The wine growing tradition of the Thanisch family dates back to 1636. The wine estate was founded in 1895 by Dr. Hugo Thanisch, a Prussian politician and his widow Katharina, and gained its reputation through the spectacular success of the wine auctions of the VDP. Today the estate is managed by Sofia Thanisch, the great granddaughter of the founders, and the fourth generation of women.

The size of the estate, including two of the most famous vineyards in Germany, the Berncasteler Doctor and the Bernkasteler Badstube, is 6.5 hectares (16 acres). All vineyards are planted with 100% Riesling vines, most of which are mature and on original non-grafted rootstocks. The Devon slate soil gives the wines their unique character: delicate fruit, elegance and lightness.