From June 16 to July 3, 2025, Annette and I spent time in wine country Italy, by car.
For an overview of the whole trip, go here: Wine Country Italy - Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige - in the Summer of 2025
We took the Menu Degustazione and a bottle of the Lagrein Reserve 2020 from Cantina Terlan. Annette started with a Haderburg Pas Dosè Alto Adige. After the dinner, Sommelier Junior Nunez took us to the wine cellar. Shortly before this posting was published, Restaurant Löwengrube was honored for its outstanding commitment and passion for South Tyrolean wine culture with this year's prize of the South Tyrolean Wine Consortium.
Loewengrube (Michelin)
This building has been home to a restaurant since the 16C, making it one of the oldest in Bolzano. Today, it houses an elegant restaurant that serves a combination of traditional Alpine cuisine and classic Italian dishes with a contemporary twist, such as carbonara tortelloni filled with parmesan cream and crispy bacon. The attractive wine cellar boasts a selection of approximately 1 000 wines from the region and elsewhere in Italy, as well as a choice of labels from further afield.
Loewengrube (Falstaff)
Today, Bolzano's oldest restaurant has a modern and elegant look. The dishes also combine exoticism and tradition - such as the rock octopus with nduja and kimchi pak choi or the scallops in orange blossom. A successful and extremely creative fusion. The variety of wines is enormous.
Loewengrube (The Chosen Table)
Löwengrube which means (literally “lion’s den”) immerses you in over 500 years of history at the heart of Bolzano, framed by the towering Dolomites. Established in 1543, the restaurant stands as one of the city’s oldest culinary landmarks, its walls echoing with stories of generations past. Step inside, and centuries-old details surround you: neo-Gothic Tyrolean stube with carved wooden panels, faded frescoes whispering of Renaissance artistry, stone staircases worn smooth by time, and majolica stoves that once warmed nobles and merchants.
The Löwengrube’s interiors combine modern and historical elements. Contemporary architecture and 20th-century design blend harmoniously into the medieval structure of Bolzano’s oldest inn. Particularly impressive is the original, preserved Neo-Gothic-style dining room with its Art Nouveau tiled stove. In the lounge with its red designer armchairs, in the original dining room with its magnificent Art Nouveau tiled stove, or in the rooms upstairs, the team serves modern, mostly Mediterranean dishes and South Tyrolean specialties.
Beneath its historic floors lies Löwengrube’s crown jewel: a wine cellar dating to 1280. With over 1,000 meticulously curated labels from Italy’s finest vineyards and global terroirs, this subterranean sanctuary invites oenophiles to savor rare vintages and discover hidden gems. It’s a space where medieval architecture meets modern connoisseurship, perfect for private tastings or simply marveling at the depth of its liquid history. Underground is the suggestive cellar where wine and cheese tastings are also held. Over 30 wines, mainly from the surrounding vineyards, are served by the glass.
At the helm is Chef Michael Meister, a former award-winning chef and Bolzano native whose culinary journey took him from Munich’s legendary Tantris to kitchens worldwide. Returning home in 2012 at just 28, he took charge of the city’s oldest inn (documented as early as 1543), becoming its owner in 2019. Alongside Head Chef Philipp Mantinger, Meister has transformed Löwengrube’s three floors into a symphony of flavors, a first-class oasis where tradition and innovation entwine.
Under Chef Michael Meister and Head Chef Philipp Mantinger, Löwengrube’s menu bridges South Tyrol’s Alpine heritage with globally inspired precision. Hyper-local ingredients, foraged herbs, mountain game, and lake trout are elevated through refined techniques, yielding dishes like reinvented schlutzkrapfen (alpine ravioli) with modern textures or the signature saddle of venison cloaked in fragrant mountain pine crust (€40).
The six-course tasting menu (€94) features standout creations such as orange blossom-crusted scallops, Rossini-style veal filet with truffle, and nougat semi-frozen dessert. À la carte options span appetizers (€14–€35), including carpaccio from South Tyrolean wagyu beef with zuke sauce (€30), and mains (€32–€40), such as grilled rock octopus with ‘nduja (€32). Desserts (€10–€20) range from rosemary crème brûlée to artisanal cheese selections.
Seasonal highlights shine year-round: winter brings white Alba truffle (Tuber magnatum pico) atop handmade pasta, while summer showcases Normandy oysters. Three dishes define the experience: ravioli stuffed with local lamb (€24) layered with truffle and Jerusalem artichoke cream, fregola Sarda with grilled scallop (€24) in lemon beurre blanc, and the aromatic deer saddle. Guests can also enjoy curated takeaway or delivery options, bringing haut cuisine to their homes. Paired with wines from the 13th-century cellar, every meal intertwines South Tyrol’s rugged soul with timeless culinary artistry.
Amuse Geule
Lagrein
Scallop
Tartare
Soup
Tortelloni
Rossine
Dessert
Wine Cellar Tour
Prize for South Tyrolean wine culture goes to Bolzano's Löwengrube restaurant (Italian News, August 2025)
The renowned Bolzano restaurant Löwengrube was honored for its outstanding commitment and passion for South Tyrolean wine culture with this year's prize of the South Tyrolean Wine Consortium. Find out why the jury particularly praised the wine selection and service.
The traditional Bolzano restaurant "Löwengrube" was awarded this year's prize for South Tyrolean wine culture. The award ceremony took place at Maretsch Castle. With this award, the South Tyrolean Wine Consortium recognizes the restaurant's special commitment to the local wine culture.
The prize is awarded annually to honor restaurants that are particularly committed to the history and culture of South Tyrolean wine. According to Andreas Kofler, the president of the consortium, the aim of the award is to express appreciation for this commitment.
The jury was particularly impressed by the large selection of local wines and the restaurant's competent service, which actively informs guests about South Tyrolean wines and their history. Eduard Bernhart, the director of the consortium, praised the restaurant for bringing the culture and the "wine country of South Tyrol" to life - which is precisely the purpose of the award.
The winner was selected in a multi-stage process. After a nomination phase, the members of the consortium selected the finalists. The businesses were then evaluated anonymously according to criteria such as wine selection, staff training and communication until the winner was finally chosen.
Bye-bye
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Wine Country Italy - Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige - in the Summer of 2025
Lake Como
At Villa Almana in Cernobbio at Lake Como - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Bolgheri
Dinner at La Tana del Pirata in Marina di Castagneto Carducci, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Winery Tour and Tasting at Tenuta Argentiera, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Florentine Steak - Dario Cecchini Selection - for Lunch at Osteria Magona in Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Running into Marco Balsimelli, Production Director, Ornellaia and Masseto, at Osteria Magona, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at La Macchiole, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Visiting Vigna Lodovico and Tasting Lodovico Antinori's Cult Wines Lodovico and Il Nicchio with his Assistant at Locanda dell' Aioncino - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Dinner at Locanda dell' Aioncino, Bibbona, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Tasting the Wines of Tenuta di Biserno and Staying at Relais di Biserno, Bibbona, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia): Barrel Cellar Tour and Tasting - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Bistecca alla Fiorentina for Lunch at Osteria Enoteca San Guido (Sassicaia), Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Ornellaia, Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Dinner at La Pineta, with Chef/ Co-owner Daniele Zazzeri, a Michelin Starred Seafood Restaurant, at Marina die Bibbona, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Grattamacco, a Benchmark Producer in Bolgheri, Tuscany - Wine Country Italy (Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige) in 2025
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