Törggelen. It’s not a word most Americans will recognize, but it’s a custom we all can embrace. In the US, traditions like pumpkin picking, making apple cider, or even raking leaves with the family are hallmarks of autumn. In Alto Adige, Italy’s northernmost wine region, the fall harvest season is welcomed with Törggelen: an annual custom celebrating new wines, tasted in good company.
Toerggelen (Photo Credit: Suedtirol.info)
The Törggelen tradition dates back to the early days of winemaking in Alto Adige, when grapes were pressed using a wood-beam screw press called a “Torggl.” During the harvest – from late September to November – guests, herdsmen, and wine merchants alike would be welcome in the winery to taste young wines straight from the press. The tasting was then followed by a festive dinner, celebrating the seasonal cuisine, hard work during harvest, and, of course, the guests.
Törggelen is still celebrated each year in Alto Adige. The tradition also offers a wonderful opportunity for visitors to explore regional fare and exceptional wines. Winegrowers open their cosy parlors and cellars, welcoming guests to try their wine and home-grown farm to table specialties. Traditional feasts include roasted chestnuts, Speck (a local, cured, smoked ham), and a Schlachtplatte (or “slaughterhouse platter”) which includes bacon, sauerkraut, sausages, and knödel (dumplings), served alongside newly released fall wines.
If you can’t make it to Italy this fall, get in the Törggelen spirit at home. Welcome friends and family to your table for a harvest feast featuring hearty dishes paired with Alto Adige DOC wines. Try a Pinot Nero with creamy mushroom risotto, or a Lagrein with a slow-cooked beef stew. These velvety reds will warm you on a chilly autumn day, and complement robust autumn cuisine. Or, to add a little spice to your night, pour an Alto Adige Gewürztraminer. This full-bodied white is the perfect aperitif or cheese pairing.
Whether tasting straight from the press or enjoying a bottle from your local retailer, toast autumn in good company and celebrate fall the Alto Adige way.
