Peter Sölva Winery: One of the Best Winery Tours in Italy

While in South Tyrol I was treated to a couple of winery/vineyard visits.

You know me — I love wine!

So I’m always happy to visit some vineyards 🙂

The one that stands out to me is Peter Sölva Winery.

It was seriously one of the best, if not THE best winery visit and tasting I’ve ever done.

Why, you ask?

And where is this winery?

Let’s start with the where.

Then I’ll give you 3 great reasons why you need to make a visit.

Where exactly is Peter Sölva Winery?

This family run winery is in the wine growing area and town of Caldaro/Kaltern in the southern part of the province of South Tyrol.

I’ve noted that South Tyrol is not only one of my favorite destinations in Italy, but that this province also produces some excellent wines.

Lago di Caldaro or Kalterer See is the lake that is the center of this beautiful part of Südtirol.

And the vineyards surround the lake and wend their way up the slopes of the mountains that, in turn, surround the lake.

Peter Sölva sits very close to the heart of the town.

Of course, their vines are spread out in the region — although there are some right outside the winery and tasting room.

So why should you visit this winery?

#1 It’s been a family business for 10 generations

Yup.

You read that correctly.

10 generations.

This means the winery was started in 1731.

They have documentation showing that the family grew grapes, made wine and then sold the wine as far back as 1731.

So wine making is in their blood.

And there is a lot of tradition.

Of course things have changed a lot over the years.

In the early days they made wine for customers such as the St Peter Monastery in Salzburg.

Remember that this piece of Italy was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire so many of its customers would have been from that part of Europe.

Peter Sölva winery also won awards for its wines.

In 1908 they won an award at the German – Alto Adige Association for Agricultural Businesses at the 12th German – Alto Adige Wine Market in Bolzano.

Impressive.

So with all that tradition and history comes…

#2 The wines are delicious and the tastings are fun

The wines of Peter Sölva winery are fantastic.

They are typical of the wines of South Tyrol with grapes like Gewürztraminer, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Schiava (or Vernatch), Pinot Nero and Lagrein.

And Peter Sölva winery does them all very well.

I was partial to the Pinot Bianco and white cuveé blend in the whites.

While the Lagrein was a favorite of the reds.

I do like a good Lagrein from South Tyrol.

But at Peter Sölva they do the tastings a bit differently.

They are blind tastings.

So the bottles are covered up so you don’t know that you are drinking a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Bianco.

You simply get to taste the wine without any prejudice and decide if you like it. 

It also helps you decipher what you are smelling and tasting.

I loved this and think more wineries should do this.

Are you sold on making a visit to Peter Sölva winery?

You should be.

It’s an excellent tour, with tasty wines and a long history.

The location is very accessible, the tasting room is lovely (you can buy the wine here as well as other locally made products) and Stephan and the staff — including his daughter who I met — are wonderful!

If you are a wine lover, then put Peter Sölva winery on your “must visit” list.

 

I want to give a special thanks to Claudia Rier of the Südtirol Tourism Office for setting up my tour and tasting with Alena Pichler of the Kaltern Tourism Office. Thanks Alena for a great day!

Please note that Wander Your Way is only recommending international travel to those who are vaccinated and feel comfortable doing so. This is because travel to Europe is complicated.

If you do decide to travel internationally, please do your research or use a travel planning service such as Wander Your Way. Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC.

I am continuing to write about incredible destinations and to offer tips on travel to Europe, so that you will find some solace in these posts — so you dream about travel and learn about places. And hopefully make that bucket list! This way when we can all fully travel again, you’ll be ready to go. 

And if you are ready to go soon, please contact Lynne for any assistance you may need.

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