The premiere edition of Alpe-Adria Wine Festival & Clubbing exceeded all expectations and set new standards for wine events in the region in its very first year. In the idyllic setting of Taggenbrunn Castle, more than 600 visitors gathered – including numerous restaurateurs, winemakers, sommeliers, business partners, and wine lovers, who together created a unique experience full of flavours, inspiration, and new connections.
Business and wine
An exclusive business event was held concurrently with the festival, intended for members of prestigious economic organizations from Slovenia and Austria.
The gathering began with a presentation of the Taggenbrunn estate, where Jezeršek Catering has been successfully providing catering services since May 2024, and stories about the fruitful cooperation with the estate’s owners, the Riedl family. Thanks to the latter, Taggenbrunn has become an important venue for culinary, cultural, and business networking in the Alps-Adriatic region in recent years. The conversation focused in particular on the path taken by the Slovenian company Jezeršek Catering to successfully establish its vision on the Austrian market and on the future of cross-border cooperation.
The importance of this type of cooperation was also highlighted by Vesna Nikolić Hodnik from the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce (WKK), who presented the special features of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), the NAAN – New Alpe Adria Network project, and the AREASÜD economic area, which will be marked by the new Koralm railway connection, scheduled to open on December 14, 2025.
At the end of the business part of the event, the speakers emphasized that cooperation between Carinthia and Slovenia offers exceptional opportunities for both sides – we just need to connect and get to know each other better.
The event continued in a relaxed festival atmosphere, where participants mingled over a glass of wine and exchanged ideas about future opportunities in the Alpe-Adria region.
32 selected winemakers and nearly 100 wine samples
This day was all about wine. The Alpe-Adria Wine Festival & Clubbing featured 32 top winemakers from Carinthia, other Austrian regions, Slovenia, and Italy, who together offered nearly 100 different wine samples—from fresh whites and elegant reds to sparkling specialties.
In addition to the winemakers, visitors were also treated to delicacies from selected providers, including Kärntnermilch with a sumptuous cheese platter, Fonda and Piranske soline, who presented a sophisticated combination of sea bass and salt blossoms, Steakbauer and Blatnik with their superb steak tartare, and OsterRob, who impressed with a display of top-quality Japanese knives. A true culinary performance was provided by sushi master Ernest Barać, who performed an attractive Tuna Ritual in front of visitors – he cut up a 20-kilogram tuna and served its finest parts in carefully selected combinations of flavors, emphasized by the freshness and texture of the seafood ingredients
An exciting accompanying wine program
The festival featured numerous events that offered visitors an insight into the richness of the Alpe-Adria wine-growing region. These included a Masterclass led by sommelier Ingrid Bachler, where participants tasted selected wines from Carinthia, Slovenia, and Friuli, revealing the diversity and character of the regions. The Taggenbrunn Wine Experience also attracted particular attention – a sensory experience in which visitors compared Taggenbrunn wines, trusted their senses and intuition, and enjoyed a complete 360-degree experience with the Wine 360° art installation.
The magical beat of music among the vineyards
Emely Myles & Band provided the magical musical beat of the afternoon on the castle terrace – one of the most beautiful in the region. With her energetic performance and charisma, the finalist of The Voice of Germany created an atmosphere that thrilled all generations of visitors with a mix of soul, pop, and jazz. The evening continued with clubbing in the beautiful castle concert hall, where DJ Rinabro created a real club atmosphere with contemporary rhythms.
The wine and culinary day ended with energy, smiles, and dancing—in the spirit of friendship, cooperation, and new acquaintances.
Success that heralds tradition
The festival is backed by the successful Slovenian catering company Jezeršek gostinstvo, which has recently been gaining ground in the international arena, in cooperation with exclusive media partner Kleine Zeitung and partners Transgourmet, Koželj Wines, Jacques Lemans, Antenne Kärnten, and Kärnten Card.
The exceptional response from visitors, partners, winemakers, and exhibitors confirms that the festival has struck the right balance between business networking, wine culture, and a contemporary social experience. That is why we can already say with certainty that the Alpe-Adria Wine Festival & Clubbing will return next year!
You can see snapshots of this unforgettable event in the photo gallery.
For more information and an e-catalog of winemakers and exhibitors, visit: www.taggenbrunn.at/alpe-adria-winefestival
