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Vinum Hotel Matillhof: How you enjoy South Tyrol from every perspective
A world of its own, quietly hidden in the middle of the village center of Latsch: The Vinum Hotel Matillhof in the South Tyrolean Vinschgau is a wine-food-pool-active-vacation-oasis that everyone can enjoy as they prefer. My Matillhof, my rules! I checked in and tell you why you should definitely join, too.
A moment ago you were driving through the bend in the lively little town center, and when you pass the entrance gate to the Vinum Hotel Matillhof you are in your own estate garden. Leaving all the hustle and bustle behind you, so to speak. I like it when the combination of old and new is implemented with style and charm. And here, history cuddles up with design. In the listed Schlössl, very close to the main house, guests can enjoy romantic experiences. The 900-year-old vaulted cellar in the Matillhof is a real treasure trove for wine lovers like me. The owner of the house collects there top wines from South Tyrol and Italy, rare vintages and tasty fruit salad insider tips.
Vinum Hotels or briefly: in good wine hands
It is precisely this wine cellar and the prospect of being in the best hands for all wine issues that guarantees membership of the VINUM HOTELS. This is an association of 29 hotels, all of which are located in one of the seven South Tyrolean wine regions. And all members share my wine quirk. Translated: In the hotels the focus is on the enjoyment of fruit salads. Each Vinum Hotel South Tyrol is managed very personally by passionate wine connoisseurs, some even have their own winery at the start or, as in the Matillhof, a wine cellar where people not only drink, but also a sommeliér that makes tastings an experience or guided wine walks. So you can sit at the source of good mood, enjoy wine accompaniment, wine seminars, cellar tours or vineyard tours, get advice when pouring wine and start with the best views of the mountains or simply relax. This and the combination of well thought-out alpine design and great bathing experience attracted me to Latsch.
14.30 p.m: Check in into SPA Suite at the indulgence paradiese Hotel Matillhof
Wow. This is all for us? When you enter the SPA suite in the Hotel Matillhof for the first time, you immediately have the thought: I’ll have to stay a few days longer to use all this. Local woods, high-quality natural materials, fine fabrics, great views: the basic idea is that all 33 rooms and suites are the same. Depending on the category, however, the design is interpreted individually. The design exudes modern, elegant alpine flair, any kitschy ideas are not allowed through the entrance gate by the invisible doorman. I immediately feel comfortable in the classy-charming mix of warm earth tones, lots of glass and wood that contrast with the noble black and white fittings in the bathroom area. The transitions here are naturally flowing as you can see. Bathtub, rain shower and sauna – right – you have your own sauna – casually merge into the living area. In addition, you can soak up the sun on two balconies on comfortable loungers or armchairs and have a view of the mountain slopes with apple and wine cultivation, where you will still not get tired even after days.
lean design, great mix of materials: the charm of the Matillhof lies in the details.
From the freestanding bathtub you have a view of the mountains through the window while bathing. Smartly planned. No matter where you are in the suite, everything is flooded with light and you can always catch a glimpse of the mountain panorama. I actually used the bathtub for a short time – wine was also included – but not as you might think. more about that later.
From the cool design chandelier …
… to the small, fine private sauna: in the SPA Suite, eyes and body feel at home.
15 p.m: little walk
Time for a short overview. You have to imagine the Hotel Matillhof as an almost closed 4. The historic Schlössl, the new building, the pool area with terrace and rustic old barns form a quiet oasis. The wooden facade at the hotel takes up the half-timbered look of the barn directly at the pool. I like the integration of the bronze elements, which can be found at the pool house or as a work of art visual protection along the pool. Especially when the sun illuminates the area like a studio light, this play of colors of green, blue, brown and gray is simply a splendor. The beauty: By installing always slightly branched off corners and places you will always find a quiet place for yourself.
Favorite place. I was magically attracted to the cozy pool area.
Another place to relax: the small terrace accessible via a wooden staircase …
… with plants and charming lounge facilities.
15.30 p.m: Pool Date
On the picture you can see the arrangement of the location. On the left side you see the old courtyard, next to it the new building. I noticed the pool directly on the pictures, of course I have to go on a water date right after my arrival.
So, is it fun? Pictures say more than words.
The view from the terrace stairs towards the other pool corner. I love how the historical buildings, the new extension, the pool and the big tree blend together. You don’t have to set an alarm clock to reserve a pool couch. In the Matillhof you can treat yourself to a good bed and a delicious breakfast without stress – many guests take advantage of the active offers for biking and hiking around the hotel and therefore arrive slowly at the pool after lunch. It was never crowded, we always had relaxed time for ourselves. And pleasure hiking to the wine cellar is also more my profession.
Doing a food and culinary safari at the Matillhof. And it’s only just starting.
19.30 p.m: Dinner at the wine cellar
For the special dinner experience in the evening I’ll take a break and get the blues. But only with the outfit, of course.
