Schnapps knowledge in the Wipptal
Visiting the Brenner at the Brenner Pass
During our schnapps course, you will get to know the beautiful Navistal - the home of the Hörtnagl family and their aromatic ingredients - step by step. Together we will discover how the finest brandies are made from hand-picked fruit. You'll learn all about mashing and distilling, get to try your hand at it yourself and, of course, taste one or two fine spirits.
Nestled in the impressive mountain panorama of the Tux Alps, Gästehaus Hörtnagl is located at 1,300 m above sea level - only around 30 kilometers from the Alpine capital of Innsbruck. This is where the Hörtnagl family's passion for distilling schnapps began over fifteen years ago. The dream of having their own distillery soon became a reality - and many of their brandies have since won multiple awards. Franz and daughter Victoria Hörtnagl have passed the schnapps sommelier examination and have become the ambassadors of the noble brandy. Maria Hörtnagl, the woman of the house, tinkers with the creations of her fruit liqueurs and naturally only uses high-quality raw materials.
Highlights
- Hike in the Navis Valley with host Franz
- Mashing and distilling
- Schnapps tasting in the Hörtnagl house
The program at a glance
Wednesday: Arrival
Arrival and arrival: By train to Innsbruck or Brenner (perfectly accessible by long-distance trains), from there free S-Bahn and bus connections with the guest card or by car to Navis.
Thursday: Lace up your hiking boots
We start directly at the hotel and explore the Navistal on foot. On the trail of the Almenrunde, hiking guide and head of the hotel Franz shows us his home valley and occasionally takes us back in time with his stories. Along the way, we also learn why the Navistal was long called "the valley of love".
Friday: Mashing
Mashing is on the program today. Here you can lend a hand and look over the Hörtnagls' shoulders. A homemade stew awaits us for refreshment in between. Later in the afternoon/evening we come to a very important part of the program: the schnapps tasting. As budding schnapps distillers, we will of course be very interested in this.
Saturday: Distilling at the distiller's still
"The separation of alcohol for consumption purposes from a mash by distillation is called distilling and the product is often called brandy." So let's see what we'll learn when Franz starts distilling. Today we can also see for ourselves how excellent a snack made from regional ingredients tastes at Hörtnagl.
Sunday: Journey home
Say goodbye and travel home or start your individual extension
Date & Prices
Date 2026:
14.-18.10.26
Prices 2026:
€315 per person in a double room
€355,- per person in a single room
Minimum number of participants: 3 persons
Maximum number of participants: 6 persons
Included services
- 4x overnight stay incl. regional Wipptal mountain breakfast directly at the Hörtnagl hotel
- 1x guided hike along the Almenrunde (without meals)
- 1x course "mashing"
- 1x course "Burning with a snack"
- 1x schnapps tasting with potatoes, spreads and home-baked bread for dinner
- Guest card = ticket for public transport in the Wipptal (S-Bahn Innsbruck-Brenner, regional buses to all valleys)
To get to know the delicacies outside the Hörtnagl house, either together or individually, there are typical inns within walking distance for dinner. But of course it is also possible to buy a few regional dishes and taste them in the parlor.
Thomas, participant 2025:
"It was a really great event and we all enjoyed it very much. Franz and Maria are great hosts who are easy and uncomplicated to get in touch with. We saw a lot, learned a lot and laughed a lot.
I now have the greatest respect for well-crafted schnapps and those who make it. You can taste the difference."
Monika, participant 2025:
"What an event...so much warmth, warmth, joy, we were flashed. We laughed so much during this time...simply fabulous. Even our "two non-hikers" really enjoyed the hike on the Almenrunde - the weather was brilliant, everyone held out.
Franz explained everything to us in detail during the firing and was also prepared for our stupidest questions ;-). We've never had so much fun together in a cellar - of course we also had to work.
Maria told us all about liqueur and took care of our physical well-being...we wanted for nothing, we were spoiled with Tyrolean delicacies.
All in all, a perfect event. We went home happy, satisfied and full of information from the schnapps distilling course, our pockets full of fine drops from the Wipptal :-)."
Booking form schnapps course
Booking and cancellation policy:
6 weeks before arrival you will receive the detailed information about the schnapps course with program, accommodation address, packing list as well as the invoice, which is due 4 weeks before arrival.
Cancellation conditions:
up to 6 weeks before arrival: €50 per person cancellation fee
6 to 2 weeks before arrival: 30% cancellation fee
from 2 weeks before arrival: 50% cancellation fee.
We recommend that you take out cancellation insurance with Europäische Reiseversicherung. With your booking confirmation we will send you a link where you can take out your insurance easily, quickly and online.
Provider:
Incoming Reisebürogesellschaft GmbH
Rathausplatz 1
6150 Steinach a. Br.
Tel.: 0043 5272 6270