Törggelezeit in Kastelbell-Tschars

Törggelen in the lower Vinschgau Valley

With the arrival of autumn and the end of the grape harvest, the Törggelezeit—the Törggelen season—begins in Kastelbell-Tschars. It is one of South Tyrol's warmest and most convivial traditions: locals and visitors head up to the farmsteads and Buschenschenken to sample the new vintage, freshly drawn from the barrel, in the company of friends and family. The name comes from Torggl, the ancient wooden wine press used to crush grapes, which remains a symbol of this rural custom today.

The village is located in the Province of Bolzano, in the heart of Trentino-Alto Adige, nestled between the vineyards and chestnut groves of the lower Vinschgau Valley (Val Venosta), just a short distance from Merano. Kastelbell-Tschars is a bilingual land where the Törggelen tradition is experienced in its most authentic form, far from mass tourism.

What to eat and drink

In the village's Buschenschenken and Törggelekeller, the autumn table is generous and seasonal:

• New wine (Nuier / Sußer) freshly drawn and current vintage wines
• Roasted chestnuts (Keschtn) over an open fire
• Dumplings, Schlutzkrapfen, and hearty soups
• Speck, homemade sausages, and meat dishes with sauerkraut and potatoes
• Homemade sweet Krapfen with various jams

Farmsteads and Buschenschenken

Several farmsteads and rustic taverns open their doors during the Törggelezeit, including the Gasthaus Schlosswirt Juval in Juval, the Hofschank Angerguterkeller, the Hofschank Niedermoarhof in Trumsberg, and the Törggelekeller Gstirnerhof. The season is rounded off by gourmet walks through the vineyards with tastings of organic wines (from producers such as Lehengut, Rebhof, and Köfelgut) and hikes along the scenic Waalwege of the Vinschgau Valley, through woods glowing with autumn colors and chestnut groves.

An autumn between castles and trails

The Törggelezeit is also the perfect opportunity to explore the area: take a stroll along the Vinschger Waalwege, visit Juval Castle (the summer residence of mountaineer Reinhold Messner) or Kastelbell Castle, and enjoy the autumn concerts by the Musikkapelle Tschars. It is an experience that blends gastronomy, nature, and folk culture in one of the most genuine corners of South Tyrol.