Torkelfest Bermatingen

An Old Lake Constance Wine Tradition

Bermatingen, a municipality with a good 4,500 inhabitants in the Bodenseekreis district, is located north of Lake Constance – between Überlingen and Friedrichshafen, at the transition between Hegau and Linzgau. The region belongs to the Württembergisches Bodensee wine-growing area – a smaller but high-quality wine region focusing on Müller-Thurgau, Spätburgunder, and Weißburgunder. The Dilger Winery is one of the traditional family businesses in the region.

The Name “Torkelfest”

“Torkel” is the old word for the wooden wine press in the southern German, Swiss, and Vorarlberg regions. In the courtyard of the Dilger Winery, such a Torkel once stood – the landmark of the estate and the namesake of the festival. Today, the historical Torkel is the symbol of the festival and is sometimes still demonstratively put into operation.

Three Days of Festivities in the Winery Courtyard

The Torkelfest runs from Friday to Sunday (August 8th–10th, 2026). Festival opening on Friday evening with an opening tasting of the season's wines. Saturday and Sunday feature continuous festival operations with wine enjoyment, catering, and live music. Sunday traditionally includes a Frühschoppen (morning pint) and a cozy festival finale.

Wines from Own Cultivation

The focus is on the Dilger house wines: Müller-Thurgau (the classic of the Lake Constance region), Spätburgunder Rosé and Red, Weißburgunder, Riesling, Auxerrois. The wines are served by the glass and in Schoppen (0.5L carafe) – many visitors buy bottles during the festival to take home. Wine tasting is part of the fascination: you can try through the range and talk to the vintner himself.

Regional Specialties

The culinary accompaniment comes from the region: smoked or fried Lake Constance whitefish (Bodenseefelchen), Baden sausage varieties, Swabian Maultaschen, Spätzle, fries, grilled Black Forest trout. Served with bread from the Bermatingen baker, regional cheeses, and fresh salads.

Bermatingen — Lake Constance Hinterland with Festival Culture

Bermatingen cultivates a rich festival culture. In addition to the Torkelfest on the first weekend of August, its own Bermatingen Wine Festival takes place in September (September 4th–6th, 2026). The municipality is a starting point for exploring Lake Constance – Meersburg, Überlingen, or Friedrichshafen are only a few kilometers away.