It's not just the mountains that reach heady heights in north-eastern Italy – the local wines from terraced lands are also worth exploring, writes Michèle Shah. Read her Trentino-Alto Adige travel guide here.
Alto-Adige & Trentino: where to stay, eat, shop and relax
Hotels
Hotel Ros Alpina, San Cassiano
A Relais & Châteaux hotel and spa with individually styled rooms, plenty of pinewood and balconies, with views of the Dolomites. Great for relaxing and skiing, with excellent food at the Wine Bar & Grill and the two-Michelin-starred St Hubertus. The hotel is in the Alta Badia tourist region, which hosts events such as an annual gourmet ski safari and a wine ski safari. rosalpina.it, altabadia.org
Schwarz Adler Turmhotel, Cortaccia
Cosy Tyrolean-style hotel with a spa and gourmet restaurant. The 24 rooms have good mountain views and there are excellent walking trails – including the Cortaccia Wine Trail. turmhotel.it
PacherHof, Novacella
This friendly Tyrolean-style hotel has an excellent spa, and an outdoor infinity pool with great views over vineyards, the Dolomites and the Abbey of Novacella. Comfortable, with the attraction of dining in the old stube (tavern). PacherHof also has its own winery and wines. pacherhof.com
Hotel America, Trento
Nothing spectacular, but a good choice that is centrally located for sightseeing. The Piazza del Duomo is a must and Trento is great for shopping. hotelamerica.it
Restaurants
La Siriola, Hotel Ciasa Salares, San Cassiano
A Michelin one-star restaurant just 2km outside San Cassiano. Matteo Metullio, 25, is Italy’s youngest star-studded chef. La Siriola offers four tasting menus, each one themed to local traditional fare or to a more daring intermingling of flavours and ingredients. Metullio’s creative streak is well balanced in texture and flavours, which is what makes his cuisine so tantalising. ciasasalares.it/en/restaurant-la-siriola.html
St Hubertus, Hotel Ros Alpina, San Cassiano
Superb two-Michelin-starred restaurant with chef Norbert Niederkofler at the helm. Head sommelier Christian Rainer oversees a magnificent wine list featuring 1,900 labels. Niederkofler’s culinary style is rooted in the use of seasonal, high-quality products sourced from local organic farmers who farm according to his specifications. The essence of his cooking, he says, is ‘back to roots and pure flavours’. rosalpina.it/restaurant-st-hubertus.htm
Gasthaus Zur Rose, Cortaccia
Cosy wood-panelled two-room restaurant from another era, where one can relax and dine by candlelight, savouring traditional Alto Adige dishes interpreted in a modern, lighter fashion by chef Arno Baldo. Good wine list and romantic atmosphere. Good value, but you will need to book in advance. baldoarno.com
Enoteca Pillhof, Appiano
Pleasant atmosphere, whether eating al fresco or in the inviting wine bar, with its smaller areas for more intimate dining. Impressive wine list and tasty dishes, including an excellent selection of cheeses and local cured meats. You can also buy wine, cheese, olives and a vaiety of condiments to take away. pillhof.com
Ristorante La Cacciatora, Mezzocorona, Trento
Always busy, but the food and service are always excellent. Main dishes are the local cured meats, followed by risotto or pasta, hearty meats and home-made desserts. Menus change often. Good value. lacacciatora.net
Scrigno del Duomo, Trento
Fantastic location on the main Piazza del Duomo in Trento. Creative gourmet food prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. A perfect place to stop for everything from a light bite to a romantic dinner. Good value for lunch. scrignodelduomo.com
Shops
Vinum Alto Adige, Bolzano
Right in the centre of town, this has a great assortment of wines that can be shipped to a number of countries. vinum.it
Enoteca Grado 12, Trento
In the centre of town, on Largo Carducci, this wine shop stocks a selection of 1,500 labels and a wide variety of olive oils. Tel: +39 0461 98 24 96
