words. Thus the vineyards in the Caldaro locations of Prey, Barleith, and Lavason are managed gently, there is a focus on undergrowth that is rich in species, and herbicides are avoided. “In the end, only a healthy, living soil brings forth healthy, resistant vines which, in turn, bear good grapes,” Seppi says.

The vines are supported in the classic pergola system, although not only as a nod to the predecessors at the estate, but also for practical considerations. Thus the Seppis consider the pergola trellis to be the optimal training method in the estate’s vineyards with a southern exposure. They distinguish themselves by hot days and cool nights which guarantee a regular maturation of the grapes and foster the development of extracts and aroma substances.

And in the end, an eye is also kept on tradition with the selection of the varieties, with the Seppi family greatly concentrating (and in fact even more and more) on indigenous varieties. Thus Lagrein and Schiava form the foundation of the Oberpreyhof in Caldaro. The latter is used for the classic Lago di Caldaro, and in addition to that, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Yellow Muscat are also found in the assortment. In addition, grappas that are produced at the estate can be tasted in the vaulted cellar from the fifteenth century.

In the middle of the nineteenth century, when Franz Morandell built a farmhouse, he at the same time also immortalized his wife. Her name was Elisabeth, which in its loving nickname becomes “Lisele”. Today, the Lieselehof Estate Winery in Caldaro is an imposing estate in which the winegrowing knowledge of three generations meets together and where Werner Morandell has the say. He is the great-grandson of “Lisele”.

The fact that with this story, the Morandells inherited their passion for wine right from the cradle may sound like a platitude. Except that it is true. Werner’s grandfather was a winegrower, while his father Gottlieb-Amadeus attended to the grafting of young grapevines and produced rootstock for surrounding vineyard nurseries.

Werner Morandell also thoroughly devoted himself to winegrowing. He even wrote a book about it and along with his vineyard, he is a contractual partner of the Freiburg in Breisgau State Viticultural Institute in Germany. Within that context, the main attention lies with fungus-resistant varieties, on the organic cultivation of traditional grape varieties (such as Schiava and Cabernet), and on wines that are made in an ecologically friendly manner. “That means that during the vinification, only a few natural treatment agents are permitted, and we completely do without synthetic materials,” Morandell says.

The particular pride of the Morandells is wines that are made from exclusively fungus-resistant grapes for which no chemical herbicides are used in the vineyard and for which strict conditions are met for grape yields per vine. A separate brand name has even been developed for them: Green Mountain Wine.

If the search is for three terms that most accurately describe the Unterhofer Estate Winery in Pianizza di Sopra, they would indeed be: tied to nature, determined, and family-run.

Let’s start with the term “family-run”: the Unterhofer Estate Winery is a family operation, and thus one in which not only has the operating family given its name by bearing the brunt of the work on their own shoulders, the wines that come into existence here are also imprinted with their very own stamp. At the same time, the term “family-run” describes a second aspect: the manageability, that “good things come in small packages”.

The term “tied to nature” fits the Unterhofer Estate Winery because the entire philosophy is oriented toward this. “We work our largely very steep, airy slopes as close to nature as possible,” explains winegrower Thomas Unterhofer, “and we also view ourselves as caretakers of the landscape.”

Landscape caretakers who in any case also produce wine with passion. And, in so doing, have clear goals in focus – so “determined”. Thus the motto applies in the winery to also bring the high grape quality that was achieved in the vineyards into the bottles. The results are expressive wines which, with the exception of Schiava, are for the most part white: Kerner, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Blanc. “Our wines are character wines,” Unterhofer adds, “unique, reflective of their vintage, and with a very personal signature.”

