Dining on the South Tyrolean Wine Route at Bad Turmbach Restaurant in Eppan, Italy

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 9/12/2018

Dining on the South Tyrolean Wine Route at Bad Turmbach Restaurant in Eppan, Italy

Just the drive towards Landgasthof Restaurant Bad Turmbach through the vineyards and old alpine houses and barns of Eppan is already worth the trip. With an elevation of 500 meters above sea level, the restaurant is completely immersed in the beautiful Etsch Valley of the South Tyrolean Wine Route. It is dotted by ancient castles, ruins, apple orchards and vineyards on rolling hills. And there's more to come when you arrive in the warm days of spring and summer when the private garden across the restaurant and inn is open. A very spacious garden surrounded by rows of vineyards and tables positioned under apple trees. The setting is unbeatable!

However, indoors, the bright and modern alpine-style rooms of the restaurant hold a pleasant surprise too. Looking out from the windows, there is a picture perfect view of one of Eppan's ancient castles amidst rows of vineyards along the wine route. Bad Turmbach has some rooms on the upper floor while the restaurant is located on the ground floor. A part of the building of the inn dates back from the 13th century which was used as a mill then a farmers' bath from the mid-century until the 1970s. Afterwards, the Wörndle family took over and converted it into a country inn and restaurant.

Christof Wörndle has been running both the inn and the restaurant of Bad Turmbach since the mid 1990s. Aside from heading his own kitchen, he sometimes guests in other kitchens like once, he was invited to the U.S. to cook for the American national ski team. Other couple of times, he was also invited by the famous V. Sattui Winery in Napa Valley to cook for their well-attended Annual Harvest Ball wherein accomplished Italian chefs are invited to showcase their cuisines. Being a lover of sports, he has also hosted professional athletes in his restaurant as well as the whole German national soccer team when they were training in Girlan for the World Cup.

The menu proposals of Christof are based on traditional South Tyrolean cuisine with light Mediterranean and international influences using local ingredients. The prices of the appetizers range between €12 to €17, the soup and pasta dishes between €5 to €16, the main dishes of fish and meat between €16 to €28, and the desserts from €6 to €10. A tasting menu of 4 courses is available at €50. The servings at Bad Turmbach area bundant like in most restaurants in South Tyrol. The wine list is amply filled with interesting local labels as well as from other Italian wine regions. Whereas the service is precise and attentive.