Werzers Season Opening 2025

The Carinthian-born celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck - he immigrated to America to build a gastronomy empire there and has been responsible for the catering of the Oscars for many years now - can now look forward to a special honor from his homeland, the Golden Werzers Award 2025, after receiving a star on the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"The lake rests still and rigid," goes a line from the popular Christmas classic – a state of affairs that prevailed around Lake Wörthersee in the early 2000s – and not just during the cold season. Lake Wörthersee, a lifestyle centerpiece, meeting place for the jet set, and a place of longing for all those seeking southern flair in the heart of Austria, fell into a deep sleep almost simultaneously with the end of the hit series "A Castle on Lake Wörthersee." Where world-famous stars such as Kirk Douglas, Ingrid Bergmann, and Omar Sharif once roamed, silence now reigned.

"We wanted to send a signal of life to Lake Wörthersee and especially to the Werzers businesses," explains Hans-Werner Frömmel, explaining the intention behind his and Rikki Vogel's idea for the Werzers season opening. They developed a concept that would put the Wörthersee holiday destination back in the spotlight in the media, thus initiating a renewed tourism boom for the entire region.

As is often the case with success stories, the Werzers Season Opening has evolved steadily over the years. Within 20 years, the modest kick-off event has grown into a brilliant event, attracting over 500 guests for the first time this year. For the third time, host Hans-Werner Frömmel brought PR professional, manager, and author Clemens Trischler on board.

Actress Mariella Ahrens, who traveled especially from Berlin, ORF presenter Armin Assinger, star astrologer Gerda Rogers, skiing legends Franz Klammer and Fritz Strobl, cabaret artists Caroline Athanasiadis, Andrea Händler and Edith Leyrer, TSV Hartberg President Brigitte Annerl, former football player Walter Schachner, billionaire and entrepreneur Ingrid Flick, former Styrian governor Christopher Drexler, ORF manager Pius Strobl, singers Jazz Gitti, Zoryana Kushpler, Iva Schell, Gregor Glanz, Udo Wenders and Waterloo, actor Michael Steinocher, former Justice Minister Claudia Bandion-Ortner, director Otto Retzer, top chefs Johanna Maier and Hubert Wallner, media manager Hans Mahr, former figure skater Claudia Kristofics-Binder, painter Maria Lahr, entrepreneurs Wolfgang Rosam and Heribert Kasper, Olympic champion Lara Vadlau and “Pharmacist” Alexander Telesko accepted the invitation to the Côte d’Azur in the Alps.

A fixture of the Werzers season opening since 2011 is the presentation of the "Golden Werzers Award." Year after year, Carinthians who stand up for Austria's southernmost province outside the state borders, represent it, and thus contribute to the region's reputation, are honored to receive this award. This year, it went to international celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, who joins the list of well-known personalities such as Franz Klammer, Waltraut Haas, Hannes Jagerhofer, and Uschi Glas.

As usual, the brilliant gala was hosted by audience favorite Alfons Haider.

Another highlight of the glamorous gala was this year's boat christening, which took place as a side event during the celebrations. Two prominent sponsors, star astrologer Gerda Rogers and Carinthian-based Olympic champion Lara Vadlau, were also on hand to officially christen the boat Anna W. The utmost care was taken in the sensitive waters of Lake Wörthersee.

Of course, the annual raffle was also a must. With €10 per ticket, you not only had the chance to win a great prize—like a week's vacation at the Werzers Resort Hotel Pörtschach for two people or tickets to the Mörbisch Lake Festival—but you could also do something good for the "Moki Kärnten" association.

The celebrations continued until the early hours, with the annual culinary finale at four in the morning being the traditional egg dish made from 150 organic eggs, prepared by the host Hans-Werner Frömmel himself.