While pedaling in the Etsch / Adige Valley from Bozen / Bolzano to Meran / Merano, to your right you can see only cliffs and steep slopes served by two solitary cableways. But behind those mountain slopes and cliffs, there's an enormous hidden area of verdant alpine meadows dotted by hamlets and countless farmhouses. The road across this landscape is a joy for bicycle racers. This road leads from Kaltern / Caldaro over to the Burggrafenamt / Burgraviato district. This district – which includes the city of Meran – has its name from the previous historical era during which Tyrolean Burgraves reigned here. Today, this region is a center of tourism in South Tyrol: Meran and its neighboring communities are pulsing with life. One the route to this area, the only thing holding you back might be a gentle breeze blowing to the south from the Vinschgau / Venosta Valley along the Etsch / Adige River. This tour starts at the central market square in Kaltern and continues via the Bahnhofsstrasse down to the Kellereistrasse (alternative starting-point) at the end of which (at the old locomotive) the actual bike trail begins that leads down into the Etsch / Adige Valley. You will now proceed along the Etch bicycle path into the valley and later along the little valley roads until you approach the gates of Meran. The traffic will now become somewhat heavier until you have left the branch roads into the center of Meran and the streets up to Schenna / Scena behind you. At the outskirts of Meran, the ascent begins up to Hafling / Avelengo, the first village of the extensive "Wiesenbalkon" ("meadow balcony") above the Etsch Valley. (This village gave its name to the "Haflinger" breed of horse.) On the uphill stretch, the traffic will lighten once you've passed the valley station of the Meran 2000 gondola-type aerial lift (to which many visitors come by car). You can now fully enjoy the fabulous view of the Etsch / Adige Valley until the in part quite steep road disappears behind the cliffs. Not only the view into the valley is now obstructed. Suddenly, Meran has vanished from sight when you immerse yourself in this completely different world of peaceful mountain pastures and rustic farmsteads. From Hafling, the road now winds across the plateau via Vöran and over to Mölten / Meltina. Just before you reach Mölten, in Schlaneid, you can also stay on the main road. But this tour will take you over a narrow side street and past the aerial lift's mountain station that serves the Etsch / Adige Valley. And that again meets the main road in Mölten. This side-trip is an exciting option for cyclists looking for a little adventure. That's because, between Hafling and Mölten, there is one or another side street leading to hamlets and farmsteads that you might like to try out along this route. But in Mölten, you'll again be riding along wider, well-established main street and continue for a while over the plateau. But soon, while descending along this exciting road featuring a couple of curves, a warm wind will again be blowing in your face until you get to Terlan / Terlano and are standing in front of the gates of the provincial capital. You'll now see more vineyards, and viticulture will now characterize the tour. The route does not lead you directly on the main street to Kaltern. Instead, you will be taking little side streets through wine villages. You'll have to exert yourself until just after the Kaltern Höhe you have achieved the upper part of the Mitterdorf district. Only now can you glide easily into the center of town and maybe treat yourself to an espresso or maybe even a glass of wine – the perfect conclusion to this interesting tour.

Variants: You can take this tour in either direction. However, the descent from Mölten / Meltina to Terlan / Terlano is more charming that the one from Hafling to Meran. Because this route is in the shape of a figure-eight, with nodes between Terlan and Andrian, you are free to try out different variations.

Thomas Pichler knows wine in all of its facets and, in fact, in greater detail than most others. And that is not just because he comes from a family of Caldaro winegrowers and therefore himself grew up with wine cultivation. Rather, it is because he has worked for nearly three decades in different wine laboratories. But since wine under laboratory conditions obviously was not sufficient for him, he also now produces wine himself – at the Thomas Pichler Estate Winery in Caldaro.

The question that immediately comes to mind with such a career is: how does the know-how from the laboratory get transferred into practice? And the answer from Pichler is surprising: “With winemaking, I do not depend very much upon theory,” he says, “but rather with all of my decisions, I rely upon feeling, upon my nose and mouth.” In the end, it is not about bottling some trendy wine with all sorts of aids, but rather producing independent wines that are characteristic for the variety, area, and grower.
 The winegrower places correspondingly great value upon the selection of variety, whereby his heart lies above all else with indigenous grapes and classic wines.

Thus Lago di Caldaro and Lagrein make up nearly half of the production, followed by Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. And with sales, as well, Pichler follows the long-established routes. His wines are sold at the winery, at select wine bars, and to dining establishments.

