Objevte krásy Vinschgau

The hike to the Malga Stelvio di Sopra/Oberen Stilfser Alm has a length of about 11.6 km. The path leads through nature to a beautifully managed alpine pasture, with its own alpine dairy. There's also the possibility to enjoy lunch at the Malga Stelvio di Sopra.

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.

Cozy mountain inn in Tyrolean style with large dining room and attractive conservatory.

restaurant terra

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.”

The café will spoil you with its cakes and ice-creams!

This ski tour in the Matscher Valley is especially suitable as a firn tour in spring. It is very popular and, with its well-graded slopes, is one of the easier tours. On the Pleresspitze you can enjoy a magnificent view. The mountain panorama to the north-east with the Weißkugel is particularly special.  

A scenic and beautiful running route in Morter which leaves nothing to be desired. Flat passages changes with moderate increases, to sensational sleep tracks along the "Neuwaal" and the "Rautwaal".

 

Kappl, a hamlet at the far end of Langtaufers valley, is the starting point of the hike and also the place where the car park is located. From there you walk towards the out of service Maseben ski-lift station, cross the Karlinbach river, climb up the former ski slope to the forest road signposted no. 15 on your left for about 600m, then keep to the right on the path signposted no. 19. Via the forest road, you climb through the forest, passing the old mid station, the Masebener Alm alpine pasture and the ski-lift, which is still in use in winter, and you reach your destination, the Maseben mountain hut. Once you arrive at the mountain hut, you can enjoy an amazing panoramic view of the surrounding mountains at 2,200m. The descent follows the same route as the one going up.
Note: There is also an option to take the shuttle service, which takes guests to the mountain hut via an adventurous journey.

From the Obere Laaser Alm mountain pasture to the Vellnairalm mountain pasture: 

Difference in height: 1.136 m
Descent: 1.168 hm
Length: 21 km
Duration: 9 h

The three Holy Fountains in Trafoi are situated in a small chapel, which has been a place of pilgrimage for the Virgin Mary since the 15th century. The way to the place of pilgrimage is about 2.5 km long and always runs evenly, so it's suitable for baby strollers. In addition, the beautiful path to the Holy three Wells is accessible all year round.

Hike over pastures and meadows in the idyllic Avingatal valley in Taufers im Münstertal / Tubre in Val Monastero.

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.  
 

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.

The hiking trail to the Rif. Forcola/Furkelhütte has a length of about 12 km. The Rif. Forcola is located at 2153 m and on its sun terrace you can enjoy the wonderful view of the Ortler group.

Enjoy farm produce like real bacon from Almschwein, salami, smoked sausage, dried meat (beef), alpine cheese, eggs, milk, bread, jams, juices and much more.

Beautiful scenic running track at the south of Morter with a great variation over the castle ruins of Montani.

The combination of tradition and innovation: that is the credo according to which the Pohl family runs the Köfelgut in Castelbello. It has been in the possession of the family since 1786, and since 1970 grapes have been grown and wine has been made – thanks to the special climate on the Monte Mezzodì of the Val Venosta.

“The inner-Alpine dry climate in the Val Venosta and the permeable soils are suitable above all else for the Burgundy varieties, and thus Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Noir, but also for Gewürztraminer,” explains Martin Paul Pohl, who manages the family-run Köfelgut along with his wife Elisabeth and sons Maximilian, Leonhard, and Ferdinand.

And he adds, “In the warmest location of the vineyard, Cabernet Franc can also be made as a single varietal in good years.” His vineyards are located on the steep slopes of Monte Mezzodì at an elevation of 600 meters. The grapes that are grown there end up in the estate’s own winery, where they are made into natural wines. The calling cards are the Fleck Riserva Pinot Noir, which is aged for 24 months in small oak casks, and the late-harvest Gewürztraminer Spätlese.

