Relais&Chateaux Castel Fragsburg *

Im Rahmen des weltbekannten „Merano Wine Festival“ wurden mein Kollege Daniel Egger von Travelexecutive und ich in das kleinste Luxushotel der Alpen eingeladen. Es war keine gewöhnliche Einladung, sondern eine, von der jeder Blogger der Welt nur träumen kann:

Samstagabend

5 Gänge Degustationsmenü aus der Sterneküche gekocht von Luis Haller

Sonntagmorgen

Das Fragsburger Frühstück Deluxe,welches in 5 Gängen am Tisch serviert wurde. Dieses hat bislang alles übertroffen, was ich Frühstück genannt habe.

Sonntagnachmittag

Ging es  dann hinter die Kulissen zum Kochkurs mit Luis Haller.

Sonntagabend

Wartete der Tanzboden am Open Day mit Soft Jazz und fantastischen Highlights

Nach dem Besuch der Weinmesse (hoher Eintrittspreis, aber sehr informativ) im Zentrum Merans wurden wir wieder in unser Hotel, das hoch oben am Berg liegt, gebracht. Dann genossen wir den kleinen, aber feinen gut besuchten SPA Bereich.

Das Dinner im Castel Fragsburg *

Gut erholt betraten wir das ausgebuchte Restaurant. Das Ambiente des verhältnismäßigen großen Speiseraum traf genau unseren Geschmack. Um es mit den Worten von Travelexecutive zu sagen: „Trotz der Größe des Raumes fühlt man sich als wäre man alleine in einer privaten Sterneküche“.

Wir waren Samstag Mittag schon überrascht von der atemberaubendem Aussicht - aber unser Tisch abends in der ersten Reihe direkt am Fenster übertraf wieder mal unsere Erwartungen! Die Meraner Skyline lag uns zu Füßen. Nach der persönlichen Begrüßung von PR Manager Thomas Steiner wurde uns der Aperitif serviert.

Der Vorteil wenn man in solch einem Hotel wohnen darf ist, dass man das Auto nicht mehr bewegen muss. Das heißt man darf gut und gerne einen Cocktail als Einstand in ein Abendessen bestellen ;).

Das Menü begann mit einigen Amuse Bouches: fünf Stück an der Zahl, eine britannische Felsenauster, ein Toast mit rohem Thunfisch und Gurkenbrunoise, einem Kartoffelespuma mit Jakobsmuschel und Trüffelpulver, eine Consommé, die mit einem Bierschaum vollendet wurde. Das letzte der fünf Komponenten war eine frittierte Teigtasche mit einer Füllung aus einer sehr gut abgeschmeckten Fischfarce. 

Als Vorspeise wählten wir eine Variation mit Büffelmozarella, Kalbstatar im Schüttelteig und Wintertrüffel. Die Anrichteweise genau wie der Geschmack brachte mich ins Schwärmen und machte Lust auf mehr.

Bei dem Zwischengang aus Kürbis, Risotto, Burrata und geriebenen Trüffel wurden unsere Geschmacksnerven zum wiederholten  Male komplett stimuliert. Das Risotto hätte meines Erachtens vielleicht eine Minute länger im Topf verweilen können. Dies ist jedoch kein Kritikpunkt sondern Geschmackssache.  Aber alles in einem ein sehr gut gelungenes Gericht.

Ehrlich gesagt bin ich froh, dass ich kein Vegetarier bin, sonst wäre mir das PERFEKT gegarte Rinderfilet entgangen.

Lobenswert war auch, dass der Wunsch meines Kollegen, der das Rinderfilet Medium-Welldone bestellt hat, ohne Probleme in Erfüllung ging. Serviert wurde das Weiderind mit Minimais und Kastanienpüree. Verfeinert wurde es mit einigen gut sautierten Steinpilzen.

Den Übergang zum Dessert formte ein Sorbet aus Trauben verfeinert mit einem Olivenpulver.

Nach einer kurzen Wartepause  wurde das Dessert serviert. Eine sehr mutige Kombination aus Dill und Weißer Schokolade. Hört sich im ersten Moment sehr speziell an, jedoch wenn man in den Genuss dieser Süßspeise kommt, will man nicht mehr aufhören zu essen.

Durch den gesamten Abend begleiteten uns sehr gut geschulte Servicemitarbeiter.

Als Abschluss von einem nahezu Perfekten Abendessen gab es noch einige Petit Fours.

Vielen Dank an das Hotel Castel Frageburg für die Einladung. 

Alle veröffentlichte Berichte repräsentieren ausschließlich unsere eigene Meinung.

Thank you very much to the Hotel Castel Fragsburg for the generous invitation. All above written is our personal opinion without any influences.

written by:

Felix Bantel - Food Executive

48 Hours at Castel Fragsburg

"High above the wonderful thermal town Merano, there is a dazzling star...", this would be the perfect way of how to begin this South Tyrolean fairytale. Before we headed to Merano Wine Festival we checked-in at the world class Castel Fragsburg, a place which is only known to real insider of South Tyrol or hotel connoisseurs. Recently awarded with the fifth star, this is now one of only a handful five star hotels in the most wonderful region of Central Europe (well, not THE most wonderful but it definitely made it under the TOP5 ;-) ).  

So upon driving a windy mountain road for nearly 10 minutes, we finally arrived at the gate to luxury: the entrance to the Castel Fragsburg - our autumn getaway and base for the most amazing weekend of the year! After entering the rustic door and the charming lobby we were greeted by Philip, the front desk attendant, who accompanied us to the restaurant. We were immediately offered a welcome drink, which we decided to take on the breath-taking terrace. Our server Karol was arriving with some fine finger food, a Venetiano and an excellent Rosé Sparkling wine from South Tyrol. What an excellent  start in this weekend full of Italian Wine! Beside a picture perfect view, probably the best weather of the month and excellent service, there was just one thing missing: Mr. Beverage Executive, who is normally in charge of taking the best pictures of the best drinks! So I tried myself and am not sure if it was successful or not.