The Klosterhof in Caldaro is an estate winery, wine hotel, and small distillery all at the same time. So Oskar Andergassen and his son Hannes exhaust all of the possibilities of what can be done with grapes. And what is just as big is the care with which they look after their raw materials.

For the Andergassens, care means first and foremost respect for nature. And (above all else) in the vineyards that encompass 4.5 hectares, that means to deal with them gently. That also involves low yields which, as a pleasant aftereffect, also drives up the quality of the grapes.
The Klosterhof Estate Winery also continues respect and sustainability in the winery, in which only grapes from their own vineyards are used, where gently means, “We follow the philosophy of a soft pressing and allow the wine a lot of time to mature in large wooden barrels,” explains the son, Hannes Andergassen.

The results of the care and prudence in the Klosterhof Estate Winery are 35,000 bottles per year of DOC quality wines – primarily Schiava, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir. Since 2013, the Andergassens have also been making distilled spirits in their own distillery from the pressings of Pinot Noir and Yellow Muscat, but also from apricots and Williams pears.

The entire palette of what can be made from grapes can best be experienced by a visit to the winery. In so doing, not only do visitors get insight into the method of operation at the Klosterhof, they can also taste the terroir in and around Caldaro and also understand the great passion that the Andergassens have.

From egg to caterpillar to cocoon to butterfly. Or, rather, from shoot to blossom to grape to wine. Armin Morandell of the estate winery of the same name in Caldaro recognized the similarities of two impressive processes of metamorphosis in nature. So it is no wonder that all of the Morandell wines are named after butterflies.

The Morandell Estate Winery is located above Lake Caldaro, and his vineyards extend across different locations and elevations from 200 to 500 meters. All of them may well be pampered by the son, but otherwise they have different microclimates and soils, the palette of which ranges from lime gravel to red loam. “This variety makes it possible for us to purposefully grow top-quality varieties that thrive especially well at each respective location and bring forth wines with strong character,” Morandell explains.

He concentrates on Pinot Grigio, Schiava, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, “On a handful of wines,” as he himself puts it, “that we produce according to all the rules of the art.” And market. And so the butterfly was made the trademark and the wines from the Morandell Estate Winery are named after species of butterflies with the labels related to their wings. “Wines and butterflies: both of them are the unbelievable result of a completed transformation,” explains Morandell, providing the idea behind it.

And because in addition, the butterfly is a sensitive creature, it also matches quite well with the philosophy of the Morandell Estate Winery, which is: “We work according to a holistic approach, devote ourselves with dedication to the care of our grapevines, and focus on sustainable management.”

It was only in 2019 that Stephan Rohregger took over the Prälatenhof Estate Winery in Caldaro from his parents. But to believe that the young winegrower was lacking in experience would be totally wrong. After all, not only did Rohregger have an education as an oenologist behind him, he also had a huge amount of experience as winemaker at a large, renowned private winery in Alto Adige.

Rohregger describes himself as “determined and quality-oriented.” In concrete terms, that means: the goal is quality and the winegrower and winemaker in one consistently heads for it. “All wines are made by us in a characteristic and authentic manner in ceramic or wood and are matured for at least a year,” Rohregger says. That which is created are not only wines of high quality, but also those with a high degree of recognition value. They are also not mainstream, but rather wines which reflect well the vineyards of the Prälatenhof Estate Winery in Pianizza di Sotto in the community of Caldaro.

These vineyards are described by the winegrower at the Prälatenhof in Caldaro with the term “very interesting”. On one hand, the vineyards are located in Caldaro at an elevation of 440 meters. Schiava is grown there on vines that are up to 90 years old, as is Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. On the other hand, the Prälatenhof had vineyards in the community of Cortaccia, and specifically in Corona, at 800 meters above sea level, where Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc grapes are grown. Two vineyards, two completely different locations, five grape varieties, and yet just one challenge for the three generations of Rohreggers at the tenuta Rohregger: to produce top-quality wines.

