Sölden, Austria
Best for wine tasting & Bond scenes
Worldrenowned chefs create dishesto pairwith high-end Austrian and German wines
A contender for the world’s most dramatic restaurant setting, Sölden’s Ice Q (iceq.at) can be reached by futuristic gondola. The brief but breathtaking journey is good preparation for the excitement ahead: the building’s modern steel structure and floor-to-ceiling windows offer awe-inspiring valley views from the summit of the Gaislachkogl mountain. It’s also home to the new 007 Elements experience (007elements.soelden.com), where visitors can immerse themselves in all things Bond. Interactive galleries explore iconic action sequences, high-tech gadgets and the secrets behind the Spectre scenes that were filmed here. More importantly for food lovers, Sölden hosts the Wein am Berg food festival (25-28 April 2019)
every year, which sees worldrenowned chefs create dishes to complement high-end Austrian and German wines. This year’s big names included Britain’s Jason Atherton and Austria’s Roland Huber. Local grape varieties such as grüner veltliner and riesling are ubiquitous but you’ll also discover more unusual wines, including sparkling whites and rich reds. The ‘house’ Pino 3000, a collaboration between three winemakers from Austria, Germany and Italian South Tyrol, is a full-bodied pinot noir matured in oak barrels atop the summit.
The three-day celebration of food, wine and snow kicks off with a traditional Alpine dinner at Das Central (central-soelden.com), the luxurious hotel at the heart of Sölden, whose team is behind the annual festivities. Designed for ski-loving foodies, the three-day festival offers buffet breakfasts, mountaintop wine tasting, local cheese and ham samplings and cosy chalet suppers. Insulated gear and snow boots are essential, but spring sunshine means you’re also likely to eat lunch in a T-shirt. Das Central’s comfortable rooms, generous bathrooms and spa are the perfect retreat after a day on the slopes, and its staff can organise ski passes, tastings and all lunch and dinner plans. Christine Hayes