Day 03 Wines of Liechinstein

I’m still deep in catch-up mode with these FindPenguins posts — today is actually Friday, December 5th, and it’s almost impossible to believe that only ten days ago Donna and I were standing in the crisp afternoon air, tasting wines at the Hofkellerei des Fürsten von Liechtenstein, the royal family’s vineyard. Time on this trip has been moving the way wine ages: slowly in the moment, and then suddenly — whoosh — a whole week is gone.

I’m using this post as a footprint to show off the vineyard itself, the restaurant on the property, a few of the wines we tasted, and the quiet walk back into Vaduz afterward… all of which made up one of the gentlest, most enjoyable parts of our day.

Traveling off-season turned out to be our secret superpower. We arrived a little before our 3:00 PM tasting and spent a while wandering the grounds — rows of vines, mountains painted with a dusting of snow, and the kind of deep alpine silence you can feel in your chest. Inside, a young woman welcomed us and led what ended up being a private tasting, just the two of us. She walked us through the winemaking process, the history of the estate, and then poured a lineup of whites, reds, and even a very lovely ice wine. Donna and I looked at each other with the same expression: Yep… that one’s good.

If we weren’t traveling with only a backpack and a carry-on (and if our Q-tips weren’t already fighting for survival in there), we would have absolutely brought home a bottle or two. Instead, we limited ourselves to memories and photos — much easier to pack.

From the vineyard, we walked the quiet path back into Vaduz, watching the light settle behind the mountains. Our hope was to return to Adler Vaduz for a second dinner, but the restaurant side had already closed for the night. The staff kindly sent us to a nearby Italian spot — one that we’re pretty sure Walter owns as well. It was simple, comforting: pastas, a bit of wine, and two travelers who had already walked a full day.

It wasn’t the most dramatic part of our trip, but it was one of the most peaceful — the kind of afternoon that slips into the heart quietly and stays there.

#Vaduz #Liechtenstein #Hofkellerei #WinesOfLiechtenstein #TravelEurope #PaulAndDonna #FindPenguins #VineyardLife #OffSeasonTravelEn savoir plus