Mind your step and head is the motto when going to the dinner location. In the 900-year-old vaulted cellar, a degustation takes place every week together with the owner of the house. Hansjörg Dietl collects exquisite top wines from South Tyrol and Italy, rare vintages and insider tips, which are allowed to mature for a while. A real treasure trove where I am torn between fascination and envy. But only briefly, because when I look at the laid table, my head just thinks: wow.
Host Hansjörg Dietl surprises us with a private dinner including a specially selected wine accompaniment. Surprise succeeded and I have to collect myself for a moment, because this arrangement cannot be booked as a guest. A real honor. And if you don’t look that fast, the first course is served. Bar all-rounder Filip takes care of the service and has an answer to really every question about the dishes, patiently explains how and with which ingredients he mixed the aperitif, where the food came from and if there were any wishes, he would follow them up. But we don’t have, cuddled up on furry blankets, we sit at the table, which by the way was built on our own initiative, especially in the land of wine and honey and inhale seductive wine discoveries from white to red as well as tips and insider knowledge of the host. It is the first contact with the food in the Hotel Matillhof and the stage for the premiere could not be better chosen. One notices already with the first bites that it goes culinary there on a level that one would not have expected in the intensity and sorry – lust – so directly. The portions are always more than fair, but you can taste – no matter if it’s foamy wine soup, dumplings, goulash or barley risotto – here genuinely selected ingredients have been put into the care of a kitchen team for whom cooking is not a fulfillment of duty, but rather a passing on of emotion. Check in, taste it, then you can understand my euphoria.
How cool can the dinner ambience be?
Tasty start: the aperitif based on Sauvignon Blanc, infused with pine cones, spontaneously mixed by bar dealer Filip. Delicious.
The South Tyrolean specialty sour calf’s head was a test of courage for me. But fortunately I did not miss this taste board.
Until that moment I had no idea that this grape variety existed. Three glasses later I was super happy about it.
Speaking of ingredients: There is probably a simple reason why this tastes so delicious. The host family grows organic, regional and high-quality fruit and vegetables themselves. In addition to various varieties of apples, potatoes and onions, carrots, garlic, pointed cabbage, yellow, white and purple cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, leeks, celery, parsley, Hokkaido pumpkin, zucchini, peperoncini, cucumbers and various types of salad are planted, harvested and invited into the kitchen. But what makes the menu a special experience is the host’s selection of wines.
When host Hansjörg Dietl selects wines, you listen devoutly. An inspiring wine encyclopedia for whom no question is too stupid. That makes dinner an experience. Vinum Hotel, what else to expect.
When Hansjörg Dietl pulls wines from the shelf, strokes the label and tells a short anecdote about them, his eyes shine like those of my buddy Orhan when he talks about his limited edition sneakers. The wine (or sneaker) is no longer a product here, it is emotion.
Goulash with Pinot Noir straight outta Alto Adige. And one wishes that plate and glass would never become empty.
If Jack Sparrow had no preference for rum but wine, he would sail in here to steal the treasures.
21 p.m: Wine & Drinks
Pure joy by the glass …
… or serious: In the Hotel Matillhof you can simply be yourself. And your wine date is guaranteed to have a continuation.
Is there any room left after the menu and wine tasting? Of course there is. After all, the bar needs to be inspected. You can’t miss it, you won’t look past it on the left while waiting for the elevator anyway. The area is very large, looks less like a bar and more like a new restaurant, but with comfortable armchairs and couches it invites you to lounge. Whoever sits down at the table or counter here enters the realm of bar boss Filip. The lively, courteous and always very sophisticatedly dressed all-rounder is for me one of the Matillhof’s figureheads, because he pours personality into you in a double sense. And character heads like him in combination with the really approachable, cordial hosts make a vacation location into a vacation location to which you want to return immediately. My tip: Just let the Dude do it. He looks at you, asks you one or two questions about your drink or wine preferences, and then you mix and match. One of the highlights for me were the self-made liqueurs where he infuses alcohol with local ingredients like rose hip or pine sprouts. I had never experienced anything like this before, even in large cities outside Germany. Thick nice!
Time for a drink. Whereby the liqueurs here, which are not on the menu, are more of an aroma adventure.
Bar-Drink-DJ Filip has prepared alcohol with local ingredients and, for example, conjures up an incredible rose-hip liqueur, for which the kitschy term liqueur would be a real insult.
9.30 a.m: Breakfast and indulgence at your choice
Good news for late risers: breakfast is available until 10:30 a.m. with organic products from the area, homemade jams, juices and breads, basic foods and freshly prepared egg dishes from fried eggs to omelettes. Special praise goes to the salmon in sushi quality. Everything in it, everything you need for a relaxing day. How you arrange it is of course up to you. For example, the hotel offers guided hikes (snowshoe, culture, Waal, alpine pasture, wine tours and visits to Vinschger vineyards, mountain & summit and sunrise tours – all included in the package. But do you prefer the mountain? Then ask for climbing & glacier courses, glacier tours with our mountain guide (for a fee). Or how about guided pleasure bike tours on the Via Claudia Augusta or an e-bike tour? Of course you can rent bikes there. This is exactly the credo, as we quickly realize: Here you can enjoy South Tyrol in all its facets, in an active or relaxed way, but always at the pace that suits you best. We decide on the pool. It’s also a small pleasure hike.