The Ritterhof Estate Winery in Caldaro can assert that it is the best place for Alto Adige winegrowing. Or that it has the best address. After all, the building number says it all: Alto Adige Wine Route No. 1.

Eva Kaneppele run the family estate winery with care, prudence, consideration, and a philosophy that can best be expressed with colors. “Brown stands for the soil, the origin, the terroir; green means growth and symbolizes our careful approach to nature; while blue stands for the grapes that are harvested by hand and with care,” explains Eva Kaneppele.

And the three colors also correspond to the three lines of the estate winery. Brown is the color of the Terra line, and thus of down-to-earth Alto Adige wines, while green decorates the Collis line for which only completely mature grapes from the best terraced slopes are used. Blue, on the other hand, stands for the top line Rarus, consisting of wines that are carefully aged in small oak casks. But it doesn’t matter which line or which color: “Our wines have character. Every bottle is unique.”

And uniqueness is provided by the vineyards of the Ritterhof, which are distributed from Salorno all the way up to Renon. The product line is extremely broad, ranging from Red Muscat to Merlot and Lagrein all the way to Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer. And, it goes without saying, Schiava. That is a bow to the winegrowing tradition by the Ritterhof Estate Winery. And innovation is provided by the fungus-resistant varieties with which the Ritterhof Winery is experimenting.

This tour is like a journey through the history of the Etsch / Adige Valley. You will pass through historical villages on its sun-drenched eastern flank, though arcades and narrow lanes. And the highlight is a mystical, hilly landscape – an ancient cult site and important biotope that has lost none of its magical appeal. Castelfeder, situated in the "Unterland" district of South Tyrol between the villages of Auer / Ora and Montan / Montagna, is an ancient cult site on prominent display in the landscape. Extravagant geological formations and enormous boulders left behind by receding glaciers can be seen at various elevations. This wild and romantic hilly landscape exerts an unaccountably powerful attraction on every visitor. Castelfeder is the subject of numerous legends and stories. The so-called "Kuchelen" on the highest level are the remains of a ring wall dating back to the Early Middle Ages. The smoothly polished slide at its highest dome is believed to be associated with an ancient fertility cult. It was thought that childless women could get offspring by rubbing the stones dedicated to Mother Earth. The reasons for building the Fleims / Fiemme Valley railroad at the southern edge of the magic hill had less to do with pagan rituals, and more with practical necessity: It leads up from the foot of the Etsch / Adige Valley to the San Lugano Pass and into the "Val di Fiemme." In the 1960s, the railroad was mothballed. Today, cyclists are glad that they can use this old route as a bicycle path. It's a steep ascent over the eastern flank of the Etsch / Adige Valley. The trail takes you first through the magical labyrinth of Castelfeder. This ascent begins at the Etsch Bicycle Trail between Auer and Neumarkt / Egna. To get there, follow the bicycle route from Kaltern / Caldaro and past Lake Caldaro down to Auer and along the Etsch River to the south. After ascending through the mystical biotope, you will continue uphill into the historical center of the village of Montan. After that, you'll enjoy an unobstructed view of the Etsch / Adige Valley as you continue to the small hamlet of Pinzon / Pinzano and down to Neumarkt. In earlier days, Neumarkt was an important commercial center along the Etsch Valley Route; the charming arcades from its heyday are a reminder of its earlier importance. On the route from Montan and then back down into the valley, you'll encounter another visual marvel: The viaduct near the little village of Glen, a looped bridge which the engineers used to elegantly smooth out the necessary hairpin bend of the railroad in the somewhat steeper area of the slope. This roundtrip offers numerous photo-ops, so plan some extra time to stop and take a few snapshots. From Neumarkt, the route then returns you along the bicycle trail via Lake Caldaro up to Kaltern. You can now celebrate the completion of your tour with an espresso or a glass of delicious Caldaro wine.

Variants: This roundtrip tour can be taken in either direction. If you take it in reverse order, you'll begin in Neumarkt / Egna and visit the Castelfeder last. But because the route crosses the street between Neumarkt and Montan / Montagna, you can also limit yourself to looping backwards via Pinzon / Pinzano and Montan, or you can completely forgo this loop.

