Insights into the Törggele Farms of Villandro

A behind-the-scenes look at Törggelen in Villandro

In the municipality of Villandro/Villanders, perched on the sunny slopes of the Isarco Valley (Eisacktal) in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige, the autumn season is defined by one of South Tyrol's most cherished traditions: Törggelen. The Einblicke in die Villanderer Törggele-Betriebe event (literally "insights into the Törggele farms of Villandro") is a series of open house days where farmers and hosts invite visitors into their barns and cellars to share this ancient custom firsthand.

What is Törggelen?

The term derives from the Latin torculum, the wine press once used to crush grapes. Following the harvest, farmers in the Isarco Valley would open their cellars to offer tastings of new wine (Nuier), paired with the season's first roasted chestnuts. From this practice, Törggelen was born—a convivial tradition that brings people of all ages together in South Tyrolean farmhouses between late September and early December. The Isarco Valley is considered the birthplace of this custom, and Villandro remains one of its most authentic hubs.

How the event works

During these sessions, farm hosts guide visitors through their daily work: from the vineyard to the cellar, and from the surrounding chestnut forests to the production of speck and other specialties served at the table. It is a direct way to understand the origins of these products and how a traditional Törggelen menu is crafted.

• Tastings of roasted chestnuts and new wine
• Stories behind the processing of farm products
• Typical specialties such as speck, dumplings, Schlutzkrapfen, and autumn soups
• A cozy, family atmosphere in the wooden Stube of historic farmhouses

The Törggelen farms of Villandro

Participating farms include historic local estates such as the Pschnickerhof, Oberpartegger, Larmhof, Winklerhof, and Johannserhof, alongside other agricultural producers in the Villandro area and neighboring Isarco Valley towns. Each day is dedicated to a different farm, offering a fresh perspective on local tradition each time.

An authentic experience in the Isarco Valley

The event is promoted by the Tourismusverein Klausen-Barbian-Feldthurns-Villanders tourist board and represents an ideal opportunity for those wishing to experience autumn in South Tyrol away from commercial tourist circuits, in direct contact with the producers. Participation requires booking via the tourist office or directly with the host farm.