Long live Bolzano Wine Tasting

This year the 96th Bolzano Wine Tasting event will take place at Maretsch Castle from Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st March.

It is one of the most traditional events held here in the city of Bolzano and therefore a popular showcase for top local wines. In addition to the selection of more than 150 wines, there is a wide-ranging accompanying itinerary with seminars, tastings, guided tours around wine and culinary offers prepared in collaboration with the Accademia Italiana della Cucina. Wine connoisseurs and those striving towards becoming wine connoisseurs can taste more than 170 labels from wine regions in and around Bolzano, Upper Etsch and Unterland, the Eisack Valley, Merano and the Burggrafenamt district.

In spite of all the grumbling, Bolzano Wine Tasting, the most important wine fair for South Tyrol, has survived. And has survived well. At times, it didn't do too well and was poorly attended. So to speak, it had been struggling along on crutches - nevertheless after being revamped several times it now has 96 years under its belt. Fortunately, it is held within the secular walls of the beautifully picturesque Maretsch Castle, where it has always enjoyed great success. In the past, the normal time for wine tasting in Bolzano was the delightful month of May - of course, the most robust and exciting wines are not fully matured by May, but they are always good enough for a tasting sprint. Alas, wine aficionados know all too well, that everyone wants to, and absolutely has to get everything from the cellar, shelf or barrel earlier and earlier every year. Vinitaly the most important national wine fair held in Verona takes place very early in the year compelling wineries to present castrated wines, i.e. wines that have been bottled far too early. young – even younger- the youngest - this is rarely good for the wine. Then there are the "smaller" wines, restless, like racehorses longing to go out to pasture in the fresh spring air, but having to stay put in tiny paddocks. Well, the 96th Bolzano Wine Tasting will take place from 28th to 31st March. But the organisers are smart enough to not single-mindedly rely exclusively on new wines: wineries can of course also present mature, older vintages.