The Moser winegrowing estate in Pianizza di Sotto (Caldaro) was inaugurated in 2018. That makes it one of the youngest in Alto Adige, but it is also among the largest and, without a doubt, the most ambitious. The vines, for example, are grown on two different locations on 10 hectares of land. The red varieties thrive on the heat and the Mediterranean climate of Lago Caldaro whereas the whites find optimum conditions on the glacial moraine in Monticolo. They all are then matured in different wooden barrels.

Everyone at the Moser winegrowing estate is striving for perfection, and it shows—for example, in the new, fully equipped cellar and the identity of the cellarer: none other than Gerhard Sarin is in charge here, the man who already achieved international renown as the cellarer of ERSTE + NEUE.

Approximately 55,000 bottles a year are produced at the Moser winegrowing estate under his aegis. The varieties on offer range from the fungus-resistant (PIWI) Souvignier Gris and the classics Ruländer, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon to Lagrein Rosé, Kalterersee, and Lagrein Riserva as well as the Toscarosso and Merlot Cabernet cuvées.

Those who have always wanted to be a fly on the wall in the cellar can take one of the weekly tours (tasting included). And those who love not only wine but beer, too, will be delighted to learn that the Moser wine estate is home to the only brewery-in-a-winery in Europe.

Agriculture, and winegrowing in particular, has always played an important role since time immemorial for the Bertol family. And the work continues with great enthusiasm and diligence.

The Spiegelhof Estate Winery is located directly on Lake Caldaro and is among the best locations in Caldaro. In recent years, the operation has grown continuously and has now come to comprise somewhat more than five hectares.

Earlier on, the Schiava (Vernatsch) variety was grown almost exclusively, from which the Lago di Caldaro denomination is obtained. Today, it is the varieties Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Yellow Muscat, Lagrein, Merlot, and Cabernet that dominate. And the training method has also changed: before, the vines were grown on pergola trellises, but now it is almost exclusively the Guyot trellis that is used. “This has had a positive influence on grape quality, and work can be made easier through the increasing use of machines,” says the winegrower Reinhild Bertol.

The wine itself is made with great care in the Spiegelhof, which is located right in the midst of the vineyards on the path around the lake. Anyone who strolls by the Spiegelhof will not have a hard time recognizing the families passion: the collecting of vintage tractors. Gerold Bertol, the master of the house, began this hobby more than thirty years ago. At the current time, the collection numbers over a hundred models – and there is no end in sight.

The heart of the Spiegelhof Estate Winery is “Reinhild’s Farm Shop”. The idyllic wine shop is located right on the lake and is surrounded by the winery’s own vineyards. It is the perfect location for tasting the excellent estate wines.

Three generations of vintners – With a passion for wine-making

We are down to earth, but also innovative. We have great respect for Nature, and cultivate grapes only at the appropriate locations. That describes, in a nutshell, the philosophy of the Niklas winery. We view our family heritage as a responsibility to shape and maintain a South Tyrolean wine-growing estate like no other. It embodies the know-how and motivation of three generations of vintners, and is a place where outstanding South Tyrolean red wines typical for their location are created. In the meantime, Dieter Sölva guides the estate’s continued development. Dieter learned the business from his father, Josef, the founder of the Niklas winery, whom he succeeded. Dieter’s son Michael is already adding his unique handwriting to the family business – whose wines are now being marketed throughout the world.

For wine to mature underground in the cellar is not especially impressive. But the fact that this wine cellar was created by hand is, in fact, extremely impressive. To that extent, the wine cellar of the Dominikus Estate Winery in Caldaro is something special. And the wines that come into existence there are, as well, not least of which is the Dominikus Lago di Caldaro superiore, which was also named “Schiava of the Year. ”

Georg Morandell is responsible for the wines of the Dominikus Estate Winery in Caldaro, but the infrastructure in San Giuseppe al Lago is the work of his father. “His life’s work,” as Morandell puts it. With only a pick and shovel, the elder Morandell spent over thirty years digging out a wine cellar under his vineyard. “An unbelievable human accomplishment,” Georg Morandell finds it to be.

