Where to meet: wine tasting stands
After a walk, a hike or a bike ride, stop by the tasting stand for a glass of wine - perfect! My favorites.
The following wine tasting stands are currently open for you: Fässchen in Walluf and the Goetheblick wine tasting stand at Schloss Johannisberg.
Wine stall at the weekly market in Wiesbaden
What I like here:
A visit to the wine stand on the Dern'schen Gelände (opens in a new tab) can be perfectly combined with a stroll through the weekly market. The stand is located right in the middle, near the market column. The winemakers change weekly. In summer, there is live music on some dates.
Good to know:
- You can grab a bite to eat beforehand at the neighboring gourmet market. Or: You can get really good fish sandwiches at the "Die Fischquelle" stand (stand 13, you'll recognize it by the fish hanging on the stand).
- Opening hours: From March 14 to November 21, Saturdays during market hours on the Dern'schen Gelände.
The little barrel in Walluf
What I like about the keg:
The fact that it is open all year round, is located right on the waterfront and is where the locals in particular meet for a drink in the evening or at the weekend. A visit can also be combined with a really nice walk along the Rhine. You walk past beautiful villas on one side of the water and stretches of beach with sand and shells on the other. Wonderfully shady in summer!
Good to know:
- Parking: It is best to enter "Segelclub Rheingau" into your navigation system and look for a parking space.
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Six local wineries take turns serving wine at the Wallufer Fässchen (opens in a new tab) – mainly Riesling, but also Burgundy and sparkling wine.
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The stand usually only sells pretzels, but you can bring your own picnic or order a pizza (opens in a new tab) in town.
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Restaurants in the area: the Rheinsegler club restaurant with tapas and a great terrace overlooking the water; the Schwabbel – restaurant and houseboat in one, an institution in Walluf, serving hearty home cooking.
- Opening pizza (opens in a new tab) in town.
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Restaurants in the area: the Rheinsegler (opens in a new tab) club restaurant with tapas and a great terrace overlooking the water; the Schwabbel (opens in a new tab) – restaurant and houseboat in one, an institution in Walluf, serving hearty home cooking.
- Opening hours: year-round Monday to Friday from 5 p.m., Saturdays from 3 p.m., Sundays and public holidays from 11 a.m.
Rauenthal wine tasting stand
What I like here:
The location among the fruit trees is simply picturesque. An absolute must is a walk to the nearby Bubenhäuser Höhe - a small hill with panoramic benches, picnic tables and a fantastic view over the rolling hills, vineyards and forests of the Rheingau as far as the Rhine.
Good to know:
- Parking: "Weinbergstraße" parking lot in Rauenthal
- The Rauenthal wine tasting stand (opens in a new tab) offers snacks to accompany the wine (each winemaker handles this differently), but you can also bring your own picnic.
- Hiking options: the Rauenthaler Spange (opens in a new tab) (easy, 3 hours, 8 kilometers), the Gutenbergweg Eltville (opens in a new tab) (easy, 6.20 hours, 24 kilometers, can be walked in stages) and the Riesling Schleife Rauenthaler Baiken (opens in a new tab) (medium, 1.40 hours, 6 kilometers)
- Restaurants in the area: Bistro and Winery Eremita (opens in a new tab) – gorgeous garden with wine stand and deck chairs, upscale restaurant; Gutsschänke Langehof (opens in a new tab) – cozy, delicious, beautiful terrace
- Opening hours: From March 22 to November 3, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 4 p.m., Saturday from 3 p.m., Sunday from 1 p.m.
Little black house in Eltville
What I like here:
The location, the location, the location! The Black Cottage (opens in a new tab) - a romantic vineyard cottage surrounded by vines with white lattice windows - is located in the middle of the traditional Steinberg, a monopole vineyard of the state winery Kloster Eberbach, which has been cultivated by the Cistercian monks of the monastery since the Middle Ages.
It is surrounded by a wall almost three kilometers long, which creates a special microclimate - more warmth, less wind! Ideal for the Riesling that is grown here.
Good to know:
- Parking: Domäne Steinberg, Eltville - from the parking lot it is about 100 meters to walk
- Wines and sparkling wines from Kloster Eberbach will be served
- There are snacks such as cheese pretzels, pepper crackers and canned sausage to eat
- A visit to the Black Cottage can be easily combined with a tour or wine tasting at Eberbach Monastery (opens in a new tab)
- It's worth making a detour to the nearby Wacholderhof country café (opens in a new tab) with great cakes and a farm store open all year round with eggs from happy hens and other regional specialties
- Opening hours: currently on winter break, expected to reopen on April 3, 2026, then Friday from 3 to 7 pm, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 11 am to 7 pm
Goetheblick wine tasting stand at Johannisberg Castle
What I like here:
Here again: the location! From the Goetheblick wine tasting stand (opens in a new tab), you have a wonderful view of the vineyards and the Rhine. You can go for a walk, sink down on the panoramic benches and drink a Riesling from the winery in the middle of the most beautiful nature.
Good to know:
- Parking: Enter Schloss Johannisberg into your navigation system
- First, stroll through the beautiful castle grounds and take in the view from the panoramic terrace over the vineyards to the Rhine
- The wines of the Schloss Johannisberg winery are served, accompanied by small regional dishes
- Don't miss: the sculpture of the Spätlesereiter, which commemorates the invention of the Spätlese (see below)
- Opening hours: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The invention of late harvest at Schloss Johannisberg: In 1775, Schloss Johannisberg in the nearby Rheingau region eagerly awaited the arrival of the prince-bishop of Fulda's courier, who was to bring permission for the grape harvest. But the messenger was delayed – by a whole three weeks! During this time, the noble Riesling grapes were attacked by gray mold and appeared to be spoiled. With no other options available, they were pressed anyway – and lo and behold: the wine turned out to be exceptionally aromatic, sweet, and complex. Spätlese was born! More wonderful anecdotes can be found here (opens in a new tab)!
