Hannes Durnwalder

When I first met Hannes, I immediately realized that I was fascinated by his life story. An incentive for me to put it down on paper. He moved from the sun-drenched vineyards of South Tyrol to Brandnertal around 15 years ago. An intimate connection to the landscape and the people living here led him to make it his home. "It was love that brought me here - love for an extraordinary woman. And then there's Brandnertal, which keeps me here, a place where the personal and homely count."

His "Spezerei" in Brand, once a nondescript garage, is now a refuge for lovers of regional cuisine. Hannes' passion for local food is infectious. "Regionality is not just a word for me. It ties in with my own history and that of all the people here, especially the Walser people, whose roots are deeply anchored in this region." The Alemannic ethnic group came to Vorarlberg from the Swiss canton of Valais around 750 years ago and settled in remote valleys and elevated valley levels, including Brandnertal. Hannes attaches great importance to local Walser products, but he also ranges from Walser traditions to wines from South Tyrol and the Lake Constance region. "For me, regional does not mean national. Just as the Walser people once traveled long distances to get here, I also draw the same 200-kilometre radius, regardless of national borders. Wine from nearby Austrian production is a long way away - so a fine drop from Lake Constance or South Tyrol is definitely regional here."

The heart of the Spezerei is a long table where stories and people come together. "People share at this table - experiences, stories, snacks, bottles of wine. That's what makes our village life unique," says Hannes. He talks about locals and guests who experience a lively community here - all around one table. In conversation, it quickly becomes clear that Hannes is more than just a host. He sees himself as a bridge builder between the traditional and the new "spirit of the times", as someone who unites people and cultures across traditional boundaries.