The Best Wine Festivals To Visit In Germany

Germans love boisterous public parties, and their wine festivals are a sight to behold. A great way of sampling wine like a local in Germany is to attend one of the almost 1,250 wine festivals held in the country. While some of these fests are informal affairs lasting a few hours or a day, the more famous ones are humongous celebrations lasting over days or weeks, often combined with fireworks, exhibitions, concerts, and fairs.

1. Mosel Wine Festival

Among the 13 official wine-growing regions in Germany, Mosel is the most famous, so it should come as no surprise that their wine festivals are top-notch. The region consistently stays in a merry party mood from April to October, as big and small local wine festivals are held in Mosel towns almost every weekend. Among these, the one in Bernkastel-Kues is noteworthy for its brilliant fireworks, parade of vintners, crowning of the Wine Queen, and tasting of a wide variety of wines.

Moselle Valley, Germany

Mosel Riesling | © dpotera / Flickr

2. Stuttgart Wine Festival

Stuttgarter Weindorf (Stuttgart Wine Village) is one of the largest wine festivals in the country. Over a million wine enthusiasts flock to Stuttgart in August-September for the chance to sample almost 250 varieties of wine produced locally. The most popular culinary delicacies accompanying the wine in this festival are maultaschen and käsespätzle, which are washed down with Trollinger, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Kerner, Schwarzriesling, Schillerwein, Lemberger, Ruländer, and Weißherbst wines.

Schillerpl. 1, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany, +49 0711 295010

German ravioli Maultaschen with spinach | © AS Food Studio/Shutterstock

3. Frankfurt Rheingau Festival

Every September, Frankfurt Rheingau Festival entices wine aficionados with as many as 600 varieties of wine over ten days! Travelers can choose from red, white, sparkling, fruity-flavored, light, or strong wines – the possibilities are almost endless. The most popular among these is Riesling. The festival takes place at the Freßgass, Frankfurt‘s high-end culinary and shopping destination, upping the glamour quotient of the festival. Food stalls selling mouthwatering food are especially set up for the festival.

Freßgass, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Apple wine from Frankfurt | © Josh Evnin / Flickr

5. Wurstmarkt, Bad Dürkheim

The wine festival to beat all wine festivals in the world, however, is the 600-year-old Wurstmarkt in Bad Dürkheim, Rhineland Palatinate. Wine connoisseurs from all over Europe pour into the Wurstmarkt every September, enticed by 150 varieties of local wine. Around 400,000 liters of wine is consumed by the combined effort of half a million visitors every year! Rides, fireworks, yummy food, and other fun activities ensure that this is an event the whole family looks forward to.

Brühlwiesen, 67098 Bad Dürkheim, Germany, +49 6322 935140

6. Almond Blossom Festival, Wine Road

As spring arrives, the entire 77-km-long German Wine Road slips on its gorgeous pink outfit of almond blossoms, kicking off the first wine festival of the year. The Almond Blossom Festival (Mandelbluetenfest)is hosted amid this impossibly pretty natural phenomenon, and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, who come as much for the vintage wine as for this magical setting. Cookies with pink icing and culinary delicacies with almonds are whipped up in honor of Rosa Wochen (pink weeks).

Weinstraße, Germany

Almond blossom | © georgschm / Pixabay

7. Golden Wine Autumn Festival, Middle Rhine

The Golden Wine Autumn Festivals celebrated in towns along the Middle Rhine are truly exemplary. Travelers have a dreamy chance of cruising the River Rhine in illuminated boats, witnessing the spectacular fireworks overhead at the Loreley Rock, aptly named “Rhine in Flames.” Cruise boats depart from several towns in the Middle Rhine, including St.Goar, Koblenz, Rhens, Braubach, Rüdesheim, and more. Locally produced Federweisser (new wine), red wine and white wine, alcohol-free drinks and scrumptious food (especially Zwiebelkuchen, or onion tart), cultural programs, light displays combine to ensure that this experience remains etched in the minds of visitors forever.

Middle Rhine Valley, Germany

Rhine in flames | © mLu.fotos / Flickr

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.