The longest of the three cycling trails that comprise the ancient South Tyrolean Wine Road begins in the wine village of Cortaccia (Kurtatsch) and leads in the direction of Margrè (Margreid), Cortina s.s.d.v. (Kurtinig), and Salorno (Salurn). On the way back, the trail passes through Egna (Neumarkt) and Ora (Auer) then continues up to the village of Termeno (Tramin). Doing the Salorno - Ora leg by train is a convenient option if the length of the trail seems challenging to you.

The southern route of the South Tyrolean Wine Road, which covers 39.2 kilometres, begins in the heart of the winegrowing village of Cortaccia and leads south towards Magrè, passing Tiefenbrunner Castel Turmhof Winery. This estate, which dates back to the twelfth century, has a tavern in the garden of the castle - a perfect place for a quick snack.
Continuing south, the trail passes a grape vine in Magrè that was grafted way back to 1601. Pioneer viticulturist Alois Lageder opened Paradeis nearby: this chic wine bar and shop offers tastings, meals, and a good selection of bottles - it's also a nice place to just hang out. The trail continues on to Cortina s.s.d.v., a lovely hamlet that locals nicknamed "Little Venice" for its recurring floods.
Salorno, the southernmost village in South Tyrol, is dominated by Haderburg Castle, a fortification high atop a cliff that was first mentioned in the 11th century. Farther northerly are the centuries-old arcades of the medieval trading village Egna worth seeing and Ora, the picturesque at the foot of Castelfeder, the Arcadia of Tyrol.
On the way back, the trail passes through the village of Termeno, which is quite known in the wine world: the German name of the town, Tramin, is the namesake of the much-loved Gewürztraminer. Gewürztraminer reaches its zenith here: we highly recommend a visit to some of the town's historical wineries, many of which feature striking contemporary architecture. Cantina Tramin, Hofstätter, Elena Walch and the Hofkellerei W. & G. are four of the most prestigious estates. A trip to Traminer Weinhaus is another must: you'll find the wine store just before the trail leads back to Cortaccia. Cyclists can lock their bikes here, and see the historical Schwarzer Adler restaurant: its vaulted ceilings and contemporary architecture are definitely worth the visit.

Information:

In German language: Radwegeführer Südtiroler Weinstraße

Downlaod: GPS Track Southern Wine Route (.zip)
(The tracks are legibly with GPS device or software like mapsource only.)

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