Hurry up, winter is coming! Five German wineries you should see in autumn | Life & Knowledge

The cold days are approaching, but autumn is just showing its most beautiful face: colorful leaves, sweater weather and grape harvest. Now is the time to discover the most beautiful wine regions in Germany and taste the variety of local cultivation, because the vineyards are very busy! From Saxony-Anhalt via Saarland to Lake Constance: each of Germany’s 13 wine regions has its own distinctive features.

BILD shows you five special wineries for the perfect autumn weekend getaway.

Sustainable, modern Riesling (Moselle)

Van Volxem’s new building stands imposingly above the vineyards

Photo: Robert Dieth / www.dieth.com

When you hear the Moselle, you automatically think of Riesling. The grape variety has been cultivated here on steep slopes for centuries. That means: vineyards that are so steep that tractors have no chance and everything is done by hand. The historic Van Volxem winery is located near Trier. After centuries in the historic center of Wiltingen, the company moved to a modern, new headquarters in 2019 to give its manufacture more space. Located on the historic arm of the Saar, the winery offers not only the award-winning Riesling varieties, but also impressive views of the surrounding area during wine tasting.

The northernmost wine in Germany (Saale-Unstrut)

Perhaps only real wine lovers expect good wine from Saxony-Anhalt, far away from the classic southwestern wine-growing areas. But the wine here in the rain shadow of the Harz has a long tradition. It was first mentioned in a document in 998, and Germany’s probably best-known sparkling wine, Rotkäppchen, also comes from the region. The younger generation is also impressive: Manuel Flechtner is the fifth generation of winemakers and now runs the small winery Winzerbar in addition to his work as one of three cellar masters at Rotkäppchen. At Winzerbar, there are small quantities of vegan and natural wines, without any artificial fertilizers or insecticides, in small bottles, so that you can try things out even better.

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The wine bar in the Saale-Unstrut region relies on small bottles in a modern design

Photo: PR

Over 1000 years of history (Rheingau)

With its humid summers and fertile soils, the Rheingau is one of the best areas for viticulture in Germany. Autumn, in particular, is a good time to visit when the grapes are finally harvested and processed. Johannisberg Castle is one of the region’s crown jewels. Cultivation has been taking place here for more than 1200 years and the 18th century castle is still the heart of the winery today. Johannisberg takes its oenological legacy very seriously: The categories Spätlese, Auslese and Eiswein are said to have originated here. Riesling, in particular, is known here and, thanks to large temperature fluctuations between day and night, retains a high acid content until it is fully ripe. By the way: the castle’s own vinotheque is more than 900 years old and some of the bottles are over 200 years old.

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The grape harvest at Schloss Johannisberg requires a lot of manual work

Photo: PR

Dry francs and a couple of nuns (francs)

Real connoisseurs draw clear lines between wine francs and beer francs. While Nuremberg, Bamberg and Erlangen shine with their breweries, Würzburg is entwined with vineyards in all directions. Dry white wine in particular is “dybisch Franconian”. A highlight of the region: the Juliusspital winery. It is the second largest winery in Germany and was founded in 1576 as part of a hospital complex. The income from the wine trade was supposed to serve the charitable mission of the hospital. A hospital, a hospice and a retirement home are still part of it today. In 2011 the Vogelsburg was bought by the Augustinian order and, in addition to the more than 1000 year old wine production, also serves as a hotel for visitors. Some of the Augustinian sisters still live and work on site today.

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The centuries-old barrique cellar of the Juliusspital

Photo: PR

Burgundy and Lake Constance (Baden)

At the southern tip of Germany’s longest wine region, there is probably the most wine-friendly climate in the whole country. White wines, red wines and even roses do not have to hide here. The Schmidt family runs the family business of the same name, which, in addition to wine production, also deals with fruit brandies and single-variety grape juices. The estate is located in the small Bavarian tip of Lake Constance, right on the border with Austria and Switzerland. Visitors can try wines, tour the winery and vineyards, have a snack in the Rädle and spend the night in one of the holiday homes.

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The Schmidt family’s vinotheque with the splendor of Lake Constance in the background

Photo: PR

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