Relais & Châteaux hotel dating to 1416. Over 30 years of Gault Millau recognition, 400+ wine cellar. Family-owned since the beginning. Wine cellar tour before dinner reveals 600 years of Tyrolean wine culture.
The building dates to 1416 — first mentioned in documents as 'Item die Schwaig Gresnaw.' This was 67 years before Columbus reached America, and the wine cellar has been evolving for 608 years. Request the wine cellar tour BEFORE your dinner reservation at Tennerhof (book when you reserve your table). The Relais & Châteaux property has been family-owned since the beginning — 608 years of the same family stewarding this estate. Ask the sommelier during your tour: 'Where is the oldest section?' Look for architectural transitions — medieval stone foundations versus later expansions. Then ask: 'How has the cellar adapted over six centuries?' The answer reveals Austrian wine history through a single family's choices.
BACKUP:If a formal tour isn't available, ask your waiter if you can view the cellar entrance or wine storage area. The 400+ bottle collection still tells the story visually.
Austria has been chasing Burgundy's Pinot Noir reputation for decades, and the 400+ wine cellar at Gourmet-Restaurant Tennerhof (30+ years of Gault Millau recognition) focuses on Austrian regions but includes Burgundy and New World comparisons. Request a Pinot Noir flight: one Austrian (look for Burgenland or Thermenregion), one Burgundy, one optional New World. Ask the sommelier: 'How does Austrian Pinot Noir differ from Burgundy in structure and flavor?' Focus on tannin, acidity, and earthiness. Austrian examples often show brighter fruit and softer tannins than Burgundy's mineral intensity — this is your chance to taste Tyrolean terroir against the French standard.
BACKUP:If a flight isn't possible, order a single Austrian Pinot Noir and ask for tasting notes comparing it to Burgundy. The sommelier will know the comparison cold — it's Austria's eternal question.
Since 1416, this family has welcomed travelers to Kitzbühel, and the grounds frame the medieval town skyline — the same view that Item die Schwaig Gresnaw saw in the 15th century. Walk the perimeter of the Tennerhof estate and look for architectural layers — original stone foundations, later expansions, modern spa additions. The architecture shows 608 years of adaptation: medieval farm, alpine refuge, Relais & Châteaux luxury. Stand at the viewpoint facing Kitzbühel's old town and ask yourself: 'Why did they choose THIS spot in 1416?' The answer is strategic: access to medieval trade routes, shelter from alpine winds, proximity to the town center.
BACKUP:If weather is poor, explore the hotel's public spaces. The lobby and hallways show historical photographs documenting the Tennerhof's evolution from farm to luxury hotel.