Story: Thurnhof | Alto Adige
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Historical roots and family tradition
The Thurnhof looks back on centuries of history: the first documented references to the farm date back to the 12th century, and in the Middle Ages it belonged to Bavarian monasteries. Later it became part of the religious fund before being taken over by the Mumelter family in the mid-19th century. The Berger family has been associated with the farm since the 1930s, and Andreas Berger now runs the business with the same respect for its long tradition as his ancestors.

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Location, terroir, and climatic characteristics
The vineyards extend across the sunny southern slopes of the Virgl near Bolzano. There, the vines grow on a subsoil of porphyry debris and glacial moraines—a combination that gives the wines an exceptional mineral structure. The climate is characterized by warm hours of sunshine and cool fall winds, which ensure slow, balanced ripening of the grapes.

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Philosophy and vineyard work
At Thurnhof, the focus is on treating nature and vines with care: work in the mostly steep vineyards is done manually so as not to stress the vines. In the cellar, the wines are carefully matured—some in stainless steel tanks, others in large or small wooden barrels, depending on the grape variety and style. For the Bergers, one thing is certain: quality is created in the vineyard, the cellar only supports the development.

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Assortment and grape variety
The winery offers a compact but remarkably balanced assortment. The white wines include the aromatic Goldmuskateller (Moscato Giallo) and the racy Sauvignon “800,” whose origin on steep slopes is clearly palpable. The red wines include the classic St. Magdalener, which is vinified from Vernatsch with a small proportion of Lagrein, and a fruity Lagrein. For lovers of stronger wines, there is the Lagrein Riserva and a powerful Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva (Weinegg).

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A special highlight: Passaurum
An exceptional wine from Thurnhof is Passaurum—a rare dessert wine whose name symbolizes the connection between “Passito” and “Aurum” (gold). In particularly good vintages, Muscat and Sauvignon grapes are harvested late, then dried for several months and aged in stainless steel tanks. The result is a fragrant, aromatic wine with aromas of stone fruit, flowers, and white pepper, balanced sweetness, and lively acidity - a true feat that combines origin and innovation.

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Significance for the region and outlook
Thurnhof is a small, very fine example of high-quality South Tyrolean viticulture. It stands for authenticity, loyalty to its origins, and craftsmanship. With its remarkable wines—especially the Passaurum—it shows that even a small business can have big visions. In the future, the winery could focus even more on single-vineyard wines, select special vintages, or develop further specialties that express the terroir of Virgl even more clearly. - Gerardo [TS12/25]