Wine Roads

The Wine Routes of the Alpine regions are a secret tip for lovers of wine and gourmets alike.

The Wine Road in the south of Austrian Styria is the oldest and best-known wine road in whole Styria. Its moderate climate and specific soils are ideal for the production of rich, aromatic wines and render the region a true Mecca for white wine. We just say “Sauvignon Blanc”. The region even boasts its very special landmark: a so-called Klapotetz. The Klapotetz is a kind of windmill and serves as a wooden scarecrow. The clacking of the wind wheels keeps away the birds and other animals that would pick the oh-so sweet grapes. The Wine Road in the south of Styria serves in parts as a natural border to Slovenia.

The wine-growing region bordering southern Styria is called Podravje and its exquisite wine boasts the same quality as in neighbouring Styria. The entire region is called Štajerska, also known as Slovenian Styria. By the way: until 1918, wine-growing was almost limited to those regions that today are part of Slovenia. Slovenia, actually, boasts 2000 years of wine-growing tradition. Podravje, the largest of Slovenia’s wine-growing regions, is divided into 3 wine-growing areas: The wine-growing area along the coast is home to delicious red wines; the most famous one is the Teran. Visitors, however, will even find aromatic white wines such as the Rebula, Pinela and Zelen as well as the oldest Slovenian type of wine, the Refošk. The wine-growing area along the river Drava boasts the famous vineyard hills of Slovenske gorice and Haloze. Wine cellars here are filled with outstanding white wines such as Sivi Pinot, Laški Rizling or Renski Rizling. The wine roads of the region, moreover, is home to the world’s oldest vine (400 years) and the oldest Slovenian wine, originating in 1917. The wine-growing area along the river Sava is known for its light red Cviček. Following a Hussar tradition, people here still open the wine bottles with a sabre.

The South Tyrolean Wine Road in Italy is a little but mighty wine road, leading through colourful vines that have a lot to offer. Year after year, the first-class quality of the local wines - such as the Vernatsch, pinot blanc, chardonnay, Sauvignon, gewuerztraminer, Merlot, Cabernet, Lagrein, pinot noir - attracts numerous wine lovers. The South Tyrolean Wine Road stretches from the beautiful Val d’Adige to Bolzano and the most southern part of South Tyrol. Especially popular are the vineyards of Caldaro and Termeno.

In Valle d’Aosta you will find the Route des Vins, stretching from Pont-Saint-Martin (300 m asl) along the Dora Baltea river to Morgex (1,200 m asl). Wineries alternate with colourful fruit fields and factories making cheese and other delicious specialities. Numerous cellars (crotte) offer wine tasting as well as other culinary specialities. Among the most exquisite wines of beautiful Valle d’Aosta are the Gamay (red wine) and the Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle (white wine).

The Provence region in the French Alps is home to one of the largest wine-growing areas all over France. Provence is famous for its crisp, dry rosé wines, which dominate production. Moreover, it boasts at least 7 AOC regions: Côtes de Provence (rosè), Bandol (red wine), Palette (red and white wine), Cassis (white wine), Bellet (rosé), Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, Côtes du Lubéron (white wine). The Alps include even parts of the wine-growing area along the Côtes du Rhône - producing mainly red wines - and the wine-growing area of Jura and Savoy. Countless types of wine and sparkling wine such as the Vins de pays d’Allobrogie, Vins de pays de Franche-Comté and Coteaux du Grésivaudan are waiting to be tasted. Wine growers in the Bourgogne region produce the tasty burgundy, which - according to wine experts - has more to offer than a bordeaux. These legendary vineyards stretch from Chablis, a white wine-growing area in the north, to Côte d’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Maçonnais and Beaujolais. A light wine, drunken best after 2-4 years, is typical for this region. Not every wine produced in Bourgogne, however, may be called a burgundy; strict quality controls must be passed first.

The German Wine Road actually lies outside of the Alpine area, stretching from the German French border to the north. Definitely worth mentioning is the beautiful region of Pfalz along the Rhein river, known for its German specialty wines.