German wine regions are to be found in South Germany. Obviously, there is no better way to explore this area than to go on a wine tour.
You would effectively be seeing all of the spectacular river regions with sloping hill sides studded with vineyards and orchards, take part in exuberant wine fests and wine tasting escapades, and to top it all, taste the delightful local cuisine and cultures first hand. So a tour of the wine regions in Germany can have only one ending… the happy ending. ;-)
German wine regions are classified under thirteen areas and each has their own specialty to offer. Let’s take a tour along these regions to get a glimpse of what makes them special.
Rheingau
On the banks of the picturesque Rhine River you come across the Rheingau region rather suddenly as the river takes a sharp bend near Wiesbaden. You will see the right bank covered with vineyards as far as the eye can see. Here is where the famous Johannisburg is made and marketed to the world.
Take a tour of the monastery where you can enjoy some wine tasting, enjoy the luscious scenery, and even buy a few bottles to take with you.
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
The Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region is synonymous with classy wines and as you tour the area you’ll see why. The steep slopes that dip down to the river ensure optimum sun exposure to each vine, allowing the berries to ripen to sweetness. The region has slate soil that retains warmth of the sun well into the night making sure there’s no extreme chill to interrupt the process.
Your wine tour will surely take you to the hill top castle in Cochem where they celebrate wine festivals in August.
Mittelrhein
Mittelrhein is a classic German wine region that almost touches the Rheingau. Here you have a place of extreme natural beauty and picture book perfection, incorporating half-timbered homes, castles in the distance looking down on acres of vineyards, quaint villages, and plenty of legends and myths to add a veneer of mystery to the whole enterprise.
The delightful town of Bacharach devoted not to Bach as you may be inclined to presume, but to Bacchus, the god of wine, holds annual wine festivals around October.
Baden
This German wine region covers some of the most magnificent landscapes in the country. Areas of the Neckar River, Lake Constance, and the upper Rhine and right up to the Swiss border form parts of the Baden wine region. It is easily one of the most visited due to its proximity to Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, and the Black Forest area.
To take part in a wine fest here you should visit the village of Achkarren around September where they also have a wine museum.
Franken
What may capture the interest of visitors to the Franken wine region more than the wine itself would be the round bottles in which they come. Known as the Bocksbeutel it is a round squat bottle quite different from the tall graceful ones that normally do the honor.
The wine produced here is the dry Steinwein. To taste it you should attend the wine fest held each year at the end of October in Würzburg.
Sachsen
This German wine region lies along the Elbe River in the erstwhile East Germany. This is easily accessed if you’re on your way to see the porcelain wonders of Dresden and Meissen. They make a classic dry wine here that used to be the favorites of kings.
Attend the wine festivals that are held in Dresden and Meissen annually for a truly authentic cultural experience.
Pfalz
Follow the German wine road to explore the Pfalz wine region that enjoys a warmer climate and is endowed with extreme natural beauty. You are at the right place to enjoy the best of the German wine regions and all that it has to offer.
Countless of towns and cities on the wine road hold wine fests and sausage fairs throughout summer to truly liven up the entire season. Make sure you visit the world’s largest wine barrel — in Bad Dürkheim — which is in fact a restaurant.
Württemberg
This German wine region embraces the upper Neckar River area from Heilbronn to Stuttgart. The wine produced here is mainly consumed locally but is said to be exemplary by those in the know. To see for yourself, take yourself off to the wine festivals held in quite a few venues in Stuttgart.
Rheinhessen
Rheinhessen is the famous German wine region that produces the well known Liebfrauenmilch which is a great hit in the UK, the US, and many other countries throughout the world. Situated between Worms (with its famous Cathedral of Our Lady) and Mainz, it is one of the largest of German wine regions.
To fully appreciate its fame, you need to take part in the Rheinhessen festival that runs along a mile long stretch dotted with taverns and medieval wine cellars through the vineyards along the slopes of the hill. It is truly an event not to be missed if you’re in the vicinity.
Hessische Bergstraße
Along the eastern bank of the Rhine you’ll come across the delightful spectacle of orchards and vineyards sharing space on the hill slopes. Spring time is when various blossoms fill the air with their perfumes, and the clusters of grapes add to the scenic beauty.
The wines produced in the Hessische Bergstraße area however rarely make it to the outside world and are all consumed locally.
Nahe
The Nahe area would be one of the lesser known German wine regions. It lies along a tributary of the Rhine River at Bingen. If you are in the area around August, that’s when the local wine fest takes off.
Ahr
The Ahr region lies along the city of Ahrweiler and is known for its reds such as the Pinot Noir. Once again, this is a smaller region in comparison to most others and the wine produced is easily consumed locally.
Saale-Unstrut
This German wine region lies to the west of Leipzig and has not been truly discovered by tourists yet. They produce a fruity wine here that you would have to taste during the wine fest here.
