Small farm structures from the valley to the mountain

What is special about South Tyrol is its small-structured agriculture. Mountain farmers with livestock manage on average only 9.6 hectares of grassland, and fruit and wine growers in the valley only 2.5 hectares of vines and fruit crops. This allows our direct marketers to focus entirely on the quality of their products, as well as giving high priority to animal welfare and near-natural production. But also the geographical differences in South Tyrol ensure a special variety of farm products. Whether in the valley at 200 meters or high up in the mountains at up to 1,900 meters, everywhere you will find family-run farms that produce a wide variety of foods, depending on the climatic possibilities.

It's the altitude that makes it

The direct marketers of the "Roter Hahn" brand are specialists when it comes to adapting to the geographical conditions of South Tyrol. For example, they grow fruit at higher altitudes, where it can develop its very special aroma, such as the widely known "Vinschger Apricot". In particularly cold regions, producers work with cold-resistant plants, such as the sea buckthorn or the chokeberry. The aroma of various herbs is also characterized by high altitudes, which Roter Hahn direct marketers also cultivate at over 1,000 m above sea level and process into wonderful teas and herbal blends. But that's not all! South Tyrol also offers an ideal location for growing cereals. Popular varieties are wheat, rye and spelt, from which the farming families conjure up high-quality flour as well as a wide variety of bread such as the typical Schüttelbrot.

High-quality meat and dairy products

Not only do plant products play an important role in South Tyrolean agriculture, but so does livestock farming. This is particularly practised in higher-lying areas, where farming families usually work on steep slopes under difficult conditions. The milk of the cows, sheep and goats is processed into exquisite products. Whether yogurt, fresh, soft, semi-hard or mountain cheese, our Roter Hahn direct marketers can come up with a nice selection of dairy products. 

But meat production also has a lot to offer. In addition to fresh meat, South Tyrolean specialties such as the characteristic bacon or the homemade "Kaminwurzen" seduce you on a culinary journey through South Tyrol's mountain agriculture. Our producers can also keep up when it comes to keeping chickens. The fresh air, the extensive chicken-runs and the high-quality feed offer chickens everything their heart desires to lay exquisite eggs for your breakfast.

The wine and apple paradise of South Tyrol

What would South Tyrol be without its apples and without its wine? Every 10th apple in Europe comes from South Tyrol. Apples grow here in the valley floor and thanks to particularly favourable locations and climatic conditions up to an altitude of 1000 meters. Whether well-known apple varieties, such as Golden Delicious and Jonagold, or something more special, such as Topaz or Pinova - all varieties have their very own and special taste. Our Roter Hahn direct marketers take advantage of this diversity of taste and refine apples into a wide variety of products, such as apple sauce, chutneys, fruit spreads and dried fruit. In pressed form, you can enjoy them as naturally cloudy apple juice. If the juice is fermented, the lightly-sparkling cider is created, which is guaranteed to give you a special kind of taste experience. Perhaps you will also be inspired by the scent of the apple in the numerous fruit brandies of the "Roter Hahn" brand".

But not only apple growing, also viticulture is characteristic of South Tyrol. This has a very special history behind it. Finds of grape seed in the area of Brixen prove the existence of viticulture already around 500 BC. Today, the wine region extends along the valley and on the sunny slopes between 200 and 1,000 meters above sea level. The Red Rooster winegrowers occupy particularly good sites and offer exquisite wine rarities, guaranteeing you a good drop or two.