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About South Tyrolean quality products and Törggelen in Bressanone/Brixen

South Tyrolean wine & apples

South Tyrolean wine has long made it beyond the country’s borders into the mouths of passionate wine drinkers. The same can be said of the South Tyrolean apple, which is considered to be South Tyrol’s export hit. One in 10 apples in Europe comes in fact from South Tyrol and with a 40% market share South Tyrol is also considered to be the largest supplier or organic apples in Europe. Many of these apples come from the area surrounding Hotel Löwenhof. Making our hotel the ideal place to become addicted to indulging in South Tyrolean wine and apples.
Valle Isarco/Eisacktal, the valley of trails, is famous for its white wines. The grapes for renowned Valle Isarco/Eisacktal wines, for example those from the Neustift wine cellar, the Köfererhof or the Strasserhof wine estate, thrive just a few steps away from our Löwenhof. It’s worth the walk! As is tasting South Tyrolean wines too of course: many of the Valle Isarco/Eisacktal wines are regularly presented with recognised wine awards.

Wine hotel Loewenhof Bressanone/Brixen

South Tyrolean bacon and cheese

South Tyrolean bacon is probably the top delicacy that everyone associates with the country of castles and mountains. South Tyrolean bacon is in fact closely tied up with South Tyrolean tradition, South Tyrolean bacon is a piece of culture and a piece of home. This is precisely why original South Tyrolean bacon carries the designation of origin g. g. A. (protected geographical indication), which stands for the passed down production methods and South Tyrolean quality.

South Tyrolean bacon is everywhere in traditional cooking, although local creative chefs also use the product to give their modern creations an authentic South Tyrolean touch. South Tyrolean bacon still tastes best though sliced fresh together with South Tyrolean cheese, crunchy “bread” and a good glass of wine. They are all hearty classics that you simply have to try.

Our gourmet tips

  • Brimi – milk and dairy products shop in Bressanone/Brixen
  • Degust – cheese maker in Varna/Vahrn
  • Capriz – fine cheese dairy in Vandòies/Vintl
South Tyrolean quality products hotel Loewenhof

Törggelen in Bressanone/Brixen: colourful and packed with flavour

Törggelen is a tradition in Bressanone/Brixen in the autumn. This ancient custom, which is in the meantime famous beyond national borders, entices with tasty dishes and socialising in rustic parlours and vaulted cellars. However, Törggelen is not just a tradition in Bressanone/Brixen: Törggelen is a must in Valle Isarco/Eisacktal from Neustift monastery to Castel Roncolo/Schloss Runkelstein. It traditionally takes place during harvest time, when autumn has fallen over the countryside and the fields and forests brightly shine in all the colours of nature’s red and yellow repertoire. 

What is Törggelen?

Törggelen is an old custom from South Tyrol that is held in autumn. It originates from Valle Isarco/Eisacktal: After the grape harvest the wine growers invited their harvesters to a feast. The feast consisted of different products from the harvest such as nuts and roast chestnuts, bacon and usually home-made sausages and rye bread. There was young wine and grape must to go with it. The celebration took place in the room where the “Torggl”, wine press, stood. That where the name “Törggelen” comes from, which developed from the Latin Torculus. Törggelen has not lost any of its charm in Bressanone/Brixen and throughout the Valle Isarco/Eisacktal region today: Törggelen is more popular than ever nowadays, with both locals and tourists. 

Törggelen in Bressanone/Brixen – when and where?

Today Törggelen in Bressanone/Brixen takes place in rustic “Buschenschenke” taverns, Törggele cellars with thick stone walls, farmhouse parlours and restaurants between vineyards and chestnut groves. At the same time, “Buschenschenke” taverns and private farms usually open their doors especially for Törggelen – they are closed to the public the rest of the year. The Törggele season is traditionally from the start of October to the beginning of Advent. We highly recommend the following for Törggelen in Bressanone/Brixen and the surrounding area (each a 5 to 15-minute walk from Hotel Löwenhof):

  • Strasserhof above Neustift monastery with its own wine-growing estate
  • Köfererhof above Neustift monastery, famous for its own white wines
  • Griesserhof in Varna/Vahrn, a former episcopal estate

We will be happy to make reservations for you for Törggelen in Bressanone/Brixen!

The Chestnut Trail: Törggelen from Bressanone/Brixen to Bolzano/Bozen

You can ideally combine Törggelen in Bressanone/Brixen with moderate sporting activity on the Chestnut Trail. The picturesque 60-kilometre long trail is lined by chestnut trees, mixed forests in autumn colours and sights like Neustift monastery, Säben Abbey, the Renon/Ritten high plateau or Castel Roncolo/Schloss Runkelstein. Numerous rustic typical Törggele inns along the trail invite you to top up your energy levels and socialise. You start Törggelen in Bressanone/Brixen: the Chestnut Trail starts at the nearby Neustift monastery and runs via Velturno/Feldthurns, Chiusa/Klausen, Villandro/Villaners, Barbiano/Barbian, Auno di Sotto/Unterinn and S. Pietro/St. Peter as far as Castel Roncolo/Schloss Runkelstein. The Chestnut Trail is signposted and broken up into four stages: Novacella/Neustift – Velturno/Feldthurns (16 km, 5 hours), Velturno/Feldthurns – Barbiano/Barbian (15 km, 6 hours), Barbiano/Barbian – Coste/Leitach (15 km, 5 hours), Coste/Leitach – Castel Roncolo/Schloss Runkelstein (16 km, 5 hours).

Typical specialities

What’s served up for Törggelen in Bressanone/Brixen: “Siaßer” and “Nuier”, i.e. grape must and new young South Tyrolean wine, which go perfectly with the following traditional menu. Bacon, cold meats and cheese with rye bread are served as appetisers, a tasty barley soup or delicious trio of dumplings as starter, a hearty “Schlachtplatte” with various speciality meats and sausages as well as salt meat, homemade sausages and black pudding, ribs with sauerkraut, potatoes and often with “Edäpfelblattlen” are served as the main course. Classic desserts are sweet doughnuts with delicious jam or poppy seed filling and roast chestnuts from Valle Isarco/Eisacktal. 

Törggelen in Bressanone/Brixen is both a real culinary and cultural highlight that nobody visiting South Tyrol in the autumn should miss. We will be happy to advise you and make a reservation for you at a typical Törggele inn.

Toerggelen Valle Isarco/Eisacktal
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