This autumn, escape to North Italy and enjoy the beautiful ballet of autumnal colours around the South Tyrolean mountains and valleys. The South Tyrol province has something to offer during each season, but surely autumn is the cosiest time of the year.
As days are becoming shorter, an old local custom is to meet for a pleasant walk and a hearty Törggelen in one of the picturesque farm inns of the region. The expression comes from the name given to the room where the wine press was stored, the Torggl, where farmers were meeting to sample the new wine.
This is the occasion to feast on South Tyrolean specialities, such as Knoedel (cheese or spinach dumplings), Schlutzkrapfen (rye ravioli) and butcher’s plates with salted meat, spare ribs, Speck and sausages accompanied with sauerkraut. All products are locally sourced from the area, famous for its top quality wines and outstanding farm products.
The wine harvest is just over and tradition is to taste the “Nuier”, young wine, along with roasted chestnuts called “Keschtn”. Törggelen time takes place from end of September to end of November. Many of the farms have a few rooms to rent, leaving you more time to sample the delicacies and walk around the countryside and the Dolomites.