THE HIGHEST FOOD AND WINE EVENT IN THE WORLD CELEBRATES 25 YEARS: TOP WINE RETURNS TO THE TOP OF SASS PORDOI, A TASTING ONE STEP FROM THE SKY.
More than twenty Trentino-Alto Adige wineries and select Irpinia, Sicilian, and French labels will be featured. Cantina Terlano will be the protagonist of the masterclass. The event, organized on October 17th and 18th by Società Incremento Turistico Canazei SpA, will be held.
Christian Rabensteiner of Società Incremento Turistico Canazei: “Top Wine isn’t just a high-altitude tasting, but an opportunity to bring together the finest wines in the extraordinary setting of the Dolomites .” Roberto Anesi, sommelier: “At high altitude, wine reveals new, more subtle and elegant nuances.”
The event that unites the charm of the Dolomites with the excellence of wine is back: the Top Wine 2950 Symposium , now in its 25th year, will take place on October 17 and 18 at the Rifugio Maria, atop Sass Pordoi . At nearly three thousand meters above sea level, nearly twenty wineries from Trentino-Alto Adige will meet select labels from Irpinia, Sicily, and France for the world’s highest food and wine tasting. An experience that Goethe would have called “the land’s song to the sun,” suspended between the beauty of the landscape and the refinement of the glasses. This increasingly popular event will open on Friday, October 17, with a masterclass dedicated to the Terlano Winery, led by sommelier Roberto Anesi. This exclusive journey through the elegant and ageable whites of one of Alto Adige’s most iconic wineries will focus on the celebrated Terlaner blend and the iconic Primo. The heart of the event will be Saturday, October 18 : an entire day dedicated to tasting wines and gastronomic specialties, in a convivial atmosphere surrounded by the most fascinating peaks in the world.
Lunar Tour and Pian da Mur, Sass Pordoi continues to amaze
The natural setting of Sass Pordoi continues to amaze. Following the inauguration of the Lunar Tour in 2024, a route through a lunar-like high-altitude landscape, this year guests will also be able to admire the new Pian da Mur lake , visible from the Terrazza delle Dolomiti: a body of water that further enriches the Pordoi landscape. The Top Wine 2950 Symposium is organized by the Canazei Tourism Development Company , in collaboration with the Fassa and Fiemme Sommelier Association, Cedea Mineral Water, N’Outa Val di Fassa, and Trentino Catering.
“Top Wine is more than just a high-altitude tasting, it’s an opportunity to bring together the finest wines with enthusiasts, against the breathtaking backdrop of the Dolomites,” explains Christian Rabensteiner of Società Incremento Turistico Canazei SpA. “Over twenty-five years, it has grown into an event attracting enthusiasts from across Italy and abroad, strengthening our region’s image as a hub of culture, hospitality, and quality.”
“Tasting a wine at almost 3,000 meters is a unique experience,” explains sommelier Roberto Anesi. “At that altitude, our bodies have to adapt, and even the wine initially seems more timid, only to reveal new, more subtle and elegant nuances. It’s a context that invites us to slow down, observe the landscape, and taste with greater awareness.”
The program
Friday, October 17th, will kick off with the Cantina Terlano Masterclass (2:00 PM – 4:30 PM), a guided journey led by sommelier Roberto Anesi through the iconic wines of one of Alto Adige’s most important wineries. The main event, Saturday the 18th, will be a tasting (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM) at an altitude of 2,950 meters featuring over twenty wineries, a Top Wine platter by chef Giovanni Gabrielli, and a selection of finger foods.
The cellars
As every year, there will be plenty of space for local wine products, and more. The following will be present: Baron Longo, Cantina Convento Muri Gries, Cantina St. Pauls, Cantina Terlano – Andriano, Cantina Zanotelli, Cantine Monfort – Maso Cantanghel, Castelfeder, Corvèe, Donnafugata, Gandolfi Distribuzione Vini Francesi, Grigolli Bruno, Irpinia Consorzio Tutela Vini, Madonna delle Vittorie, Maxentia, Peter Zemmer, San Leonardo, Simoncelli, Spagnolli, Tenuta Peter Sölva, and Teroldego Evolution.
Participation in the Top Wine 2950 (October 18) costs €85, which includes a return cable car ticket, a screen-printed glass with glass holder, wine tastings, a Top Wine plate, finger food, and a gift. Participation in the Cantina Terlano Masterclass (October 17) costs €60, which includes a return cable car ticket and a guided tasting. Reservations are required and available online at: www.valdifassalift.it