South Tyrolean Apple PGI: Recipes, Events & Infos

Experience South Tyrol’s apple country up close

Where certified quality, origin, and sustainability are at home

With around 18,000 hectares, South Tyrol is one of Europe's leading apple-growing regions at the heart of the continent. Its unique geographical location—protected by the Alps to the north and open towards the south—creates ideal conditions for apple cultivation. Each year, approximately 900,000 tonnes of apples are harvested here by around 6,000 apple growers. Every apple variety finds its perfect spot, whether in valleys or higher elevations. South Tyrol cultivates roughly 30 different apple varieties, around half of which bear the European quality seal PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), guaranteeing their superior quality. Besides traditional apple varieties marked as "Südtiroler Apfel PGI", such as Golden Delicious, Gala, or Granny Smith, numerous apple brands are also grown, marketed under their own brand names like Cosmic Crisp® or Kanzi®.

IDM Südtirol/Südtiroler Apfelkonsortium/Armin Huber

IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Tiberio Sorvillo

IDM/Südtiroler Apfelkonsortium/Alex Filz

Experience the South Tyrolean Apple

Take a leisurely cycle ride and enjoy being close to nature. Whether in spring, summer or autumn, whether in full bloom, lush green or golden-yellow: the gourmet tours of South Tyrol’s apple meadows are truly special whatever the season.

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Discover South Tyrol's apple varieties

Whether it’s a classic variety or a strong brand – every apple from South Tyrol tells its own story and stands for top quality, certified origin and sustainable cultivation. The Südtiroler Apfel PGI is renowned worldwide and grown in South Tyrol under strict quality standards. Apple Brands, on the other hand, come from licensed varieties and are cultivated exclusively by selected growers. All apples from South Tyrol share the same promise: outstanding quality, real sustainability and genuine flavour. Discover the variety and find your favourite apple!

Golden Delicious

Its golden yellow skin with a slight reddish blush promises a flavourful experience: juicy, crunchy and pleasantly tender. The crunchy and juicy flesh offers a sweet note with subtle fruity tartness, accompanied by delicate spicy and green aromas such as vanilla and grass.

Availability: all year round

Perfect pairing: Speck Alto Adige PGI / dark chocolate / South Tyrolean yoghurt with cinnamon / tuna

Gala

With its boldly red striped or flushed skin, Gala is a real eye-catcher. Its flesh is crunchy, juicy and firm, offering a well-rounded combination of sweetness and fine tartness. Fruity-spicy aromas such as pear, peach, fennel and anise give it a distinctive flavour.

Availability: mid-August to mid-April

Perfect pairing: hazelnuts / walnuts / cinnamon

Red Delicious

Its deep red to violet skin envelops juicy, crunchy flesh with a fine texture. The flavour is pleasantly sweet, complemented by green and fruity aromas like herbs and melon.

Availability: mid-September to end of June

Perfect pairing: South Tyrolean yoghurt / cashews / tomato

Granny Smith

With its bright green, glossy skin, this apple is an icon in both look and taste. Its juicy and crunchy flesh delivers a refreshing tartness, accompanied by green notes such as grass and green banana.

Availability: all year round

Perfect pairing: dark chocolate / caramel / leafy greens / hazelnuts

Fuji

With its pinkish-red, slightly striped skin, Fuji is as tempting to look at as it is to taste. Its pronounced sweetness is harmoniously rounded off by fruity and spicy notes like pear and vanilla.

Availability: mid-October to mid-June

Perfect pairing: South Tyrolean mountain cheese / aged cheese / cocoa

Braeburn

With its orange-red to dark red skin, it immediately draws attention. The flesh impresses with its crunchy texture and fresh juiciness. In terms of taste, it offers a harmonious balance of sweetness and tartness, enhanced by green-herbaceous aromas like hay and celery.

Availability: early October to mid-July

Perfect pairing: South Tyrolean radicchio / celery / basil

Südtiroler Apfel g.g.A.

Topaz

Its rough, yellow-green skin with light red accents encases firm, crunchy flesh with a fine texture. The flavour is refreshingly tart with minimal sweetness, complemented by citrusy and green aromas like lime and grass.

Availability: mid-October to April

Perfect pairing: hazelnuts

Pinova

Its bright orange-red skin hides a crunchy and finely grained flesh. The taste is sweet-tart with tropical-fruity aromas like mango and pear.

Availability: mid-February to end of July

Perfect pairing: green tea

Jonagold

Its red-marble skin and juicy, crunchy flesh create a sensory treat. The flavour combines sweet and tart elements, rounded off with fruity-tropical aromas like pear and banana.

Availability: mid-September to June

Perfect pairing: nuts / rosemary / thyme

Elstar

Its marbled red skin and juicy, crunchy flesh make the Elstar a true delight. Its balanced sweet and tangy taste appeals to many apple lovers.