14.30 p.m: little snack at the Restaurant
When the small appetite knocks, between 2:30 and 5:00 p.m. you can fortify yourself with homemade juices, various desserts, antipasti, soups, delicious cakes and miniature sandwiches. And of course a glass of wine. Or two. Just don’t nibble too much, believe me, you want to take your dinner completely with you and leave nothing behind.
Of course, the Lagrein rosé tastes even better with a view of the pool. And the mini-sandwiches with fried bacon: world class.
15 p.m: enjoy SPA & Pool
Water worlds, heat worlds, the main thing is to have fun and relax. You don’t have to say much here, just think about where to start. First at the pool outside and then via the indoor pool to the SPA? The other way around? But do you prefer sauna or steam bath? As always at the Matillhof, your vacation, your rules, pampering is included.
That’s the taste of vacation at the Matillhof. You can take a glass of wine to the pool at any time. The South Tyrolean Rosé here is a real good mood maker.
Head off, vacation on. Time stands still in the water.
View of the cosy garden area around the indoor pool. Lies well, relaxes well.
In the area around the indoor pool, the 29 degree warm pool with counter current system and waterfall, combined with a small outdoor pool, plus Silent Garden with resting islands, sun terrace and sunbathing lawns await you. In the sauna area the relaxation offer includes a Finnish panorama sauna with Swiss stone pine, panorama relaxation room with infrared loungers, Finnish salt stone sauna (85°C), bio sauna with aromas (55°C), herbal and hay steam bath (45°C) or an aroma grotto with different essences (46°C). Who ain’t able to switch off there, does something wrong.
Spoiled perspective. The indoor pool also has a small outdoor area.
17.30 p.m: Couple time out with Wine SPA Treatment @ Private Spa Suite Schlössl
The following treatment has nothing in common with an ordinary SPA treatment – and we will experience the rooms of the Private Spa Suite in the Schlössl in the evening all over again. And that in advance: You can relive or book this wellness and dinner experience 1:1. Wherever Vinum Hotel is written on it, there is also vino in it, in this case: even in the bathtub. Right: I take a bath. Okay, only because I was told before that wine is involved. I would have expected it in the tub, but to my surprise there is also fruit salad to go. Including a small specialty plate. Sometimes it’s the little things that give the most pleasure.
The pampering program starts with a trester bath followed by a 25-minute peeling from grape seeds. A little tip: Don’t catch sunburn in important places before like me, then it will be maximum fun. I never thought I would find myself bathing in a wooden tub, but after a few seconds in a warm bath with grape trester and grape seed oil my head switches off. The ambience in the vault of a listed building contributes to this. Just don’t bathe for more than half an hour, then the wine flirts a bit too much with your bloodstream. You may be afraid of kitschiness in the beginning, but romance can be unconventional and without roses and hearts. And whoever jumps over his or her shadow lives a more relaxed life.
Wine under me, wine above me, plus minus 37 degrees, plus a fine local snack: Wherever Vinum Hotel is written on it, there’s wine in it.
How relaxing this was can hardly be described in words. In any case, one feels like a wine king.
19.30 p.m: Romantic Private Dinner
Cheers to an unforgettable dinner experience.
Candlelight? Whew, how cheesy. On the contrary, you can also do it in style. Just like the dinner experience, which is served in a private cozy setting in the already known location. In the Private Spa Suite in the Schlössl the table is set for us, the look reminds me a little bit of the beauty and the beast flair. The tableware does not speak to us, but no matter what floats in on the plates, it leaves us speechless. Do I have to mention that there is a wine accompaniment? By the way, here you can also choose whether you would like to test it glass by glass or whether you would like to have it in a bottle.
A look at the menu selection. We got a Special Edition after all. And phew, was that a culinary statement.
Great cinema: the steamed mini-burger with bacon and horseradish.
One of the recommendations of the host was the Amistar of winemaker Peter Sölva. No entry budget, but a beery-smoky-crispy experience with more taste twists than many good thrillers.
Dear with roasted melons. Too bad that pictures can’t smell.
After dessert you roll out of the cellar … best of all to the bar.
The closer we get to the dessert, the more aware we become of the unpleasant fact of having to get used to normal food again at home. Fortunately, I don’t need a doctor to know the recipe: just come back.
22.00 p.m: Late Night Drink & Wein
Restrained cozy: the bar area. Aromatic anything but shy: what you get in the glass.
No Matillhof evening without a bar date! On the second day Filip wanted to show us his view on cocktails. I’m actually out of the question with that word, a good drink is welcome – but how the charismatic bar-freak here interprets a mojito for my companion and later transforms it into a Japanese version with yuzu fruit and sake is the greatest cinema of all. We watch spellbound and simply drink what is recommended and mixed for us on the table. By the way, I selflessly took care of the open bottle of Amistar glass by glass. Honourable man, of course.