When we returned to the front desk, we were greeted by the PR Manager of the Fragsburg and afterwards Philip showed us to the room, or more correct, our Suite. With 90° panoramic views, this Suite is overlooking Merano, the valley, the Fragsburg plateau and the mountain range of the hotel on the back. Upon entering we immediately fell the smell of fresh alpine air and wood. It seems that they use a very special wood throughout the property, which gives a heartwarming and traditional smell. Even more important in our today's society: we felt like we are in South Tyrol, nowhere else! This is something I hate about big chains such as Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons or Sheraton: they rarely present the local tradition inside the hotel.

Our suite had a large entree, a living room with two comfortable lounge chairs, a big balcony with two chairs next to the living room, a separated toilet with bidet, a huge marble bathroom with double basins, bath tub and a spacious walk-in shower. The wardrobe is situated in the bedroom, which boasts an amazing panorama window with sweeping views over the valley. Beside the sofa, the television, which comes out of the commode upon clicking the remote control, there is another small balcony with seating arrangements. 

The bathroom products were - unfortunately - Relais&Chateaux branded (they used to have Etro toiletries on the pictures on their homepage and I think since they have five-stars it's another reason to keep this standard). When I took a bath, I had to experience that it was the perfect size of bath tub and therefore very relaxing - a perfect option for everyone seeking for a kind of pool. The comfort of the suite was amazing. The beds are extremely heavenly, the living room is simply a place to dream and hide away, while the bath couldn't got larger to feel like at home!

Breakfast is served daily until 10.30 but when guests seat longer they keep the buffet until 10.45, which is kind of flexible as the service team has to prepare for lunch. On our first morning we got the upscale "Fragsburger Deluxe Breakfast", which is served in 5 or 6 courses and includes champagne and oysters - yes, it has its price at a surcharge of 18.00 euros per person in addition to the normal breakfast, which is normally included in the price. I would say that's the perfect start of a day when you celebrate something, because you don't have to leave the table - very relaxing. The products at breakfast were extremely good and they offer a wide range of their extensive breakfast and their breakfast menu. 

I ordered myself the scrambled eggs with mushrooms and herbs from the hotel garden -  a special creation by michelin chef Alois Haller: It was simply perfect! After experiencing the most extensive a la carte breakfast I have ever had on the first day, we had to be satisfied with just half the selection on the departure day (because we had to leave the Fragsburg at 8.00 am due to the tourism fair in Salzburg, Austria). The kind service attendant offered us an extensive selection at 7.30 am, but as you might guess, we were not in the mood for such a breakfast - not just because the great Open Day Party the night before (a review is coming soon for this amazing event) - it was simply too early for us.

Finally we had to say goodbye and Philip checked us out in a warm welcoming way, so that we are already planning for a glamorous return one day - maybe next year for the Merano Wine Festival 2015, but then with Mr. Beverage Executive!

It was the best weekend of 2014 so far and the funniest work experience for us, as Travel Bloggers, since it was the most welcoming hotel we have ever stayed at!

We would like to thank the Management of the Castel Fragsburg for the generous invitation to stay here for two nights during the Merano Wine Festival 2014. Furthermore we have to thank the whole team of specialists, which made us feel like staying at Northern Italy's Best Hotel! Congratulations!

Greetings from Merano

I am just sitting in the living room of our sumptuous Suite overlooking the serene thermal town Merano in wonderful South Tyrol - my favorite destination for a short weekend getaway. This time I am on the way with Mr. Food Executive and we have been generously invited by the Relais&Chateaux Hotel Castel Fragsburg. This is the latest addition to the few South Tyrolean 5-star hotels and also the smallest luxury establishment of the Alps, with only 20-rooms. 

Yesterday we have been at the world famous Merano Wine Festival 2014 and of course we had lots of excellent Italian wine. The good thing about this event is, that only the best wineries can exhibit in the Art Deco Kurhaus, the main venue of the Festival. The bad thing is, that the entry fee is 90.00 Euros per person excluding the fee for a glass which is another 10 euros. Well, after spending 100 euros you are allowed to drink as much wine as you can and of course you can eat as much as you can in the Gourmet Arena - for that offer it's more likely to be a fair price. 

So how did we start? First we tried Champagne (Laurent Perrier and G.H. Mumm were some of our first wines we had), followed by several Rose sparkling and Ca'del Bosco's best Franciacorta wines (the Italian synonyme for Champagne - forget Prosecco). Of course we went to our top favorite wineries only, otherwise you end up drunk before even tested the white, red and sweet wines, nor Grappa or limoncello. 

So we went further and visited Irene from Felsina, our friends from Capannelle (who might invite us at their luxury B&B in Gaiole soon :-) ), the Baracchi stand with its excellent wines, our Instagram colleagues of Il Borro (a Relais&Chateaux property owned by Mr. Ferragamo - the Designer), as well as the stand of Castello Banfi - a world class 5-star property near Montalcino. Of course we tried some Ornellaia, excellent Argentinian and Georgian wines, as well as the best of every region in Italy. 

At around 4.30 we left the Kurhaus to get back to the our heavenly base - the Castel Fragsburg. Before we dressed up for dinner, we went to the Spa to have an hour of relaxation. They have a very nice wellness area with two saunas, steam bath and a relaxation room overlooking the valley and Merano.