Availability: late August to end of February

Perfect pairing: chestnuts

Idared

This apple changes colour as it ripens: from a yellowish-green to a vibrant red. The flesh remains firm, juicy and slightly tart throughout.

Availability: mid-October to mid-June

Perfect pairing: South Tyrolean goat cheese

Morgenduft

Its greenish-yellow base colour is covered by a deep red hue. The flesh is crunchy and juicy, offering a sweet-tart taste and floral notes like rose and elderflower.

Availability: early October to end of June

Perfect pairing: Lagrein Alto Adige DOC / elderflower / South Tyrolean honey

Stayman Winesap

Its rough, yellow-green skin with light red patches covers a juicy, crunchy flesh with a fine texture. The taste is sweet-tart, accompanied by tropical and fruity aromas such as pineapple and pear.

Availability: mid-October to end of June

Perfect pairing: walnuts / Gewürztraminer Alto Adige DOC / South Tyrolean white mould cheese

The brands

The apple varieties permitted to carry the European "PGI" quality seal are marketed under these 3 brands.

Marlene®

Find out more

Südtiroler Apfel PGI

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Val Venosta

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Ambrosia™

Its vibrant red skin with a yellowish base hides an especially juicy and crunchy flesh. The taste is intensely sweet with gentle tartness, featuring fruity and floral notes like pear and honey.

Availability: early October to mid-May

Perfect pairing: soft goat’s cheese

Bonita

With its bright red colour on a creamy base, this apple stands out immediately. Its crunchy flesh delivers a tangy flavour with a gentle sweetness and green-fruity aromas like green banana and redcurrant.

Availability: January to end of June

Perfect pairing: semi-hard South Tyrolean cheese

Cosmic Crisp®

Its dark red-violet skin with distinctive white lenticels protects juicy flesh with fine, crunchy texture. The sweet taste with fine tartness is accompanied by fruity, tropical and citrus aromas such as gooseberry, pineapple and orange zest.

Availability: early January to early October

Perfect pairing: South Tyrolean mozzarella

Crimson Snow®

The purple-red, lightly striped skin encases juicy and crunchy flesh. The medium-sweet flavour is enhanced by a well-balanced fruity aroma.

Availability: end of November to mid-August

Perfect pairing: South Tyrolean apricot jam

envy™

With its intensely red striped skin, this apple encases a very crunchy and compact flesh. The taste is pleasantly sweet, with tropical and fruity notes like ripe banana, mango and pear.

Availability: mid-October to mid-May

Perfect pairing: chocolate

Giga®

A two-tone apple with dark red over yellow skin that impresses at first glance. Its firm flesh develops a rich sweetness with a gentle tartness. Tropical, fruity and floral aromas such as mango, pear and honey provide exceptional variety.

Availability: all year round

Perfect pairing: Speck Alto Adige PGI

Jazz™

The yellow-green base with dark red stripes makes Jazz™ unmistakable. Its crunchy flesh features a sweet-tart taste with green and spicy aromas such as grass, anise and cinnamon.

Availability: early October to mid-May

Perfect pairing: natural South Tyrolean yoghurt

Joya®

With its wine-red, slightly striped skin, it immediately catches the eye. Its firm and crunchy flesh provides a strong flavour experience. The balanced mix of sweetness and tartness with green notes makes it especially refreshing.

Availability: early March to end of August

Perfect pairing: rye bread / smoked salmon

Kanzi®

With its orange-red skin over a yellow base, Kanzi® is a true visual highlight. Its firm, juicy and crunchy flesh creates a well-balanced sweet-acidic profile. Green and citrusy notes like grass and lemon add a refreshing twist.

Availability: mid-September to end of June

Perfect pairing: granola & South Tyrolean yoghurt / peanut butter

Kissabel®

Its bright red skin with visible speckles hides a glowing red flesh. Its sweet-tart flavour is accompanied by fruity and green notes like berries, quince and grass.

Availability: end of October to mid-December

Perfect pairing: blueberries

Natyra®

With its shiny, bright red skin, Natyra® is a feast for the eyes. Its crunchy, juicy flesh offers pleasant sweetness and fine tartness. Fruity, citrusy and tropical aromas such as peach, lemon and pineapple lend it an exotic touch.

Availability: early November to end of July

Perfect pairing: almonds / fresh South Tyrolean cheese

Pink Lady®

Its characteristic pink skin protects especially juicy and crunchy flesh. The sweet taste with fine tartness is complemented by fruity and tropical notes like apricot and mango.

Availability: end of October to end of July

Perfect pairing: goat’s cheese / blue cheese

RedPop®

The carmine-red, slightly striped skin protects a crunchy flesh. It delights with an intense sweetness and fruity-floral aromas like apricot and elderflower.

