Törggelen in Bressanone

Törggelen, the fifth season of Bressanone

Törggelen in Bressanone is not just a single event but an entire season, affectionately called the "fifth season" of the year by locals. From the beginning of October until the start of Advent, the area of Bressanone/Brixen, in the province of Bolzano/Bozen (Trentino-Alto Adige), celebrates the end of the harvest with a rural tradition rooted in the Isarco Valley. The name derives from the dialect term Torggl, the wine press once used to crush grapes: it was around this activity that the custom of gathering in farmsteads to taste freshly fermented wine was born.

New wine, chestnuts, and farmstead dishes

The heart of Törggelen is the rustic table. In the wooden Stuben of the farmsteads and historic taverns, new wine (the Nuier or Sturm, still cloudy and sparkling) is served, accompanied by the essential roasted chestnuts and a rich menu of South Tyrolean autumn cuisine:

• Schlutzkrapfen, ravioli filled with spinach and ricotta;
• canederli (Knödel) and spelt soup;
• the Schlachtplatte, a platter of pork, sausages, and sauerkraut;
• speck, mountain cheeses, and, to finish, sweet Krapfen with chestnut or poppy seed filling.

All washed down with wines from the Bressanone area, Italy's northernmost wine-growing region, famous for its Sylvaner, Kerner, and Veltliner.

Guided hikes and events

Bressanone Tourism enriches the season with a program of guided hikes through vineyards and chestnut groves, combining open-air walks with gastronomic stops at a farmstead. Among the most popular proposals of recent years are the The Fifth Season: Törggelen & Wine Tasting experience, featuring a visit to a local winery, white wine tasting, and a traditional dinner at a farm, and Törggelen Behind the Scenes, dedicated to those who want to learn the secrets of this custom up close. The chestnut trails (Keschtnweg) that wind up towards the Novacella Abbey and the wine villages of Varna and Velturno are also highly evocative.

An authentic South Tyrolean autumn experience

Today, Törggelen is one of the most defining traditions of South Tyrol, a ritual of conviviality that unites nature, gastronomy, and rural culture. Visiting Bressanone in October and November means immersing yourself in the colors of the alpine autumn, among orchards, vineyards, and the scents of the Stuben. A perfect opportunity to discover the most genuine soul of the Isarco Valley.