In total, the production at the Köfelgut in Castelbello amounts to around 16,000 bottles of wine per year. Over the past fifty years, wine production has therefore turned into an important branch of the operation at the Köfelgut in Castelbello. “We are proud of our various pillars and our ecological diversity which goes to reinforce what we do in this age of climate change and monoculture,” Pohl opines, also indicating the apple orchard and asparagus field on his land. In addition, another pillar was created in 1992 with the estate’s own distillery in which grappa and brandy are produced – of course exclusively from the estate’s own fruit.

From the Vellnairalm mountain pasture to Sulden/Solda: 

Difference in height: 323 m
Descent: 466 m
Length: 8 km
Duration: 3 h

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 Julius Payer Hut was named after Julius Payer, the famous cartographer and polar explorer who was the first to map the entire Ortler area. The hut has been managed by the Wöll Hermann family for over 20 years. It is situated in an extremely exposed position on the Tabaretta ridge at 3,029m altitude.

Starting point is the parking lot Melag/Melago in Langtaufers valley. From the hamlet of Melag, the trail first heads into the valley in the direction of Melager Alm alpine pasture. About 300 meters after Melag at the crossroads, hiking trail no. 3 leads you in direction towards Schafberghütte. A short, crisp climb of about 180 meters in altitude follows. After a rest at the upper cross, follow the moderately ascending trail no. 3 to the Schafberghütte (2,354 m). Now follow the trail no. 1A to the rustic Weißkugelhütte. Once at the top, you will be rewarded with magnificent views: the Weißkugel glacier, the Bärenbartkogel peak, the Freibrunnerspitze peak and the Langtauferer Spitze peak. The descent is along path no. 2, passing serpentines, to the Karlinbach stream. The way back to Melag is across the flat valley floor.

This multi-day hike at high altitude is through the tree linein the Stelvio National Park.Twisting its way around the imposing Laas/Lasa mountains,the breath-takingMarble Circuit Trailhas a total length of 80 km. Part of the formidable Ortler Alps, this spectacular mountain range is internationally renowned for its unusual pure-white Laas/Lasa marble. With stops along the way the circuit trail can be hiked in one go or split into six single-day stages.

Lining the Marble Circuit Trailare several panels delineating the rich natural diversity found along the trail. Each of these 30 info panels is centred on a specific theme. A further 10 orientation placards offering descriptions of the start and end of the trail are positioned at strategic points along the trail.

The Bergl Alpine Hut (2.188 m) is located at Trafoi and reachable from Solda and Trafoi Valley.

Experience top class culinary delights and visit us at restaurant Paradiso. Our head chef and his creative team will take you on a journey of culinary indulgence which touches all of your senses. Local products, interpreted in new ways, and fine wines from our wine cellar will make your evening at gourmet restaurant Paradiso to a perfect one. We also serve delicious, light meals in our à la carte restaurant for lunch.

At the beginning of the hike, starting from the hamlet Kapron in Langtaufers valley, it is difficult to imagine the paradise that awaits you: The first ascent to the Ochsenberg mountain is fairly steep, but flattens after the first part of your hike. After 30 minutes you are surrounded by the most beatutiful scenery, at which to marvel. By following the path no. 14 you soon reach the Ochsenbergalm alpine pasture (not farmed) with the chapel St. Wendelin located at 2,160 m in the middle of this beautiful valley. The way back to Riegl follows the same route as the one going there.
Note: After the first few metres of the hike, a small signposted path branches off the main route. This is a very steep shortcut to the alpine pasture.

The hiking trail to the Malga Tarres di Sopra has a length of about 12.2 km. The path leads through nature to a beautiful alpine pasture. If you would like to take a shorter hike to the Malga Tarres di Sopra, you can follow path no. 16 directly from Trafoi to the alpine pasture.

The path to the Waterfalls starts and ends at the three Holy Wells. The comfortable hiking trail, with slight inclines, is about 6.4 km long and offers cultural experiences as well as a stop at the beautiful waterfalls.