Fine wines with alpine panorama

From up here on the mountain pasture Villanderer Alm, you can see them all standing close together – the legendary peaks of the Dolomites: Schlern, Plattkofel and Langkofel, the Sella massif, the Geisler peaks, and the Peitlerkofel. They are wrapped in a thick layer of fresh snow.

Just like the Villanderer Alm mountain pasture itself at 1,750 meters. It is the smaller sister of the Seiser Alm, its counterpart, and yet its opposite. Here, there are no ski lifts, just wide-open spaces, peace, and relaxation for the ears, the eyes, and the soul.

The mountain peaks across the Eisacktal valley are still hidden behind clouds, but from time to time, the sky clears, and the sun makes the snow sparkle. From the hut Gasserhütte, voices in Italian, South Tyrolean dialect, Saxon, and Franconian can be heard. The cheerful group gathered here today has every reason to be in a good mood: Snow & Wine is on the agenda. Over the next few hours, they will taste some of the best wines of the Eisacktal valley, enjoy regional specialties, listen to music, take a stroll through the snow – and have a great time with friends, family, and new acquaintances.

The wine journey begins, as it has since the event was first held in 2019, at the hut Gasserhütte. As a starter, a 2021 Sylvaner from the winery Thomas Dorfmann is served – presented by the winemaker himself. And that is what makes this day so special. Not only is Thomas Dorfmann present, but also all the winemakers of today’s featured wines. Such a wealth of expertise rarely comes together in one place. And between tastings, there is plenty of time to get to know each other and chat. Anyone who wishes can ask the winemakers as many questions as they like – they have taken time off today precisely for this occasion.

For comparison, a second Sylvaner is served alongside a light soup, presented by Christian Kerschbaumer from the organic winery Garlider in Feldthurns. The vineyards of Thomas and Christian lie right next to each other, the same grape variety, the same vintage, yet a clear difference in taste can be noted. Cultivation, care, and harvesting are only one side of the coin. After that, the transformation begins in the cellar – turning cloudy grape juice into the fine, aromatic wines of the Eisack Valley, known for their freshness, fruitiness, elegance, minerality, and complexity. Each cellar master has his own unique approach to this process.

With eager anticipation, the group sets off—next destination is the hut Mair in Plun. Most guests are not here for the first time, and the percentage of women is surprisingly high. Even the wine-savvy South Tyroleans, who have traveled from Vinschgau and Lana, rave about an extraordinary event for wine lovers, about the uniqueness of Eisacktal valley wines.

With a porcini risotto and parsley foam, a 2022 Grüner Veltliner from winery Spitalerhof is served. Later, Manuela Secco finds exactly the right words to present the only red wine of the day, a 2021 Pinot Noir from Cantina Valle Isarco, and it makes everyone's mouth water.

The atmosphere becomes increasingly lively. Guests mingle, and those who didn’t know each other before are now engaged in cheerful conversation. In one corner, people dance to the lively tunes of a young brass band, while others take a ride on a sled, unable to resist the fresh snow. Eventually, it’s time to head to the final stop.

At the hut Rinderplatz, the legendary desserts prepared by Manuel await. Woe to those who haven’t saved enough room! Winemaker Hannes from the organic winery Röck explains why his wines are named after women and introduces the 2022 Grüner Veltliner "Johanna".

The flow of the wine tasting is carefully orchestrated. There’s a reason why the Gewürztraminer from the organic winery Zöhlhof is the last wine of the day. "With its soft, slightly sweet notes, it perfectly prepares the palate for the delicious dolci," promises winemaker Josef Unterfrauner. And indeed, the lovingly presented crème brûlée, tiramisù, polenta mousse with elderberry, panna cotta with orange, and raspberry-curd mousse taste absolutely divine.

Nobody wants to drive home tonight. Many guests have arrived by public transport, while others treat themselves to an entire weekend on the mountain pasture.