Lenz Koppelstätter

The Storyteller from Tramin

Born in 1982 in Bolzano and raised in Tramin, Lenz Koppelstätter was always surrounded by stories. Perhaps it was the rolling hills and endless vineyards that shaped his childhood, or the tales of the villagers that inspired him.

At the age of 13, Lenz demonstrated his ambition in athletics and became Italian middle-distance champion. But instead of pursuing a career in sports, he followed his curiosity and studied politics in Bologna and later social sciences in Berlin.

The German capital became his home for over a decade, where he worked as a freelance journalist for renowned newspapers and magazines such as FAZ and Geo.

Despite the city lights of Berlin, he was drawn back to the mountains of South Tyrol. In 2015, he published his first crime novel, “The Dead Man on the Glacier,” which introduced the idiosyncratic Inspector Grauner. This detective, who also works as a cattle farmer, solves cases in the region’s deep valleys and high peaks. His stories are steeped in the atmosphere of village communities and the rugged beauty of the Alps.

Lenz’s attention to detail and his flair for suspense have earned him a loyal readership. His books are not just crime novels, but also declarations of love for his homeland.

I wanted to tell the stories hidden in the mountains, he says with a grin.

His latest work takes the young journalist Gianna Pitti to Lake Garda, where she encounters dark secrets amidst yachts and tourists. Today, Lenz lives in Tramin again with his wife and two children. When he’s not writing, he explores the mountains or listens to conversations in village pubs, always searching for the next story.

Traminer Gespräche

Since 2021, Lenz Koppelstätter has been enriching the cultural scene of his hometown with the “Traminer Gespräche.” In this series of events, he meets with prominent personalities to discuss their lives and experiences. As part of the Traminer Gespräche 2025, the series will continue with exciting new guests.

For example, he chatted with extreme downhill skier Dominik Paris about his career and passion for skiing. Top chef and TV star Roland Trettl has also been a guest, sharing humorous anecdotes from the world of gastronomy.

These evenings, which take place in the Cantina Tramin, combine literature, culture and enjoyment and have become an integral part of the local events calendar.