The cuisine of South Tyrol aims for the sky

The thousands of visitors to South Tyrol not only enjoy the extraordinary landscape, the good weather and the tasty food, but also the very high quality standards that South Tyrolean chefs have achieved in recent years. The unmistakable mix of Alpine and Mediterranean dishes, complemented by excellent local wines, has brought recognition to South Tyrolean cuisine far outside the region. The originality of South Tyrolean cuisine is reflected in both the classic local dishes, including various versions of "canederli" (dumplings) and "schlutzkrapfen" (stuffed pasta), and in typical Italian specialities such as pizza, pasta and risotto. And then there are also some daring reinterpretations and combinations of both the Alpine and Mediterranean influences. The fact that this has proved to be a winning combination, together with the skill and creativity of local chefs, is shown by the high number of restaurants that have been awarded Michelin stars, or are recommended in specialist guides to South Tyrol.

With 26 Michelin stars for 19 South Tyrolean restaurants, the province of Bolzano boasts the highest number of Michelin stars in all of Italy - a truly exceptional result! The St. Hubertus Restaurant in the Rosa Alpina Hotel in San Cassiano in Alta Badia tops this ranking with 3 Michelin stars. 2 Michelin stars have been awarded to: "Ristorante Terra" in the Auener Hof in Val Sarentino; "Gourmetstube Einhorn" in the Romantikhotel Stafler in Campo di Trens near Vipiteno; Matteo Metullio's "Ristorante La Siriola" in San Cassiano in Alta Badia; Gerhard Wieser's "Trenkerstube" in Tirolo, and Martin Obermarzoner's "Ristorante Jasmin" in Chiusa. This is followed by another 13 restaurants that have earned stars, giving South Tyrol an above average result for the size of its population.

The achievements of South Tyrolean chefs are matched by the success of the region's winegrowers, who have been producing exceptional red and white wines for many years, dominating the top wine guides and giving enormous pleasure to the public. The northernmost wine area in Italy is particularly renowned for its fresh and fruity white wines, and native grape varieties such as Lagrein. 98.8% of the wine-growing area of South Tyrol has been awarded DOC status, guaranteeing the origin of the wine. This result is also unique at a national level, and confirms the commitment to high quality that has typified the work of South Tyrolean winemakers for many decades.

Flavour and quality are the guiding principles in South Tyrol. For many years now, South Tyrolean agriculture has employed the quality label, which offers legal protection for certain agricultural products and regulates the cultivation and production of the various items, using particular specifications. This pursuit of quality has achieved excellent results over the years, and continues to be successful today. Tourism and agriculture are very well integrated thanks to some important collaborative agreements, and they both favour quality over quantity and reject mass production. Thanks to many small local networks and sales structures, sustainable, high quality food is available not only to the people of South Tyrol, but also to all visitors. In addition, genuine enthusiasm and dedication to this land and its culinary traditions have helped make South Tyrolean cuisine into something unique.

The traditional cuisine is mainly based on locally-sourced raw ingredients, with a focus on the use of seasonal produce. As well as the apples, speck and wine, the region's beef, milk and eggs also carry the "South Tyrol Quality" label, and are widely used in making local dishes. There are many examples of this, including risotto with alpine herbs and apples with green cheese, or other great classics such as beef fillet in a herb crust and South Tyrolean Parmesan. To end your meal in style, you should try a delicious strudel made with local apples, alongside a classic Italian macchiato topped with milk from the mountains of South Tyrol. The use of natural, local ingredients in South Tyrolean cuisine make it an experience for all the senses. The great flavours of South Tyrol are not just a prerogative of a few, but can be enjoyed throughout society. It's impossible to ignore these wonderful tastes - and why on earth should you?! After all, it is comforting to know that you can always indulge in a little luxury, including in terms of culinary pleasure.