HGV press release

Terlano asparagus season has begun
Specialty week from March 30th to May 21st – seven restaurants are taking part

Terlano, Vilpiano and Settequerce – From the end of March, the royal vegetable, the Terlano Margarete asparagus, will again be the focus of the culinary offer in the asparagus triangle of Terlano, Vilpiano and Settequerce.

Seven restaurants invite you to the traditional Terlano asparagus season, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The participating restaurants serve up innovative and sophisticated asparagus creations. The specialty week, which was presented today, Thursday, March 30, 2023, at the fairground in Terlano, is organized by the local group Terlano of the Hoteliers and Innkeepers Association (HGV) in cooperation with the Terlano Tourist Board, the Terlano winery and the Terlaner Margarete Spargel.
Every day and in any weather, the Terlaner Margarete asparagus is harvested by hand in the fields, brought to the Terlaner asparagus farmers and processed fresh there. This regional cycle guarantees freshness and a unique taste. Whether steamed, boiled, baked or grilled - the asparagus is skillfully staged by our chefs: in risotto, in creamy soups, in pasta specialities, in vegetable strudel, in egg dishes or with fish dishes - in all these delicacies the diverse variety of asparagus unfolds Terlano asparagus Margarete particularly appreciates its typically intense and nutty aroma. For those who prefer it sweet, the asparagus farmers in Terlano cleverly process the precious vegetables into delicious desserts.
"On the 40th anniversary of the Terlano asparagus season, I would like to thank everyone who has been living this tradition with us for 40 years," said Michael Fontana, Terlano's HGV local chairman at the opening event. Tourism Association President Reinhold Runer presented the varied program of the Terlano asparagus season.
A total of thirteen asparagus farmers in Terlano cultivate high-quality asparagus on around ten hectares of land. "The white sprouts thrive particularly well on the sandy and humus-rich soil of the lower Adige Valley. The mild climate contributes to the fact that the Margarete asparagus develop an unmistakably delicate taste ", reports Manfred Koroschetz, coordinator of the Terlaner Margarete Spargel and representative of the asparagus farmers.
The excellent asparagus wine from the Terlan winery is served with the asparagus dishes. "The asparagus wine is a light Sauvignon that is bottled especially for these culinary weeks and goes particularly well with asparagus dishes," explains Georg Eyrl, chairman of the Terlan winery.
Numerous guests of honor were present at the opening event, including the mayor of Terlano, Hansjörg Zelger, state councilor Arnold Schuler, member of the state parliament Helmut Tauber, HGV president Manfred Pinzger, HGV district chairman Gottfried Schgaguler, the asparagus queen of Terlano Magda Lena Runer and the rose queen of Nalles Anna Ebner.
State Councilor Arnold Schuler was enthusiastic about how this niche product has developed and the added value it brings for the entire state. State MP Helmut Tauber said that the Terlano asparagus season is a true symbol of the lifeblood and passion of restaurateurs, while HGV President Manfred Pinzger noted that this specialty week is also a good example of how agriculture and gastronomy can benefit and support each other. On the occasion of the anniversary, Mayor Hansjörg Zelger also thanked the pioneers, in particular Helmut Huber, the long-standing HGV local chairman, and was pleased that the spring season began with the asparagus season.
Together with the asparagus queen Anna Lena Runer, the guests of honor took part in the traditional asparagus cutting and thus officially heralded the asparagus season.
The Terlaner Spargelzeit has also made sustainability a priority, pays attention to the correct use of resources and is being held for the first time as a Going Green Event.
As a showcase example of the interaction between tourism and agriculture, a new cooperation with the South Tyrolean seal of quality, the South Tyrolean free-range eggs, was presented at the opening. The sponsors and partners then dueled each other in the traditional “Eierpecken”.
At the opening event, culinary delights from Terlano Margarete asparagus, prepared by the seven participating restaurants, and fresh asparagus wine from the Terlan winery were served. The delicacies were served by the students of the Kaiserhof State Hotel Management School in Meran.

Asparagus panel on April 26th
For the 40th anniversary of the Terlano asparagus season, the seven participating inns are offering a very special experience this year: On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the Terlano winery will be transformed into a culinary table. After an aperitif together in this unique ambience, an appealing four-course menu with refined dishes follows. The main role is of course played by the Terlaner Margarete asparagus, accompanied by a coordinated wine sequence from the Terlan winery. Due to the limited number of participants, registration via the Terlano Tourist Office is required.

Collateral program

In addition to enjoying asparagus, experiencing the stick vegetables is also on the program at the Terlano asparagus season. Locals and guests can embark on a journey of discovery in the asparagus fields with an expert on the “culinary asparagus hike” on April 15 and taste asparagus creations and Terlano wines.

 On the asparagus bike tours on April 12th and May 10th, those who are interested can cycle from Terlano via Vilpian to an asparagus field, enjoy Terlano wine and asparagus bites in the Terlano winery and finally a typical asparagus lunch in a restaurant.

On May 6th and 20th you can recharge your batteries at "Yoga in the asparagus field" and practice yoga in the middle of the asparagus fields. Afterwards, the participants enjoy a leisurely asparagus brunch.
All information about the Terlaner asparagus season and the detailed supporting program is available at www.terlaner-spargelzeit.it.

The participating hospitality establishments
Gasthaus Zum Hirschen, Vilpiano, Tel. 0471 678 533
Hotel Restaurant Sparerhof, Vilpiano, Tel. 0471 678 671
Hotel Restaurant Weingarten, Terlano, Tel. 0471 257 174
Restaurant Pizzeria Oberhauser, Terlano, Tel. 0471 257 121
Restaurant Oberfeeder, Terlano, Tel. 0471 257 150
Restaurant Patauner, Settequerce, Tel. 0471 918 502
Restaurant Pizzeria Egger, Terlano, Tel. 0471 188 9670

Photo captions
Photo No.1: The "Terlaner Spargelzeit" was opened on the fairground in Terlano. From left: Manfred Koroschetz, coordinator of the Terlano "Margarete" asparagus, Georg Eyrl, chairman of the Terlano winery, HGV President Manfred Pinzger, Provincial Councilor Arnold Schuler, asparagus queen Magda Lena Runer, Hansjörg Zelger, Mayor of Terlano, Helmut Tauber, member of the state parliament, and HGV District chairman Gottfried Schgaguler.

Photo No. 2: HGV local chairman Michael Fontana with asparagus queen Magda Lena Runer.

Bolzano, March 30, 2023