Winter Traditions in Tyrol: Skiing, Schnapps & Sledding

Rudolf, Schnapps distiller in East Tyrol

When you visit the Tyrol region in the Austrian and Italian Alps, you can’t miss the towering peaks all around you. You’re also sure to sample plenty of apple strudel and be served knödels during at least one meal. A highlight on the Dolomitenlauf & Marcialonga trip is a visit to a secret schnapps cellar tucked away beneath the cobbled streets of Lienz.

Did you see the New York Times article earlier this week about Schnapps distilleries in Tyrol, Snowy Peaks, Rushing Rivers and Schnapps to Warm Your Soul? Coincidently, it was published the morning after Lumi guests visited Rudolf’s centuries-old schnapps cellar near their hotel in East Tyrol.

Rudolf’s family has been distilling schnapps for over four generations and has around 70 varieties of schnapps in their cellar. Today, a shiny copper still greets visitors at the door. This is where fermented fruits are distilled into the strong, clear liquor that is Schnapps. The spirits Rudolf produces are then stored downstairs in wooden barrels or pear-shaped glass vessels that line the cave-like walls of the cellar.

After skiing the Dolomitenlauf last weekend, Lumi guests tasted Rudolf’s schnapps, sipping distinct varieties from traditional tulip-shaped glasses. Many are made with local fruit mashes, including the Osttirol (or East Tyrol) specialty “Pregler,” which is distilled from apples, pears and sometimes plums harvested from nearby orchards during the growing season. Rudolf’s Vermouth is another guest favorite that circles back to an even older family tradition – his grandfather was a vintner.

After warming up with some Schnapps and learning about the history and art of Rudolf’s distillery, Lumi guests were ready to experience another favorite Tyroelan winter activity the next morning: Rodeln (also featured in the New York Times in December: Teetering Between Joy and Terror: Extreme Sledding in the Swiss Alps). 

These are just some of the Tyrolean winter traditions Lumi guests experience when skiing in the Alps. Visit lumiexperiences.com to learn more about 2025 Lumi trips, such as the Dolomitenlauf & Marcialonga Trip, Seefeld & Seiser Alm Sight-Skiing Trip or Tour de Ski Trip. Book before March 31, 2024 and save $300!

Hope to see you on the trail soon,
Garrott
garrott@lumiexperiences.com