He inherited from his father not just a unique winery, but also a passion for wine. “For decades, we have been making wine ourselves from the grapes from our vineyards, and we sell our wine exclusively from the estate,” the winegrower says. All of the work is carried out by the family – with a great deal of experience and a healthy portion of know-how.

Thus what is created are top-quality wines filled with character: Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Schiava, Lagrein – and the Dominikus sparkling wine, for which Morandell is again and again traversing new paths. “In 2017, I tried for the first time to age a portion of our grapes in clay amphorae,” the winegrower recalls. He place the amphorae in a niche in his cellar labyrinth and awaited the result with excitement. His conclusion: “In the clay caves, the wine can mature at a constant temperature and ideal humidity – just like centuries ago.”

The Kettmeir Winery in Caldaro has existed since 1919. Or to put it better, the winery has existed since 1919, but they have also been making sparkling wine since 1964. Today, Kettmeir relies upon 60 suppliers who cover a broad winegrowing area. It ranges from Caldaro up to Soprabolzano on the Renon plateau in the north and down to Pochi above Salorno in the south.

Shortly after the end of the First World War, the agronomist Giuseppe Kettmeir built a winery in Caldaro. For nearly 50 years, the production of quality wines was the only pillar of the Kettmeir Winery, until the potential of sparkling wines was recognized in 1964. “As far as the production of sparkling wine is concerned, we are among the pioneers in Alto Adige and have made our contribution to reviving this tradition,” they say at the Kettmeir Winery.

Since 1986, this winery in Caldaro has belonged to the Santa Margherita winegrowing group, but the focus of its activity did not change with this event. Today, 60 winegrowers supply the winery with grapes that originate from 55 hectares of vineyards. The core is those in Caldaro, from which Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Red Muscat originate. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also supplied by estates in Pochi, while the Ebnicherhof in Soprabolzano provides the winery with Müller Thurgau grapes.

Out of this diversity, Kettmeir creates exquisite sparkling wines – and since 1992 using only the classic méthode champenoise. “It is the most complex way of producing sparkling wine,” they say at the winery, “but also the most elegant.”

Andreas Dichristin has a dream. He wants to consistently make wine from completely untreated grapes, and thus he even does without organic pesticides. He has reserved a section of his organic estate winery Tröpfltalhof in Caldaro for the trials. And planned for lots and lots of patience.

For someone who has dedicated his life to winegrowing and winemaking, Dichristin incidentally admits to having a really marginal role in all of it. “For thirty years, I have been accompanying the grapes on their path from the vineyard into the bottle,” he says, “and today I know that our work for the most part consists of observing.”

The secret of his work is to remain very close to nature with everything that he does and to recognize the right timing for everything. For that reason, since 2005, Andreas, his wife Rosmarie, and their children Verena and Jakob have been running the Tröpfltalhof in Caldaro biodynamically – and, it goes without saying, the vineyards, as well. In their own nearby vineyard at an elevation of 500 meters, Sauvignon Blanc vines grow, while in the Barleith vineyard above Lake Caldaro, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are planted.

The fact that the wines of the Tröpfltalhof are aged in amphorae emphasizes once again the very independent path that the Dichristins follow. Andreas describes it as “Remaining true to minimalism from the vines to the bottle”, and adds, “I believe that it is precisely that which gives my wines greatness and originality.”

If you start cycling in Kaltern, you will first find yourself surrounded by vines. Soon, however, the paths disappear into forests where you can lose yourself. This tour can only explore a few kilometres of the huge network of paths, but as a selection of the best paths it does justice to the claim of getting to know the area.

