Törggelen in South Tyrol

The current Törggele programme
exclusively for Dolce Vita guests

The current Törggele programme of the Dolce Vita Hotels starts always at the end of October and guests enjoy hiking tours with stops for a break until the beginning of November. Here you will find insights into the fantastic Törggele programme from 2015. The programme is always fully booked and very popular with the guests. Our tip: book early to  ensure that you get one of highly coveted places!

About Törggelen

One theory claims that this was the celebration after finalising a barter trader. The farmers in the valley had vineyards but no pastures. The cattle farmers couldn’t grow vine in the higher regions. That is why the vintners sent their cattle up to the alpine pastures and in turn invited the cattle farmers when the new wine was ready in autumn. But it is also quite possible that the South Tyrolean farmers invited their harvest hands to a thank-you-feast in October. Another theory concludes that the South Tyrolean vintners met in autumn to exchange news and to sample the new wine.

Where does the term “Törggelen” come from?

Törggelen is derived from the word “Torggl“ which means “torquere“ in Latin and means “pressing grapes”. In the vernacular the grape press is called “Torggl“. Wherever there was wine, a substantial feast took place in autumn after the pressing of grapes was finished. All harvest hands were invited to the feast where also the new wine was sampled.

What food is served during “Törggelen”?

The meal is quite something: Wine taverns and rustic pubs serve cabbage, dumplings and smoked meat, homemade sausages and South Tyrolean bacon or cold cuts of Kaminwurzen (smoked, air-dried sausages), cheeses and other specialities from October until mid-November. Krapfen (doughnuts) and “Keschtn”, roasted chestnuts with butter, are served as dessert.