Is that another drink or already art? Yes, a mojito could look and taste like this too.
9.30 a.m: Breakfast
Enjoy your breakfast as much as your stomach cappacity allows! And no stress: Check-out is on paper at Hotel Matillhof until 11am, but you can still park your stuff there and say a last intensive hello to the pool or have a coffee on the terrace before it goes back. Informality is one of the great attributes of Hotel Matillhof.
The pleasure safari at Vinum Hotel Matillhof was successful. South Tyrol, I will be back.
11 a.m: Check out and (unfortunatelly) departure
Already after a few hours we felt directly at home thanks to the unagitated and warm hosts. That’s something a hotel has to do first and I was able to experience quite a bit. It’s not easy to check out after two days, I would have liked to pack the SPA Suite as an apartment for Munich. But well. We take an eventful stay with us, a free sunburn, more than 500 pictures, which I couldn’t show all here, and the longing for this special meal meets wine experience, which I hope to be able to update again soon.
Classy, relaxed, stylisch but casually: Look matches Hotel.
I really take my hat off to the hospitality-wine-pool-winepool-what-you-want-combination at Matillhof.
Vinum Hotel Matillhof: What you need to know:
- There is no dress code. As long as you don’t come to dinner wearing only swimming trunks or bikini, everything is fine.
- Enjoying wine as a young family? For children there is a small modern playground right outside the front door.
- The 3/4 gourmet pension includes breakfast until 10.30 a.m., dinner with 5 – 8 course gourmet or vitality menu (vegetarian / vegan to choose from, with fresh, regional and seasonal products, refined with herbs, flowers and wild plants) and an afternoon buffet from 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- There is an extensive selection of SPA offers, just ask for an appointment the day before or even before your arrival, then it works.
- Information and tips on hiking routes and bike tours through the (wine) mountains are available at the reception – e-bikes can be rented easily
- There is an underground car park with sufficient parking space.
- Dare to ask. No question or request is too stupid, at the reception or in the restaurant you always help.
- Enjoy the journey via the South Tyrolean Wine Route – if you come from Munich, I recommend the journey via Switzerland in the direction of St. Moritz. Much more attractive than via the Brenner Pass!
Vinum Hotel Matillhof: What i love:
- The self-contained courtyard oasis with the mix of design, location, garden, surroundings, wine and hospitality.
- The view no matter whether from the pool or from the really generous balconies
- The character heads – from the hosts Hansjörg and Charlotte Dietl to everywhere-Allrounder-Weinkenner-Barchef-Genuss-Dealer Filip.
- The charmingly and thoughtfully designed rooms and suites with modern design and alpine look, without appearing even a hint of kitschy.
- The size of the rooms and the storage space of the cupboards.
- The balcony. Simple. Wow.
- The spacious SPA Suite with two balconies, the large freestanding bathtub, its own sauna and simply the most comfortable bed.
- The picturesque, rustic wine cellar with self-made furniture and innumerable wine treasures to be discovered for hours. Just please do not touch!
- The casual ambience.
- The wonderful, lovingly designed garden area behind the house and around the pool, where you will always find a place for yourself.
- The right degree of privacy, which is achieved by building many areas, always somewhat separated by trees, plants, short walls or wooden fences.
- The pool – here you bathe between the old wooden and stone barn and the new design annex.
- The culinary delights. At a star level for me, most of the food here is cooked with specially grown vegetables and fruit.
- Have I already mentioned the horny food, where the word taste explosion shamefully disappears from the dictionary?
- The wine offer. There is a weekly tasting with the host, you have the vineyards on your doorstep, and of course you are always allowed to take a glass to the pool. Or two. In addition to the wine list and wine tasting, there are weekly wine walks on the Via Vinum Venostis, special wine packages and wellness treatments with grape marc in the Natur.Veda.SPA. Wonderful.
- The price-performance ratio.
If you take Vinum Hotel and bathing in wine enjoyment a bit too literally …
In the small vineyard of host Hansjörg Dietl I had a short date with the vines. I said ciao and just had to come back.
Hotel Plattenhof: Travel itenary
Overnight accomodation with 3/4 Genießer pension start in the hotel Matillhof in Latsch starting from 123 euro, more information finds you under vinumhotels/matillhof or via www.hotelmatillhof.com/
This experience was part 2 of my South Tyrol road trip. You can read the report on the second Vinum Hotel I was allowed to try out, the Plattenhof, here – click.
*The contribution was created with the wine-loving support of Vinum Hotels , but as always 100 percent honestly corresponds to my opinion.
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Hotel Plattenhof, Tramin: check-in into the vineyard paradise
Check-in for wine checking: At the Vinum Hotel Plattenhof, in the middle of the vineyards of Tramin, a date with the Gewürztraminer is waiting for you – and a tasteful liaison of design, pool and South Tyrolean hospitality.
