Alpe-Adria Wine Festival & Clubbing becomes a tradition – a story of growth, connection and exceptional wines
A year after its successful premiere, the second Alpe-Adria Wine Festival & Clubbing has confirmed that a new tradition is taking root at Castle Taggenbrunn in Carinthia. On Thursday, 15 October, more than 600 visitors – restaurateurs, winemakers, sommeliers, business partners and wine lovers – gathered at the castle to discover more than 100 wines from more than 40 winemakers from Austria, Slovenia, Italy and, for the first time, Croatia. Together they turned the day into a celebration of wine, refined cuisine and new connections across borders.
Where Business Meets Wine
The day began in the morning with the Alpe-Adria Business Conference in the Vineyard Hall, which brought together representatives of business, tourism, sport and gastronomy from Austria, Slovenia and the wider Alpe-Adria region. Moderated by Johannes Orasche, the conference explored how sporting events, strategic infrastructure and innovative experiences can strengthen destinations, extend the tourism season and open up new business opportunities.
The conference was opened by Mag. Josef Petritsch (Carinthian Chamber of Commerce) and Martin Jezeršek (J-Hospitality Group). They were followed by Helmut Micheler (Visit Klagenfurt), Christian Tammegger (Tourism Mittelkärnten), Petra Stušek, MSc (Ljubljana Tourism), Jürgen Deischl (Fraport Slovenija), Kristina Taja Grünfeld (EXTREM) and Kathrin Vidu (VCM Group – Wörthersee Marathon & Vienna City Marathon), who shared insights and case studies from their work.
After the business programme, the guests carried the conversation over into the festival, where networking continued over a glass of wine.
More Than 40 Winemakers and Over 100 Wines
From 2:00 PM, the Concert Hall and the Salon of Castle Taggenbrunn became a meeting point for the wine scene of the Alpe-Adria region. More than 40 winemakers presented over 100 wines – from fresh whites and elegant reds to traditional-method sparkling wines and characterful orange wines.
Austria was strongly represented with 17 wineries. Carinthia was showcased by the host Weingut Taggenbrunn alongside W2-Bio Weinbau Waltl, Sternberg, Vinum Virunum and Weingut Karnburg. Burgenland came with Leo Hillinger, Gebrüder Nittnaus, Keringer, Sommer and Zantho, Lower Austria with Taubenschuss, Hagn, Gilg, Alphart and Nepomukhof Grassl, while Genussgut Krispel and Frauwallner Straden brought the character of the Styrian Vulkanland.
Slovenia brought ten wineries to Taggenbrunn – from the sparkling wine houses Radgonske Gorice and Medot, through Movia and Kristančič from Goriška Brda, to Steyer Vina, Frešer, Verus, Frelih, Šuklje and Santomas. Italy showed its full range: Prosecco from Soligo, Mionetto and Col Sandago, Trentodoc from Cesarini Sforza, wines from Friuli and Veneto by Marco Felluga Russiz Superiore / Tommasi Family Estates, Vie di Romans and Villa Sandi & Borgo Conventi, as well as Tua Rita from Tuscany and Feudi di San Gregorio from Campania.
Croatia joined the festival for the first time, with five wineries from Istria – Clai Wines, Damjanić Wines, Vina Poletti, Winery DeFratta and Rossi Winery – introducing guests to indigenous varieties such as Malvazija Istarska and Teran.
A particular highlight was the Masterclass, held at 3:00 PM in glorious sunshine on the castle terrace, which attracted a large number of participants. Led by sommelier Ingrid Bachler, it put the spotlight on Slovenian wines, inviting guests to discover Slovenia’s wine country glass by glass.
Culinary Highlights on the Terrace
Regional cuisine was an integral part of the festival. On the castle terrace, the Food Corner invited guests to enjoy delicious mini burgers and other specialities in the open air. Craftsmanship and precision also took centre stage there – with OsterRob impressing visitors with its top-quality Japanese knives, and sushi master Ernest Barać once again drawing the crowds with his Tuna Ritual: before the guests’ eyes, he carved an Adriatic tuna weighing more than 30 kilograms and served its finest cuts in carefully selected flavour combinations.
Inside the castle, selected exhibitors accompanied the wines with their specialities – among them Pustotnik, Kodila, Kralj pršutov, Fonda, Monterosso and Piranske soline.
One Day, Two Chapters
As the afternoon drew to a close, the Sundowner on the castle terrace set the tone for the evening. To the sounds of Carinthian band Gran Tourismo – known for their soulful, blues-infused sound ranging from Spanish folk songs and reggae to polished rock – guests soaked up the last rays of sunshine over the vineyards, and more than a few took their first dance steps.
At 7:00 PM, the festival moved into its second chapter. In the castle’s Concert Hall, DJ Phil Reisinger created an exuberant club atmosphere and a packed dance floor. The day of wine and gastronomy ended with energy, smiles and dancing – in the spirit of friendship, cooperation and new acquaintances.
A Tradition in the Making
The festival is organised by J-Hospitality Group, which, together with the Riedl family, the owners of the estate, has been responsible for the hotel and gastronomic operations at Taggenbrunn since 2024 – including the Castle Restaurant Taggenbrunn (Falstaff, Gault&Millau), the boutique hotel and café. This year’s edition was presented by main media partner Kronen Zeitung and organised in cooperation with partners Transgourmet, Koželj Wines and Jacques Lemans.
The response from visitors, winemakers, exhibitors and partners confirms that the Alpe-Adria Wine Festival & Clubbing has found its place in the region’s calendar – as a meeting point where wine, cuisine and people from four countries come together. That is why we can already say with certainty: the Alpe-Adria Wine Festival & Clubbing will return next year!
You can see snapshots of this unforgettable event in the photo gallery at https://taggenbrunnbyjezersek.pixieset.com/alpeadriaweinfestivalandclubbingphotomatickremzar/. For more information and the catalogue of winemakers, visit: www.taggenbrunn.at/alpe-adria-weinfest-clubbing
www.taggenbrunn.at
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PR contact:
Eva Demšar, J-Hospitality Group
eva.demsar@j-hospitalitygroup.com
+386 (0) 31 361 985