Trail Name: Wein.weg

Trail Type: Short distance circuit; almost exclusively paved, well maintained, and well-marked albeit with successively different path numbers.

Length: Approximately 9.5 kilometers / 5.9 miles

Convenient to: Bozen/Bolzano, Italy

Marking: Red and white markings with black numbers for paths 12, 12a, and 3 (Seerundweg)

Trail Description: An easy circuit trail, suitable even for baby carriages (except for an easily avoidable section of stairs where the path leaves Montigglerweg), with lots of scenic variety: seas of venerable vineyards, endless views of Dolomite peaks, beaches/waterfront to relax along, apple orchards, and a charming historic town center.

Trailhead: Rottenburger Platz; Kaltern/Caldaro, Italy

Parking Possibilities:      

Kaltern: Weinstrasse, just south of Montigglerweg, pay parking lot, but watch for time limits

Kaltern: Rottenburger Platz, pay parking lot, but watch for time limits

St Josef: Rasterbachweg (very end, right on the trail, dirt lot with about 6 spots)

St Josef: (off San Giuseppe al Lago) different lots, but note costs and time limits in places, and private parking only in others.

Public Transportation Options:

Bus: Regional buses connect Bozen with Kaltern (Train station and Rottenburger Platz), with Kalterer See. Check the current “Suedtirol Mobil” (or) “Mobilita AltoAdige” webpage.

Rail: Regional train connections with Bozen and beyond

Suggested Stages: Not Applicable            

Trail Itinerary-Reference Points: (Counterclockwise)

Rottenburger Platz- Via Mendola/Mendelstr-Maria v. Mori-SP15-Via Barleit, continue straight (toward Kalterersee) on path 12 thru vineyards, which after the Barleiterhof becomes 12a, and continue through vineyards toward St Josef am See, past the road to Castel Ringberg; St Josef: turn east/left onto Rastenbachstr, and follow downhill to Sonnleitenhof Hotel; left/north on Weinstrasse; turn right along Rasterbach creek (across from Kalterer See Hof), to and then along San Giuseppe al Lago street, then left/north to Pizzeria Geier on the lake and past it into vineyards, then left on path 3 toward Kaltern, (past the (distant, but visible) Manincor winery on the Weinstr); onto SP 162, then back into vineyards a couple hundred meters later; right at fork onto Montigglerweg/Via Monticolo, then (after about 200 yards) take path left through vineyards to cross Weinstr/SP 14 on a diagonal and pick up a small path uphill through vineyards back into town, Goldgasse/Via dell’Oro, start point. Alternatively, continue on Montigglerweg to SP 14, cross it by the Ritterhof Winery, continuing on Montiggler on the other side, turning left, after about 125 yards, on Via Andreas Hofer, which becomes Goldgasse (Via dell’Oro), back to start point.

Representative Trail Photo: 

 

Restrooms: In Kaltern, on Marktplatz (just downhill from Rottenburger Platz)

Attractions on or near Trail:

Suedtiroler Weinmuseum, (Goldgasse 1), for informative displays on the vinicultural and viticultural history and practices in the area.

Tasting along the Trail:

Among others, along the Weinstrasse, the Manincor winery (close to the lake), and the Ritterhof and the wine center at Kellerei Kaltern (both in town), have large wine selections, convenient hours and on-site parking.

Alternative Options:

                Running: This entire trail is suitable for running.

                Biking: Almost all of this trail is suitable for road bikes. It also parallels or intersects local bike trails covering much the same ground. Additionally, the Suedtirol Weinstrasse Weinroute Mitte: Spuren von Weissburgunder und Kalterersee, a short distance biking circuit, focuses on the Oltradige wine district between Eppan and Kaltern and the little Montiggler lakes to the east.

                Car: The Suedtirol Weinstrasse covers this area and more.

Additional Information:

                Regional: http://www.suedtiroler-weinstrasse.it/english/

               Trail (segment) specific: http://www.kalterersee.com/de/freizeit-aktiv/berge-wandern/wanderung-von-kaltern-zum-kalterersee-auf-dem-weinweg/

Comments:

Dramatic Alpine scenery, and lush, greenness everywhere (at least from May to October) make this a true visual delight, even on an overcast day!

Less well-known is the northward continuation of the Wein.weg from Kaltern center to Oberplanitzing for an additional 5 kilometers or so. Check the city map, or ask at the tourist office on Marktplatz in Kaltern for details.

May be done clockwise or counterclockwise.