What defines a cool hotel? Design, location, furnishings – yes, everything is there. For me it’s this special mix of not wanting to go anymore and wanting to come back quickly. This is achieved by a charming combination of the above mentioned factors, but to a large extent also by the people behind the hotel name. The team that makes sure that the stay is as relaxing as it is exciting. Personalities with lovable corners, edges and hosts, who have really found their calling in their profession. During my trip to South Tyrol I got to know two such locations and would like to introduce them to you in detail. After all, it was a premiere: Yes, it was my first time in South Tyrol. Always on the bucket list, but every time some spoilsport came in the way. Until now. South Tyrol, that was for me a great landscape, good food, beautifully located hotel insider tips with a view pool and of course the pampering of my wine craze. So: where to check in?
With my criteria I quickly landed at the VINUM HOTELS. This is an association of 29 hotels, all of which are located in one of the seven South Tyrolean wine growing regions. And all members share my wine quirk. Translated: In the hotels the focus is on the enjoyment of fruit salads. Each Vinum Hotel South Tyrol is managed very personally by passionate wine connoisseurs, some even have their own winery at the start. So you sit at the source of good mood, you can enjoy wine accompaniment, wine seminars, cellar tours or vineyard tours, get advice when pouring wine and start off with the best views of the mountains or simply switch off. Boom, I was already convinced. I booked the slightly larger rental car (you’d be stupid not to pack one or two cases of wine on site) and off we go – first to the Plattenhof with a view of Lake Kaltern.
14.30 p.m: Check-in into the wine-design-paradise Hotel Plattenhof
Do you know that feeling when you have a date and know at the first hello that this will be a cool evening or day? Because a connection is there immediately and the person opposite was already attractive in pictures, but in live the whole thing is charming again? That’s what happened to me with the Plattenhof. From the drive to the date, the navigation system made a little odyssey through the narrowest and steepest vineyard roads, but when we arrived, we already knew on the vine-framed parking lot: This is a match.
Arrived. You park at Hotel Plattenhof really surrounded by vines. There you have to stay for a gas stop.
The Vinum Hotel Plattenhof in the Traminer district of Söll has only been standing on this panoramic location in the middle of the vineyard since 2018 – host and winemaker Werner Dissertori, who welcomes us radiantly with a bottle of Gewürztraminer from his own cultivation, has said goodbye to a large area of his vines in return. But it was a good decision. 23 spacious suites with a view await the guest, all with a view of the valley, Lake Kaltern and of course the pool.
The wine served as inspiration for the design of the rooms and the hotel. The suites have names like Lagrein or Merlot. The basement is comparable to the wine: warm brown and grey tones create a feel-good atmosphere, the second floor is dedicated to the grape of the Gewürztraminer: golden yellow fabrics and high-quality materials visualize the wine flair in the rooms. The second floor glows in soft green tones, similar to the leaves of the vine. Cool idea, implemented with subtlety but lightness. Light and warmth is loaded into the house through large panoramic windows. The suites offer a lot of space, incredibly comfortable beds, more storage space for clothes than the biggest princess needs and the spacious balcony where you can spend good mood moments at any time of the day. In the morning after getting up and before I went to bed I stood there devoutly and looked into the distance for minutes. How the colors in the valley change, the clouds move over the slopes, at night the highway seems like an endlessly illuminated train: simply magical.
View from the balcony of the Lagrein-Suite, which you see below, in the direction of Lake Kaltern …
Earthy tones are the stylistic device for the rooms in the Hotel Plattenhof, which seem like a view into the seasons of a vineyard. In the bathroom you will find a fancy glazed rain shower in which you might like to stay longer. Everything modern, completely kitsch-free – that’s how relaxed you can interpret a feel-good ambience.
Green fabric, wood and vines as a work of art: in the suites of the Plattenhof Hotel the theme of wine is charmingly present.
… and towards the pool and the village of Tramin. Every perspective: pure wanderlust gold.
15 p.m: small tour
Tip after check-in: get an overview first. The nice thing about Hotel Plattenhof: You don’t vacation in a huge concrete facility, but actually in a small, fine garden. Everything is right on the doorstep. From the main entrance to the left around the corner is the Plattenhof Restaurant with terrace and the spacious garden area with weeping willow, palm tree and vines. Here you can sit, look at the mountains, have breakfast or a glass in the evening.
Dreamlike: the idyllic garden of the hotel Plattenhof with an amazing view. And of course a few vines.
Host Werner Dissertori takes us on a short tour of the location in Tramin. He is probably one of the least bossy chefs I have ever met. A host through and through, who scurries back and forth between the restaurant, reception, pool and vineyard with an alert eye, but is always available for any request. No question is too stupid, every wish may be addressed. Werner used to be the mayor of the village, now the eloquent and quick-witted winegrower and host of the hotel acts at the same time as head waiter and encyclopedia for hikers and wine curious people. I have never experienced anything like this before, but I am impressed and this closeness, this hospitality with personality makes a hotel stay pleasantly relaxed and unexcited. It’s like checking in with friends and not having to pretend. Great Like right at the beginning. But we are in a Vinum Hotel in the heart of the Gewürztraminer growing area. And I have never tasted the grape variety. Not tasting wine would be like ordering a steak restaurant with only vegetable side dishes. So: get to the glass.
