The European Alps hold a majestic, mystical place in the hearts of those who have traveled to, through, or around them. From yodeling cowherds to chic ski chalets, the Alps have both a country quaintness and a high-society culture to them. And for many northern-living folk (even in our mountainless Midwest), there’s a sense of connection and familiarity to the perceived hardiness of life in these snowy, icy heights.

 

The beverage & dining world latched onto the French idea of après-ski several decades ago when skiing transitioned from being just a form of transportation into a fashionable pastime. Meaning “after ski,” it’s an afternoon hour akin to a mountainous happy hour of hot mulled drinks, refreshing cocktails, and melty cheese (fondue, anyone?) to wind down from your hours of traversing miles of mountain passes. Or in Minnesota, to reward yourself after hours of traversing snow-packed yards of your freshly-shoveled driveway.

 

Alpine wines tend to share the same crisp, chilly edge no matter what country they come from—whether it’s Switzerland, northern Italy, Austria, or Slovenia. Both white and red wines have a refreshing acidity, lighter body, and delicate fruitiness that tell the story of their northern homes, where the growing season is cool and marginal at best. You’ll come across white grapes like Fendant from Switzerland and Kerner from Alto Adige in northern Italy. Red wines vary from familiar ones like Nebbiolo (which thrives in cooler climates) and lesser-known ones like Vernatsch (or Trollinger).  

 

The other fascinating thing about these Alpine wines is the politics behind them: the borders in places like Austria and northern Italy are blurry at best, and so too with the culture and traditions. Small villages and communities in the Alps take on their own dialects, customs, and gastronomic specialties, making them fascinating subcultures within their respective countries.