It first leads into the forest on the western flank of the Adige Valley between the sports centre and the small hamlet of Altenburg with one of the most beautiful viewpoints over Lake Kaltern. On the other side, between Kaltern and Etsch, rises the Mitterberg. From the Adige valley, rugged walls rise 400 metres steeply. On the Kalterer side, the wooded terrain slopes gently. Over there is the next destination of the tour, the large stone valley. On the slopes of the Mitterberg you now stay in the forest and pass the Montiggler Lakes. Here you can dangle your feet in the water or go swimming. The Montiggl forest offers an endless network of paths that lead via the village of Montiggl to the cosy wine village of Girlan. Now the vines line the path again when it goes from Girlan back to Kaltern.

Variants: You can also skip the detour to Altenburg and just do the short loop via the Große Steintal and Montiggl to Girlan. If you feel like it, you can also include a detour to Lake Kaltern in the loop.

This is a tour of superlatives, with awesome panoramic views, taking you to the best lookout summit in the breathtaking "South of South Tyrol."

In order to climb the Monte Roen, you'll have to overcome about 1,800 meters of altitude differential in a single go. The first intermediate goal is the Mendel Pass. From Kaltern / Caldaro, the Pass Road goes first through the forest, and later over a narrow ribbon of road carved heroically into the side of the mountain, all the way to the pass (at an elevation of 1,363 meters above sea-level). When taking this route, you can enjoy the first sublime views over Kaltern, the Etsch / Adige Valley, and Lake Caldaro.

If you'd rather forgo the Pass Road, you can instead take the Mendel funicular up to the pass. This saves you 850 meters of altitude differential. (You can find out everything you need about prices and schedules at: kaltern.com/de/die-mendelbahn-in-kaltern.html)

At the Mendel Pass, you'll leave the road. Now it's time to brace yourself as you enter a world of stunning panoramic views and high adventure! A gravel road will first take you up to the Halbweg Hut. From here on out, the trail becomes a bit wilder. The path up to the Malga Romeno is crisscrossed with tree roots, and the grade will be a challenge to your calves. If it's your intention to continue on to the summit, you'll need either a powerful electro-motor and perfect technical skills. Or you'll have to dismount and push your bike up the trail – maybe after stopping for a breather and taking refreshments at the alpine rest-stop. In any event, you shouldn't "stress out" over this segment. Instead, you simply relax and enjoy the natural grandeur.

The closer you come to the summit, the more often you will be treated to terrific 360-degree panoramas. When you reach the cross at the summit, you'll be blown back by the fantastic view: The whole chain of the Dolomites, including the Schlern / Sciliar, the incomparable Rose Garden, and Latemar to the east and the Brenta and the glacier region of the Ortler in the west. And a beautiful vista of the provincial capital of Bozen / Bolzano like you were sitting in an airplane. And to wind things up, you can enjoy a superlative descent at the border ridge between the Etsch / Adige Valley and the Non Valley. This starts off on open alpine meadows at the summit and later takes you along an easy trail to the Grauner Joch.

Now it's time to depart the Non Valley to the right and take the forest trail down to the road to Altenburg. Once you arrive there, you really ought to pay a visit to the chapel there and enjoy the splendid view of Lake Caldaro from the lookout balcony. The trail will now lead through the forest to the St. Anton Sports Center. The cherry on top of this gigantic tour is the fun trail in the forest until you start to pass by the first houses. And now you will finally enter the heart of Kaltern / Caldaro, where you can stop and treat yourself to a glass of delicious wine at the central market square. After this epic adventure, you've earned it!

Variants: The Mendel / Mendola funicular will save you 850 meters of altitude differential with your bike. If you use the funicular to get to the pass, you can consider combinations with the "Penegal" or "Malga Romeno" tour.

Hofcafé

A family-run wine producing business in quite position, where the own grapes are cellared with particular care and passion. The result are elegant and top quality wines. Comfortable holiday apartments for rent. Wine selling. Guided visits upon request.

We - Ingrid and Arthur Rainer - have gone the indirect way, looked around and permanently learned. As a consequence, we want to go an open, modern and future-oriented way. In 2013 a new milestone was set. For the first time all the grapes of the family-owned vineyards were vinified in our cellars.