To make sure that you arrive immediately, host Werner Dissertori serves us Gewürztraminer with a matching South Tyrolean cold cuts match. Did not survive for long. And phew it was delicious!
Cheers to well-being!
From the front part of the garden you have a great view of the pool area and you can also walk directly downstairs. We will do the same, but first we have a little wine adventure waiting for us.
16 p.m: Wine tasting at Cantina Tramin
The Cantina Tramin has for me something of futuristic soccer stadium meets charming wine bar and winery. From Hotel Plattenhof it’s only a 5 minutes drive – perfect for a cool tasting excursion to South Tyrolean wines. And of course the Cantina is also a nice location for photos.
Bottle Art: The wine cellars of Cantina Tramin are a real design spot. And: fruit salad paradise.
Tramin is one of the first winery cooperatives in South Tyrol to take up the challenge of sustainable agriculture. Today, about 15 hectares of vines are cultivated there according to organic and biodynamic principles. The Cantina Tramin is one of the most traditional winery cooperatives in South Tyrol and is located directly on the Wine Road. The owners of the winery are 300 winegrowers who work their land in the small area of Tramin, Auer, Neumarkt and Montan on a total area of about 260 hectares. In the store of the winery Tramin you can spontaneously drop by, taste the whole available collection of wines and of course fill your bags or trunk with wine. And the best thing is that you can taste it for a small contribution towards expenses, between 50 cents and one euro, plus the dignified view of the countryside.
No red light district, but still erotic: the barrels of South Tyrolean wine in the Tramin Winery.
Yes, it could be somewhere in the Design Museum, but it is the staircase from the basement to the Cantina’s tasting room. I especially like the play of colors from green to yellow to red.
It tastes even better if you have an impression of how wine becomes wine. For this purpose, the Cantina offers guided tours of the winery from April to October. After a brief introduction to the characteristics of the area and a tour of the cellar premises – which are truly impressive from an architectural and design point of view – five wines are tasted. Sounds good? Is good! Our cool guide Günther wasn’t too keen on counting, but we were totally satisfied: It was simply exciting to see how many different Gewürztraminer, white or red wines from the region can taste. And any questions about wine are answered with patience and understandable expertise. A great way to start your vacation with wine.
A guided tour makes you smart, but also thirsty. It’s good that you can try the coolest fruit salad thirst quenchers at the Cantina Tramin.
18 p.m: short (Whirl)Pool-Date
Back at the hotel it’s time for pool fun. The bio-pool already looked seductive on the pictures, believe me, in live it is even more dreamlike. There are vines all around the pool, towards the hotel you can see the most diverse shades of green, and behind the Jacuzzi plants, which are protected by a hedge, you can see the way up towards the garden. In addition: absolute silence, in between a short, cool breeze. Three extremely comfortable cabanas for two stand at the front of the pool, plus plenty of loungers – no one has to throw in the towel early.
Cozy spot: the Jacuzzi accessible to all. In the background: host Werner Dissertori, who also allows himself a well-deserved short break.
Floating in the 7th pool heaven? No problem in the Plattenhof!
The bio pool is heated to 25 degrees, may sound like little, but due to the perfect hillside location the pool heats up so pleasantly that you can swim comfortably until the evening hours. Before dinner we gladly switched to the Jacuzzi heated to 37 degrees. It is accessible for all guests – even when covered. Although only a few meters away from the pool area, you feel right at home thanks to the stone garden area in front of the SPA, which is truly planted with concept and ideas.
19.30 p.m: Dinner
Bathing, photographing and wine tasting makes you hungry. So let’s go to the light-flooded restaurant on the first floor of Hotel Plattenhof. Here you can also find the vine-oriented colors of the rooms. And right at the entrance you will greet the hotel’s own jewel: the wine cabinet. The first course of the menu is composed of cheese, antipasti and co. at the buffet. Then you choose the appropriate main course, usually meat, fish and a vegetarian dish – and off you go. You set the pace yourself. Each course is redeemed with a small card. As soon as you hand it over to the service, the kitchen will take care of serving it. Smart idea, so you can take a short break outside and have more space to inhale all the delights that are served.
The quality of the dishes is world class for me. Whether it is pasta with ragout …
… or bison filet and vegetables: You can taste that the ingredients come from the region.
At dinner, the next moment follows which shows that lastingly impressing hotel experiences are coined/shaped particularly by the humans behind it and genuine character heads. We get to know Wernfried, the restaurant and service manager. An absolutely unique piece of work, a bit like the fake giants from Jim Knopf. From a distance he may seem a little unconventional, but coming closer he makes sure with his own personality that all the guests’ needs are met. With all his heart. He always has advice, no matter if it’s a hint where to buy cigarettes in the strict Italy or which hiking trail might be especially suitable for whom. In addition, he garnishes wine orders or the dishes with amusing comments and is happy about little things that guests give back, like the entry with thanks to him in the guestbook. Service is gladly taken for granted. It is not his. You are in good hands.
