For the perfect short trip: These are the most beautiful wine regions in Germany

Using the correct terminology is sometimes a tricky thing. Wine region, wine region or wine region? The German wine law provides for 13 specific growing areas for quality wines, which are clearly geographically defined. They grew historically and in many places go back to the ancient Romans, who at some point no longer wanted to lug their full wine amphoras across the Alps and instead brought a few grape vines with them, which they cultivated successfully. According to the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, a total of 15,200 companies in Germany grew wine in 2020 – with a traditional focus on white varieties.

The 2023 vintage, which was significantly better than the previous year, was over at the beginning of October and the time for enjoyment has begun. In many places, the young wine is celebrated, the Federweiße, which also goes by the names Rauscher, Sauser, Bitzler or Brauser. In Rüdesheim, for example, on the last two weekends in October. A journey through the most beautiful wine regions in the country.

Moselle, the oldest wine region

The Mosel wine-growing region is named after its river, which flows for around 500 kilometers through the two German federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. It stretches along the Hunsrück, between Koblenz, Trier, the Luxembourg border and the Ruwer and Saar valleys. The ancient Romans grew wine here 2,000 years ago. Today there are around 2,800 winegrowers who grow primarily white wine grape varieties on extremely steep slopes with slopes of up to 60 degrees. The characteristic slate soils and the steep slopes offer the best conditions for Riesling, Elbling and Müller-Thurgau with a cooler microclimate.

In addition to the unique landscape with the famous Moselle loop near Traben-Trarbach, there are also many other highlights for visitors. Like the half-timbered town of Bernkastel-Kues, which bears the title “International City of Wine” or the historic Trier, the oldest city in Germany with the highest concentration of Roman ruins north of the Alps. In the vineyards, numerous hiking and cycling trails invite you to exercise between tasting the Moselle wines.

Rheinhessen, the largest wine-growing region

The most hours of sunshine, the most hills, the most vines and the lowest rainfall make Rheinhessen the largest wine-growing region in the republic. Expressed in bare numbers: around 2.8 million hectoliters of wine every year. It extends between the Rhineland-Palatinate cities of Mainz, Worms and Bingen and is bordered by the Rhine to the north and east. The vineyards here are more accurately described as wine hills, except for the small Rhine terraced area near Mainz, where steep vineyards can be found. The mild, rain-free climate in the region is ideal for white wines such as Pinot Gris, Riesling and Müller-Thurgau. But red wines are also at home here, as Ingelheim, the red wine capital of Rheinhessen, proves.

Typical of Rheinhessen are its wineries with traditional farms. Through large gates and over old cobblestones you reach the perfect places for enjoying wine. If you want to hike, you will love the Rhine Terrace Trail, and if you want to be enchanted by a historic old town, visit Mainz or Worms.

Palatinate: castles, palaces, wine route

To the south of Rheinhessen is the Palatinate wine-growing region, which is considered the second largest wine-growing region in Germany with more than 3,500 wine-growing businesses. Many hours of sunshine, mineral-rich soils and a mild climate create good conditions for great Palatinate wines from the well-known grape varieties Riesling, Dornfelder and Müller-Thurgau.

The German Wine Route runs through the region. Over a length of 85 kilometers, this leads to 130 wine villages between Bockenheim andSilence and past many castles and palaces. At its center is Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, which attracts visitors with wine festivals until November, such as the “Pfalwein2go Messe” on November 4th and 5th. 23 or the women’s wine evening on November 18, 23. A late autumn highlight is also the walk along the Neustadt “Wine Walk of Fame” followed by a tasting on November 25th, 2023.

Franconia: Romantic wine-growing towns and residential city of Würzburg

Special Bottle shape, particularly attractive area: Franconia is known for its dry white wines of the Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner and Bacchus varieties as well as for the Bockstaschen. The bottle shape with the big belly and the short neck is only permitted in the Franconian wine region and for a few winemakers in the area around Baden-Baden.

The area between Spessart, Rhön and Steigerwald has a lot to offer for wine, nature and culture lovers: romantic wine-growing towns, many cycling and hiking trails and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Würzburg. The Lower Franconian capital delights with its steep wine vineyards, the residence, the fortress and numerous churches, monasteries and chapels – and wine festivals until November. Like the night of the open wine cellars on November 15th, 2023 or the wine autumn in Escherndorf on November 4th and 11th, 2023, which is around 20 kilometers away in the direction of Volkach.

Baden: The southernmost and longest growing region

Baden wine is not at a loss for vinophile superlatives either. It comes from the southernmost wine-growing region in Germany, which can also be described as the longest in the country due to its length of 400 kilometers. It lies between Alsace in the west, the Black Forest in the east, the Badische Bergstrasse in the north and is bordered by Lake Constance in the south. And stands out with its terraced cultivation fields. Very different soils – from gravel, chalk and clay to loess and volcanic rock to shell limestone – give rise to a variety of wine aromas.

The star of the area is Pinot Noir, which also takes up the majority of the vineyards. The most famous wine region is called Kaiserstuhl, a small volcanic mountain range between Freiburg and the Rhine Valley. Many of the wineries located there are among the top wineries in Baden. In addition to the picturesque wine-growing villages, there are also beautiful old towns to discover such as Freiburg, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe or Baden-Baden, the spa town in the Black Forest.

Württemberg: The leading red wine growing region

Spread over many small areas – from the protected locations in the Odenwald, the Swabian Alb on the edge of the Black Forest and the steep slopes in the Neckar Valley: The Württemberg wine-growing region is best known for its red grape varieties. Some such as Trollinger, Schwarzriesling or Lemberger are cultivated almost exclusively in this region. Typical of the region around Stuttgart is Rotling, also known as Schiller wine, in which red and white grapes are mixed.

Anyone who travels to the Baden-Württemberg state capital for a wine tasting will have much more to offer: this Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Museum, the Stuttgart Castle with its beautiful castle square or Hohenzollern Castle, which is just over an hour away and sits on the summit of the mountain of the same name.

Saxony: Small, but gold

Big doesn’t automatically mean better: Saxony, one of the smallest in the country, is one of the notable wine-growing regions. Vineyards lie along the Elbe, from Pirna to Riesa, some of which were already cultivated in the 12th century. Saxony’s Sun King August the Strong also recognized their potential and promoted viticulture in Radebeul, Weinböhla and Meißen.

The regional specialty is Goldriesling, which is grown almost exclusively in the Elbe Valley on lime-poor soils and is characterized by a fruity acidity. Its bouquet ranges from banana and pink grapefruit to a fine citrus note. The sights that surround the mostly very small vineyards are also extraordinary: the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, the Saxon state capital Dresden and the porcelain and wine city of Meißen.