Farm Shops in Schenna: Regional products and enjoyment direct from the farm in Merano and environs
Schenna has a flavour of its own. Quite literally.
Agriculture belongs to the village just as much as the slopes, the paths and the view across the valley. You can see it on the sunny hillsides, sense it in everyday life and taste it on the plate. Apples, milk, grapes, speck, cheese and wine speak of care, experience and a landscape cultivated over generations. To enjoy them here is to experience South Tyrol in a direct and unfiltered way. At Hohenwart, too, that sense of origin is ever present: the milk in the cappuccino, the butter on the breakfast bread, the white wine on the sunny terrace.
Direct sales at the farm – quality with a sense of origin
Many farmers in Schenna have cultivated apples for generations, supplied grapes for South Tyrolean wine or produced milk and other regional goods. Much of this produce first goes to the co-operatives in and around Merano, before finding its way back into the region – including onto the tables at Hotel Hohenwart.
Alongside this, many specialities are still made in smaller quantities, often by hand and sold directly at the farm. Those who look more closely will find small farm shops that are more than places of sale. They tell of the people behind them, of rural daily life and of a way of working that requires time, attention and closeness. Right in our immediate neighbourhood, for example, are the farm shops at Hilburgerhof and Pföstl Hof: small, personal and honest. The products have not travelled far. Perhaps that is precisely where their character lies.
Fresh regional products direct from the farm in Schenna
Many farm shops in Schenna are located directly at the farm or in small family-run sales rooms. Cheese, jams, speck, cured meats and spirits are made here, often in modest quantities and with a clear focus on origin and quality. Those who stop are not only taking something home, but often learning something as well – about the animals, the fields, the work and the rhythm of the seasons.
One place especially worth noting is Torgglerhof, once the village prison. Today it produces selected spirits and regularly hosts tastings. It is a place with a history of its own, now carried forward in a different form.
Out and about on walks and excursions
The farm shops of Schenna lend themselves naturally to an outing. A walk along the Wine and Apple Trail leads past orchards, vineyards, small woodland stretches and farms of the region. Almost without noticing, you begin to understand how closely landscape and agriculture belong together here.
The route also passes the Innerleiter winery, where Karl and his family tend their vines with calm and experience. Anyone who pauses here senses it quickly: wine is not made in haste, but through observation, patience and time.
Continue further uphill and the mild climate of the vineyards gradually falls away. Higher up lies the mountain farm of the Dosser family. In clear mountain air and surrounded by alpine meadows, cheeses of strong character are made here. The milk comes from their own animals and the processing is done by hand. The result is produce that does not conceal where it comes from.
It is precisely this combination of movement, landscape and culinary discovery that gives these routes their appeal. This is not simply about shopping. One is on one’s way and, along the way, encounters a part of Schenna itself.
Producers who belong
Especially worth mentioning is the Ilmer family with the Speckladele in Schenna. They supply us daily with fresh milk from Milchhof Meran as well as our own meat and sausage specialities from the sheep and pigs of our mountain farm Gsteier in Schenna. Speck, Kaminwurzen, salami and ham are produced here in close collaboration and with respect for animals, people and the landscape.
Cheese, fresh fruit and regional wines also come from farmers who work with care and experience. Those who discover these products take away not only flavour, but also a sense of the landscape they come from.
A pleasure for all the senses
Farm shops in Schenna are more than places to buy things. They are encounters with craftsmanship, with origin and with people who know exactly what they are doing. Spending time here offers a quiet and immediate sense of the village.
For guests of Hotel Hohenwart, this means short distances, personal conversations and the opportunity not only to taste regional specialities, but also to better understand where they come from. In this way, enjoyment becomes tangible and gains depth.
Conclusion
Farm shops in Schenna bring together agriculture, tradition and flavour in a way that is understated and yet special. For guests of Hotel Hohenwart, they offer a lovely opportunity to get to know regional products at their source, to gain insight into South Tyrolean farming and to discover Merano and environs through its culinary side. What one takes away is not only something good for the table, but often also an impression that lasts.