The jewel in the restaurant area is the elegant wine cabinet with the best good mood makers of the region.
Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed to take it with me, but I was in a good mood anyway.
22 p.m: wine-tasting at the terrace
When the menu ends with the dessert, the evening at the Hotel Plattenhof just starts. We take a short break in the room, pack a jacket (you never know) and walk over to the restaurant Plattenhof, casually relaxed on the terrace. This area takes over the function of the bar, and here you can taste the hotel’s own wines (Gewürztraminer and a red cuvée, which is served chilled) in a relaxed vibe. Water is also available, of course. Cosy, easy, and the boss always drops by for a quick chat. Or toast with you.
A cozy evening, a light breeze, and then a short walk to the Plattenhof Restaurant, which including the garden serves as a bar.
9.30 a.m: breakfast
Start your day right at the small fine buffet. From local cheese with great chutneys and cold cuts to muesli and fruit, everything is on offer. On Sundays there is champagne and strawberries – charming. And a great selection of egg dishes: Please try the fried egg with sensationally salty-crispy bacon and the Happiness-Omelette with “I-believe-I-want-one-more” combination of ham and melted cheese. And yes: breakfast outside is allowed.
Thanks to fantastic weather we enjoy the delicious breakfast with eggs, ham and cheese in …
… picturesque garden area. That’s the way to approach vacations, isn’t it?
12.30 p.m: little lunch at the Restaurant
The restaurant Plattenhof is only a stone’s throw away from the hotel entrance and is also a popular destination for excursions and hikes. A visit is not part of the half board, but I still recommend at least one enjoyable hike there. A figurehead are the pizzas, but they are only available from 5 pm. Lunch is served from 11.45 to 14 o’clock, and wow, is that delicious.
Dignified tater, grilled vegetables finely marinated in olive oil with buffalo mozzarella and a carafe of Gewürztraminer: indulgence.
Flirt really well with Gewürztraminer: the best spare ribs I have eaten in a long time.
The Gewürztraminer from the Plattenhof immediately puts you in a good mood. For me the white wine smells and tastes like creamy Almdudler water ice.
On the menu you will find South Tyrolean specialties from Genuss-Brettln with cold cuts and cheese, Schlutzkrapfen, in addition Rissotto, great noodles and also for kids a large selection of dishes. At the enjoyment level of the dishes, many highly praised restaurants can cut themselves a slice, that’s really an experience. And all this in this uncomplicated atmosphere. Have I already mentioned the good wine with it?
14 p.m: pool treatment
Well, if the second date at the pool does not directly lead to a longer (long-distance) relationship, I don’t know. Even if the hotel was fully occupied, it is never crowded in the bathing area, everyone can swim, jump in or take lanes in peace. In the breaks in between the eye has so much food: the mountain views, the plants, the clouds moving over the mountains. And of course, you look ahead to see if the whirlpool is occupied or when it is about to become free.
Spoiler: The bio pool will quickly become your favorite place. The colors are really so cool!
You could also take a bath in the Gewürztraminer from the Plattenhof winery.
Once inside, you don’t want to get out. And in addition this view (of course also the one of a glass of wine later).
The Jacuzzi is located in the middle of a small, screened garden between pool and SPA – and was my favorite place after bathing and before dinner.
Of course you will also find a SPA in the Hotel Plattenhof. Because host Werner Dissertori and I agree that a 7000 square meter area is completely unnecessary, because you don’t have enough space for vacation because of all the planning, what you do and when, the small but well thought-out area is absolutely sufficient. In the Sauna World with Turkish steam bath, Finnish sauna, bio-sauna as well as sauna garden and experience showers no relaxation wish remains unfulfilled. Treatments are also offered, please inquire or reserve at least one day in advance.
Now switch off! A SPA with saunas and fancy luxury steam bath is also on the starting line.
19.30 p.m: Dinner
In this locality you get an appetite, don’t you? I like the menu composition, it is always varied and yet has local influences. Also nice: every day there is a new wine of the day on the menu, served open in a glass. Of course, all wines can be ordered as bottles at any time.
In the evening, there is a four-course menu plus buffet. Believe me: every taste will be satisfied.
Actually not part of the menu, but the host of the Hotel Plattenhof makes it possible for us: Once the delicious house pizza as an intermediate course.
22.00 p.m: Late Night Wine
The after-dinner program is clear: wine. You can decide which one. The wine cabinet is full of local treasures and insider tips. You can first feel your way around the Plattenhof restaurant on the terrace, then on the balcony, or right away on the balcony – I’ve always done both. Double and longer pleasure, sometime the service wants to sleep. My advice: try the in-house Gewürztraminer and the red wine cuvée slightly chilled. Easy, tasty, cool.