Availability: all year round

Perfect pairing: nuts (walnuts)

Story®

Its intense garnet red skin with lighter nuances makes it unmistakable. The flesh is firm, juicy and crunchy. The flavour is very sweet with low tartness – ideal for those who prefer mild apples.

Availability: early June to mid-August

Perfect pairing: soft South Tyrolean cheese

SweeTango®

Its bright red skin with prominent white lenticels protects very crunchy and juicy flesh. The sweet-tart flavour is enriched by tropical-floral aromas such as pineapple and honey.

Availability: end of August to end of October

Perfect pairing: fresh South Tyrolean cheese

yello®

Its alabaster-yellow skin hides fine-textured, very compact and extremely juicy flesh. The sweet taste is rounded off with tropical and fruity notes like pineapple and pear.

Availability: mid-October to end of March

Perfect pairing: aged South Tyrolean cheese

Apple cultivation

Apple cultivation has a long tradition in South Tyrol. South Tyrolean farmers place great importance on the freshness and quality of their products, ensuring a transparent production process. They strictly follow the guidelines of the AGRIOS working group for integrated fruit growing or cultivate their apples using organic methods.

Integrated cultivation

In integrated fruit growing, apple farmers focus on maintaining the ecological balance in the orchards and strengthening the natural defenses of the environment. They implement targeted ecological measures, such as setting up nesting boxes, creating stone piles, and planting tall trees to provide valuable habitats for various animal species. Synthetic chemical treatments are used only when ecological alternatives are insufficient and when there is a significant threat to the harvest. All products used must comply with the strict AGRIOS guidelines, be quickly biodegradable, and pose no risk to humans or the environment. Additionally, they must be chosen to protect water, soil, and air.

IDM Südtirol/Südtiroler Apfelkonsortium/Armin Huber

Organic cultivation

South Tyrol is one of Europe’s leading producers of organically grown apples and is considered a pioneer in organic farming. As early as the 1980s, the first South Tyrolean fruit growers began converting their orchards to organic farming. Today, organic production accounts for around 12% of South Tyrol’s total apple production. South Tyrolean apple farmers work in close harmony with nature, completely avoiding the use of synthetic chemical treatments and fertilisers. Instead, they rely on alternative plant protection measures and promote the natural defense mechanisms of plants to enhance their resistance to pests and fungal diseases.

IDM/Südtiroler Apfelkonsortium/Patrick Schwienbacher

IDM Südtirol/Südtiroler Apfelkonsortium/Manuel Kottersteger

sustainapple - The ABCs of sustainability

Sustainability is a principle shaped by numerous factors. In South Tyrol's fruit-growing sector, this concept has played a key role for generations—likely long before the term itself was even coined. To set clear goals and actively shape the industry's future, the sustainability strategy "sustainapple" was introduced. It serves as a framework for the development of South Tyrol's fruit sector through 2030.

More about sustainapple

Gourmet apple tour by bike

Take a leisurely cycle ride and enjoy being close to nature. Whether in spring, summer or autumn, whether in full bloom, lush green or golden-yellow: the gourmet bike tours of South Tyrol’s apple orchards are a special experience for all the family whatever the season.

South Tyrolean apple strudel

Favourite dishes, sweet temptations and delicious classics

Sitting at a traditional wooden table in an Alpine farm, ideally after a beautiful walk, it tastes particularly good: apple strudel is probably South Tyrol’s most popular dessert. To ensure that our favourite dish works and tastes uniquely delicious, we only use the best natural ingredients: hand-picked South Tyrolean apples, raisins and pine nuts for the juicy filling, butter from South Tyrolean dairy farmers and free-range eggs from for the wafer-thin filo pastry or hearty shortcrust.

Did you know that some 85,000 kilograms of strudel are produced in South Tyrol each year? If these were laid out in a row, they would extend out over a length of 26 kilometres. This is equivalent to the route from Bolzano/Bozen to Meran/Merano. But back to the sweet treat: you can find an opportunity to sample apple strudel, for example, at the annual Bread & Strudel Market in Brixen.

IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Manuel Ferrigato

Tasty apple recipes

We could fill entire recipe books with delicious dishes in which the South Tyrolean Apple PGI plays a leading role. From apple and leak tartlets to apple and cinnamon pastries and apple chutney. Which apple delicacies appeal to you the most?

Shortcrust apple strudel

To the recipe

Barley orzotto with braised radicchio, speck and apple

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Apple „Schmarren“ egg meal

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Delicious apple smoothies in 4 varieties

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Beetroot carpaccio with South Tyrolean mozzarella, rocket and a vinaigrette made from South Tyrolean Apple

To the recipe

What we deem important

We strive to balance our traditional agriculture and origins with our responsibility towards nature and the future generations. These pioneers and visionaries of South Tyrol are leading the way by good example.