A house that breathes
The HIRBEN is not a hotel in the traditional sense. It is a thought, an attitude. Built by Barbara and Fabian Stoll, who are not just hosts, but translators of a way of life. Sustainability is not a trend for them, but a matter of course – visible in every wooden wall, in every lighting concept, in every decision that focusses on the essentials. The rooms? Not a design statement, but places of retreat. Reduced, smelling of spruce, open to the landscape. The wellness area is not for sweating, but for slowing down: Panoramic saunas, pool, yoga room – everything is spacious, but not pretentious. And right in the centre: Fabian, who pontificates about e-mobility with a glass of wine in his hand while his sourdough rests. Barbara, whose quiet organisational talent gives the house its structure. You can feel that nothing here is an act. Conviction lives here.
The flavour of slowness
At HIRBEN, every day begins with flavours that wake you up – not only your body, but also your sense of what is good for you. Breakfast is a stage for regional produce: farmhouse bread, homemade spreads, herbs, bacon, vegan nut yoghurt, warm spelt porridge. There are no exceptions for people with intolerances, but alternatives that rethink what enjoyment can be. In the evening, the dining room is transformed into a parlour of flavours. The ingredients? A garden, a herb bed, a network of small producers. The cuisine is not pompous, but precise: Pinsa with asparagus, parmesan, Bolzano sauce. The wine evenings remain unforgettable – most recently with Werner Klettenhammer, who spoke for Kurtatsch and Castel Sallegg as if he were talking about people, not vines.
Kurtatsch & Castel Sallegg – wine as landscape
In South Tyrol, wine does not grow – it is moulded. By sun, rock, altitude, by hands that know when enough is enough. The Kurtatsch winery brings this geography into the glass. Every sip of Pinot Noir from Mazon, Cabernet from the Brenntal valley, Sauvignon from steep slopes tells of the region, of heat, wind and time. Hiking through the vineyards or tasting in the barrique cellar with its dolomite wall, you realise that it is not products but personalities that are created here. Castel Sallegg, on the other hand, is a historical cosmos. Ulrike Platter has been running this winery, owned by Count Georg Kuenburg, very successfully for some time. Surrounded by the vineyards of Kaltern and the lake, the winery is a journey through time without being nostalgic. Rosenmuskateller, Vernatsch, Lagrein – wines with aristocratic elegance and deep roots.
What is quiet outside, moves something inside
HIRBEN understands recreation as a whole. Exercise is not an obligation, but an opportunity. In winter, snowshoe hikes lead into white silence. In summer, mountain lakes and alpine pastures await cyclists. If you don’t have your own bike, you can hire an e-bike – with a workshop right in the hotel. Culinary experiences such as a visit to Salomone Dolomiti, the highest salmon smokehouse in Europe, broaden your horizons – both in flavour and in thought. In the evening, conversations drift away with the wind and the next day becomes quieter with the view of the mountains.
The journey as part of the relaxation – travelling in the Genesis GV70 Electrified
Even the journey to the HIRBEN is a way to get in the mood – especially when travelling in the Genesis GV70 Electrified. This vehicle is more than just an SUV: it is a silent homage to travelling itself. Electric and emission-free, it glides through alpine landscapes that are reflected in the frameless windscreen like a promise of vastness and tranquillity. Its coupé-like silhouette is dynamic, but never obtrusive. Inside, finely grained leather meets metallic coolness, brushed aluminium meets soft ambient lighting. Everything is designed not to impress, but to accompany. The infotainment system with 14.5-inch screen responds intuitively, the driving assistants take worries out of your hands – Highway Driving Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, 360-degree camera. Even winding mountain passes become an invitation to take a deep breath. But what is really touching is the almost silent gliding. No droning, no jerking – just movement that doesn’t disturb, but carries. If you arrive like this, you don’t just arrive somewhere. You arrive at yourself. The Genesis GV70 is more than just a means of transport. It is a travelling partner for regions such as South Tyrol – where the new luxury lies in silence.
What remains is less – and that is exactly what does you good
You don’t just leave the HIRBEN. You take something with you. Perhaps a bottle of Pinot Noir. Maybe the memory of a conversation in the herb garden. Perhaps just the quiet feeling that less is sometimes more – if it’s done well. South Tyrol doesn’t need pomp to impress. It is enough to get involved. Those who do will discover a new definition of luxury: quiet, conscious, deep. And if you want to come back – now you know where.
Your aparthotel in Villabassa in Val Pusteria – HIRBEN Naturlaub
Castel Sallegg | Winery, Hotel, Events | Kaltern, South Tyrol