No problem at all in the hotel: Just ask nicely, then you can enjoy a glass of the delicious wine (Gewürztraminer and a red Vernatsch-Merlot-Cabernet-Cuvée from the in-house winery) also at the pool or on your own balcony.
Hollywood-ready open-air nature cinema: the balcony in the Plattenhof. By day and night.
In the evening it can be a bit fresher, but for the undisturbed wine or water enjoyment on the terrace or in the garden you can pack a thin jacket. The combination of views and glass flavours is unbeatable.
9.30 a.m: breakfast and strolling around
Don’t worry, just an inspiration – breakfast is served until 10.30, so you can sleep in peace. Whenever the weather permits, take advantage of the possibility to have breakfast with an open air view.
I could get used to breakfast in this garden. Whenever possible, grab the plates and sit outside.
Romanticism does not always need hearts and can also be interpreted in a cool way – like on the Kanzel bench in the Plattenhof vineyard.
You can also take the insider tip walk here directly on the day of arrival, as long as you do it. If you walk to the left towards the vineyards, walk from the Hotel Plattenhof to the front of the slope and then on the last row of vines into the left-hand bend and on to the very back. At the end of the vineyard (yes, the host allows the walk, I asked explicitly) the pulpit is waiting for you. In short: an inaccessible viewing bench, where you can let your eyes wander over Lake Kaltern while enjoying a glass of wine (the host also supports this with wine, I also asked for that), and have a kind of mini picnic in the vineyard. There is an idea behind it, and I really celebrate something like that. At the latest with this, he really deserves the Vinum Hotel medal.
Every guest can see where the Gewürztraminer grows. Of course it can also be served with liquid food.
11 a.m: Check-out and (unfortunately) departure
What was already known at the beginning: The farewell will be difficult. I will miss the cuvée of design, personalities, wine and pool. But hopefully I will enjoy it again very soon. Two cases of house wine from the Plattenhof winery are packed. If you like, you can of course book a late check-out, but you can still use the pool and SPA until your departure. Only the room should be free. But we can’t take another bath, the rental car has an expiration date in its underground garage. On the outward journey it was anticipation, on the return journey we took a special experience with us and the quickly decided certainty that this was certainly not the last Vinum Hotel we visited. With the delicious combination of hotel and wine indulgence you get a taste for it.
Ciao Hotel Plattenhof and South Tyrol. See you soon, hopefully!
Vinum Hotel Plattenhof: what you need to know
- There is no dress code. As long as you don’t come to dinner wearing only swimming trunks or bikini, everything is fine.
- Enjoying wine as a young family? For children there is a modern playground in front of the house and on the menu there is a nice selection of kids dishes.
- The famous pizza in the restaurant Plattenhof is available from 5 p.m. and only there, so be sure to try it!
- There is an extensive selection of SPA offers, just ask for an appointment the day before or even before your arrival, then it works.
- At the weekly wine tasting, your host Werner Dissertori will tell you everything about the specially colored grape, the cultivation, the production of the award-winning Gewürztraminer and last but not least about the taste of the queen of white wines. Just register at the reception upon arrival.
- Information and tips on hiking routes through the (wine) mountains are available at the reception
- Enjoy the journey via the South Tyrolean Wine Route – if you come from Munich, like us, I recommend the journey via Switzerland in the direction of St. Moritz. Much more attractive than via the Brenner Pass!
Vinum Hotel Plattenhof: what i love
- The cuvée of design, location, environment, wine and hospitality.
- The view whether from the pool, the balcony, the pulpit bench or the garden
- The heads of character – from Wernfried in service to all-around all-rounder host Werner.
- The restrained but inviting color scheme in the hotel and rooms.
- The size of the rooms and the storage space of the cupboards.
- The balcony. Just. Wow.
- The proximity to Lake Kaltern and the location directly in the vineyard
- The wine of the house. Both Gewürztraminer and the red cuvée are so uncomplicated and fun to drink.
- The casual ambience.
- The wonderful garden, designed with love, where you always find a place for yourself.
- The cozy Jacuzzi, which gives the right degree of privacy through deliberate planting.
- The organic pool with the surrounding vines.
- The pizza in the restaurant. Ham, grilled peppers, tomatoes: You can taste as many aromas pure as you would like.
- The wine offer. There is a weekly tasting, you have the vineyards on your doorstep, the Cantina Tramin in the village, a deliciously filled wine cabinet with top wines from South Tyrol.
- The price/performance ratio.
Hotel Plattenhof: travel info
Overnight stays with half board start at the Hotel Plattenhof in Tramin from 125 Euro, more information can be found at vinumhotels/plattenhof or directly via www.plattenhof.it
This experience was part 1 of my South Tyrol road trip. The report on the second Vinum Hotel I had the pleasure to try, the Matillhof, you will also read here shortly.
*This contribution was created with the wine-loving support of Vinum Hotels, but as always, it corresponds 100% honestly to my opinion.
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