South Tyrol Wine Museum in Kaltern-Caldaro, Vineyard Upfront, Founded 1955

Wine is a living thing so rather than give us staid history, the South Tyrol Wine Museum (in Italian Museo provinciale del vino) or as the locals call it in German Sudtiroler Weinmuseum, has real vines planted in the front yard. 

South Tyrol is known as the wine region of Alto Adige.

About the Museum in their own words):

"The South Tyrol Wine Museum was the first one of its kind to be created south of the Alps. It was founded in 1955. Until 1986 it was hosted in Ringberg castle above Lake Kaltern and in 1986 it was transferred to the center of the town of Kaltern/Caldaro.

Highlights of the permanent Museum exhibition are: the winegrowers' daily work in the vineyard, wine production and storage,  the farmers' working tools and implements (pictured below), glass and ceramic, and the relation between wine and religion"

An illustration of the connection between wine and religion can be found right at the door with the statue of Saint Corbinian of Freising holding grapes (image below).



The grapes in the museum's vineyard are ancient varieties not commonly grown these days such as Bozner Seidentraube, Weiße Erdbeertraube, Blatterie and Gschlafene.

The Museum is open from 1st April to 11th November Tuesday to Saturday: 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. Su. and public holidays: 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 a.m. Closed on Mondays Closed on November 1st

Admission : 3 Euros Per Adult

Even though South Tyrol is in Northern Italy, the climate is more Mediterranean than anything.

A place to visit once for sure

On my wish list for 2010