South Tyrol, located in the northern part of Italy, is an environment perfectly suited for an active holiday. The mountains and the landscape immediately invite movement. As a starting point for activities, Roter Hahn offers a wide choice of accommodations at farmsteads. The concept goes beyond simply “staying on a farm”. By choosing this, you experience an interesting exploration of the region and its inhabitants. With these expectations in mind, we set off towards our place of stay. You can read about our experience at the farmsteads in this blog.

Arrival in South Tyrol by car

As we enter Italy through the Brenner Pass by car, it is snowing. The temperature is around freezing as we start the kilometers-long descent towards Bolzano. The closer we get to this city in South Tyrol, the more blue sky we see. We pass the exit to the winter sports paradise of Val Gardena. The temperature rises to above 10 degrees within half an hour. Upon reaching Bolzano, we take the exit towards Merano.

Lana as a fruit growing village in the Bolzano region

A few kilometers before this place lies Lana, an older, larger municipality in the Adige Valley. It has a village character. This region is the largest apple producer in Europe. Therefore, it’s no coincidence that we are staying on the estate of an apple farmer here. A small complex of several apartments amidst the fruit trees serves as the starting point for our stay in South Tyrol.

The unique atmosphere of Agriturismo

A day before our arrival, we receive a message from the accommodation. “We expect you at the agreed time, but if you arrive earlier, just give us a call.” Indeed, we arrive in Lana earlier than expected and decide to have lunch first. Where we were driving in the snow just moments ago, we are now enjoying the sunshine on the terrace. We check where we need to go, only to find out that we are just 100 meters away from our accommodation.

We introduce ourselves to the owner and fruit farmer, Elmar Nock, who then takes us to the well-appointed apartment. As we find a spot in the garden, Elmar’s wife, Annemarie, returns from gathering herbs in the mountains. Elmar joins us and provides us with extensive information about all the activities in the region. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and before we know it, our week is fully planned. This personal involvement is perhaps the biggest difference from larger organizations. They take pride in the place and the environment, and are eager to share it with their guests.

Why Roter Hahn?

The increase in holiday accommodations makes it difficult to distinguish between all the options. What sets them apart from each other? The concept of Roter Hahn is that it involves staying on a real farm. Production takes place there, whether through fruit farming, viticulture, or livestock breeding. The farm is the main activity, and in addition, they rent out apartments or cottages. With a maximum of six accommodations, the rental is not on a large scale.

The rooster symbolizes agriculture because every farm has chickens and a red rooster. Red represents pride in the products and the farm. There are now more than 1600 accommodations affiliated with this quality label. The quality is indicated by the number of flowers. The more flowers, the more extensive the facilities. In addition to farm accommodations, this label is also used to promote farm products. For example, through farm shops with quality products. In this way, the red rooster brings attention to the work of the farmer and contributes to the improvement of the market position of the affiliated farmers.

Meals at the Agriturismos of Roter Hahn

In the morning, hostess Annemarie surprises us with a delightful breakfast. Fresh rolls, cold cuts and cheese, fresh fruit, homemade jam, and honey are a regular part of this ritual. The various types of jams are homemade, as are the fruit juices that are part of this treat. Annemarie regularly asks if everything is sufficient, to which we can only agree.

During a visit at lunchtime to a Roter Hahn accommodation higher in the mountains above Merano, we experience a bustling kitchen. Especially the dumplings here are of unparalleled quality. This typical Austrian specialty is made from bread dough, egg, milk, and an addition of bacon or cheese. This farm focuses on viticulture, which we also experience during lunch. We eat salad made from dandelion leaves mixed with potatoes. Particularly tasty and we learn something new about the edibility of something we consider as weeds. The dining room is a sight in itself due to the way everything is designed with wood. The beauty of agriturismo lies in working with products from the farm and the region. It all feels very pure and healthy.

South Tyrol as the centre of apple cultivation

As mentioned, the farm where we are staying is dedicated to apples. During a tour of the farm, the process from planting to harvesting is explained. Apples are cut in half to show when an apple is successful or less successful. The method of “low-stem” cultivation was brought from the Netherlands to Italy in the late 1960s. It becomes clear that an apple farmer can never really sit back. It is an intensive and meticulous process in which the weather has a significant influence.

The enthusiasm with which our young fruit farmer talks about his products strikes us, especially during the tour. Finally, he takes us to a new section for grape planting. Since recently, they also produce wine on the farm. We end with tasting this wine in a restored cellar under the house. The sale of wine is still in its infancy at this farm. Apple juice and related products are also available at the shop in the reception. Photos hang in the corridors, showing that the person giving the tour is already the third generation of apple farmer from this family.

Additional activities of Roter Hahn

The concept of Roter Hahn goes beyond staying overnight. Numerous activities can be undertaken to enjoy life on the farm. Think of cooking schools, horse riding, visiting the barns, or indulging in wellness. A separate category includes the shops where farm products are sold. These are honest products produced with what the farmer grows or cultivates.

There is also a small number of craftsmen falling under the “handcraft” predicate. In Lana, we visit Karl Heinz Windegger. In the morning, he takes care of his apple trees, which he calls work. However, he retreats to the woodworking room in the afternoon. He calls it his true passion. With great attention to the properties of the wood, he makes the most beautiful bowls and utensils. His eyes twinkle as he talks about this craft. A visit to his in-house shop is a fun and enlightening outing.

For an active holiday in South Tyrol where you get to know the local population and life on a farm, Roter Hahn is an attractive option. The quality criteria ensure a good accommodation with committed owners. They are happy to introduce you to their work, products, and surroundings. This allows you to discover South Tyrol in a direct way and makes the experience more intense than from a more general place of stay. Read our separate blog about the surroundings for an orientation on the activities in the Bolzano region in South Tyrol.

At the invitation of Roter Hahn, we visited this region. The content of the blog was independently and objectively compiled based on our own impressions.