Germany is among the largest wine producers in Europe and has some beautiful wine regions. Musement has listed eight of the best wine regions in Germany.
Germany is a multifaceted country with diverse landscapes, iconic monuments, a varied cuisine, and a rich history. But when it comes to wine, Germany may not be the first country that crosses your mind. Within Europe, German wines are somewhat overshadowed by Spanish, Italian and French wines. Nevertheless, Germany is the fourth largest wine producer within the continent.
There are thirteen quality wine-growing regions and a few more vineyards that produce table wines in the country. Therefore, it should be a top destination for wine lovers and those looking for some beautiful scenery. Since there is plenty to discover, we have listed eight of the best wine regions in Germany.
1. Ahr
An hour’s drive south of Cologne, this wine region is located in the valley of the Ahr River, in northern Rhineland-Palatinate. It is one of the smallest wine regions in Germany with an area of about 1,330 acres. The majority of the wine produced is red and is mainly semi-dry and dry. In addition to the rolling landscape on loess soil and volcanic rock, the region also has a number of picturesque villages, such as the small town of Mayschoß.
The Rotweinwanderweg (red wine hiking trail) is highly recommended for wine tourists. This 20-mile path takes you along vineyard terraces from Bad Bodendorf to Altenahr. Enjoy beautiful views and watch the wine growers at work along the way.
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2. Baden
Germany’s southernmost and second largest wine region is Baden. With an area of nearly 40,000 acres, this wine region produces more than 852,000 barrels of wine per year. Since the region is spread out over 245 miles, there is a lot of variation in the soil and climate which makes for a great diversity of wines. One of the most famous wines from Baden is the Badisch Rotgold – a rosé wine.
Baden is not only a destination for wine tourism, but you can also visit idyllic cities like Heidelberg and Freiburg, or the beautiful nature of the Black Forest.
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3. Mosel
Mosel, or Moselle, is a wine region surrounding the Mosel River that begins in Luxembourg and flows into the Rhine near Koblenz. Spanning across 22,000 acres, the wine region is known as Germany’s Riesling specialist. This white grape makes up about two-thirds of the wine region and is generally used to produce sweet and semi-sweet wines. One special feature about Mosel is that about half of the vines are on steep slopes and terraces.
The wine region is not only an excellent place to sample the local product, but you can also enjoy long walks and history in Germany’s oldest city: Trier.
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4. Hessische Bergstraße
With an area of 1,062 acres, Hessische Bergstraße is among the smallest wine regions in Germany. Situated along the Rhine in the southwest of the country, the vineyards in this region are located on the western hillside of the Odenwald Mountains. Bergstraße, which literally means mountain road, runs through the region from Darmstadt to Wiesloch and is 42 miles long.
The region is also known as the spring garden of Germany, thanks to the early blossoming of almond and fruit trees. Since it is warmer there than in the surrounding areas, Hessische Bergstraße has also been called the “German Riviera.” Riesling and Müller-Thurgau grapes are mainly used to produce the white wines. The region also produces red wines with Pinot noir and Dornfelder grapes.
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5. Palatinate
The Palatinate wine region, or simply Pfalz, is one of the largest wine producers in the country, covering about 57,000 acres in size. Bordering France to the southwest, the region lies between the Palatinate Forest and the Rhine. Most of the region’s vineyards are located along the so-called Deutsche Weinstraße.
Thanks to the large number of sunshine hours (more than 1800 per year), the climate almost seems Mediterranean which greatly promotes wine growing. The wine production of Palatinate is nearly two-thirds white and forty percent red. Riesling is also the main white grape used here as well. For red wine, the Dornfelder grape is becoming increasingly important. In the village of Bad Dürkheim you will find the largest wine barrel in the world, with a capacity of 1.7 million liters. An annual wine festival takes place in September with nearly 700,000 visitors!
6. Rheinhessen
Covering more than 64,700 acres, the Rheinhessen region is the largest wine producer in the country. There are 6,000 wine growers and 120 million vines in this area alone. The winemaking tradition goes way back in time in this region. The oldest documentation of a vineyard dates back to 742 and is located in Nierstein, a small village in eastern Rheinhessen. The high number of sunshine hours and little rain make it a very favorable location for grape growing.
Mainz has been the wine capital of the area since 2008 which has increased awareness and wine tourism to the region. The area is also ideal for long bike rides through the rolling hills, quaint villages and vast vineyards.
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7. Franconia
Along the Main River, east of Frankfurt, we find the wine region Franconia. The region’s area is about 15,000 acres and most of its wine growing takes place in the vicinity of Würzburg. More than 80% of the wine production is white wine. Wines from this region are easily recognizable thanks to its distinctive bottle: the Bocksbeutel. This bottle has had a protected status since 1989 and may only be used for Franconian wines. The spicy wines from the area are mainly dry and made with Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau grapes.
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8. Saxony
Saxony is the easternmost wine region in Germany. This region is located around the Elbe River and features approximately 1,000 acres of wine-growing land, making it the smallest wine region on the list. White grapes are also predominantly grown in this region. The so-called Goldriesling is typical to this region which is used to produce the sparkling wine Sekt.
In addition to wine tourism, you can also enjoy nature and history in this region. The capital of the region, Dresden, has a controversial history and impressive Baroque architecture. In addition, the National Park of Saxon Switzerland is one of the most beautiful natural areas in Europe.
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If you’re a wine connoisseur, check out these other articles about the wine regions in Italy, Spain, France, and Slovenia!