Where to meet: wine tasting stands
After a stroll through the city, a walk, a hike or a bike ride, stop by the tasting stand for a glass of wine - perfect!
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 food market. Or: You can get excellent fish sandwiches at the "Die Fischquelle" stand (Stand 13; you’ll recognize it by the fish hanging at the stand)
- Hours: Every Saturday through November 21 during market hours at the Dern'schen Gelände
The little barrel in Walluf
What I like about the keg:
It’s open all year round, right on the waterfront, and it’s mainly locals who gather here for a drink in the evening or on the weekend. Plus, a visit here can be combined with a truly lovely walk along the Rhine. You’ll walk along the waterfront the whole time, passing beautiful villas on one side and stretches of beach with sand and shells on the other. It’s wonderfully shady in the summer!
Good to know:
- Parking: It’s best to enter “Segelclub Rheingau” into your GPS and look for a parking spot
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Six local wineries take turns serving wine from barrels on the riverbank (opens in a new tab)—mostly 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 in town
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Restaurants in the area: the Clubrestaurant Rheinsegler, serving tapas and featuring a great terrace with a view of the water; the Schwabbel—a restaurant and houseboat in one, a Walluf institution known for its hearty home-style cooking
- Want to go there? Here are the the riverbank (opens in a new tab)—mostly 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 Clubrestaurant Rheinsegler, serving tapas and featuring a great terrace with a view of the water; the Schwabbel—a restaurant and houseboat in one, a Walluf institution known for its hearty home-style cooking
- Want to go there? Here are the pizza (opens in a new tab) in town
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Restaurants in the area: the Clubrestaurant Rheinsegler (opens in a new tab), serving tapas and featuring a great terrace with a view of the water; the Schwabbel (opens in a new tab)—a restaurant and houseboat in one, a Walluf institution known for its hearty home-style cooking
- Want to go there? Here are the opening hours (opens in a new tab)!
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 small bites to go with the wine (each winemaker handles this differently), but you’re also welcome to 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 done in stages), and the Riesling Schleife Rauenthaler Baiken (opens in a new tab) (moderate, 1.40 hours, 6 kilometers)
- Restaurants in the area: Bistro and Winery Eremita (opens in a new tab) – gorgeous garden with a wine stand and lounge chairs, upscale restaurant; Gutsschänke Langehof (opens in a new tab) – cozy, delicious, beautiful terrace
- 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. Please double-check here (opens in a new tab)!
Little black house in Eltville
What I like here:
The setting, the panoramic views, enjoying wine in a historic location! The Schwarze Häuschen (opens in a new tab)—a romantic vineyard cottage entwined with vines and featuring white lattice windows—is situated in the heart of the historic Steinberg, a monopole vineyard of the Kloster Eberbach State Winery, which has been cultivated by the Cistercian monks of the monastery since the Middle Ages.
It is surrounded by a wall nearly three kilometers long, which creates a special microclimate—more warmth, less wind! Ideal for the Riesling grown here.
Good to know:
- Parking: Domäne Steinberg, Eltville – it’s about a 100-meter walk from the parking lot
- Wines and sparkling wines from Eberbach Abbey will be served
- Snacks such as cheese pretzels, Pfefferknacker, and canned sausage are available
- A visit to the Schwarzes Häuschen pairs well with a tour or wine tasting at Kloster Eberbach (opens in a new tab)
- It’s worth making a detour to the nearby Landcafé Wacholderhof (opens in a new tab), which offers delicious cakes and a farm shop open year-round with eggs from free-range chickens and other regional specialties
- Hours: In good weather from April to October, Friday 3–7 p.m., Saturday, Sunday, and holidays 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Feel free to double-check Landcafé Wacholderhof (opens in a new tab), which offers delicious cakes and a farm shop open year-round with eggs from free-range chickens and other regional specialties
- Hours: In good weather from April to October, Friday 3–7 p.m., Saturday, Sunday, and holidays 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Feel free to double-check here (opens in a new tab)!
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 GPS
- Start by strolling through the beautiful castle grounds and take in the view from the panoramic terrace over the vineyards to the Rhine
- Wines from the Schloss Johannisberg winery are served, accompanied by small regional dishes
- Don’t miss: the sculpture of the Spätlese Rider, commemorating the invention of Spätlese (see below)
- Hours: Fridays 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Feel free to check back here (opens in a new tab)!
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)!
