Alto Adige Wine Tours: The South Tyrol Wine Road from Bolzano

The short version: Alto Adige (South Tyrol) makes some of Italy’s freshest, most precise wines in vineyards framed by the Dolomites. From Bolzano you reach the South Tyrol Wine Road through Appiano, Caldaro and Tramin, the village that gave Gewürztraminer its name, tasting Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Lagrein and local Schiava. In autumn, it is Törggelen season: new wine, roast chestnuts and speck in mountain farm taverns. Here is where to go and how to book.

At a glance

The South Tyrol Wine Road

South of Bolzano, the Strada del Vino (Weinstrasse) runs through Appiano, past Lake Caldaro and on to Tramin, home of Gewürztraminer. The region is bilingual and so are the wines: crisp Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio, aromatic Gewürztraminer, light red Schiava (Vernatsch) and deep, dark Lagrein. Right above Bolzano, the hillside vineyards of St. Magdalener make the city’s own red. Many wineries are cooperatives (Kellerei) with excellent tasting rooms.

Törggelen

From October to early December, South Tyrol celebrates Törggelen: walking between farm taverns to taste the new wine with roast chestnuts, speck, barley soup and sweet krapfen. It is the best time of year to visit for food and wine, and it pairs naturally with a South Tyrol food tour.

Our pick: the Bolzano: Wine Tasting at the SKYWINE Pavilion with Views pours six biodynamic wines from the Loacker estate above the city.

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Frequently asked questions

What wine is Alto Adige known for?

Fresh, precise whites (Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon) and local reds Lagrein and Schiava.

What is Törggelen?

An autumn tradition in South Tyrol of visiting farm taverns to taste new wine with roast chestnuts, speck and hearty local dishes, from October to early December.

Is Gewürztraminer from South Tyrol?

Its name comes from the village of Tramin (Termeno) on the South Tyrol Wine Road, though the grape is grown widely elsewhere, notably in Alsace.

Book an Alto Adige wine tour

Compare Alto Adige and South Tyrol wine tours, or head south to Verona and Valpolicella.