For the 49th time, winemakers from the region invite you to discover their select wines and sparkling wines. The event is complemented by a wide variety of culinary specialties at numerous food stands. “For many years, Rheingau Wine Week has stood for the unique blend of regional wine enjoyment, vibrant urban culture, and warm hospitality. Between City Hall, the Marktkirche, and the castle, an atmosphere emerges that defines Wiesbaden in its own unique way: convivial, enjoyable, and cosmopolitan. It is precisely this blend that makes the festival so special for the people of Wiesbaden,” says Wiesbaden’s Mayor Christiane Hinninger. 

Matthias Fromm, Managing Director of WICM GmbH, adds: “Rheingau Wine Week shapes Wiesbaden’s tourism profile and delights numerous guests from the region, Germany, and abroad every year. For ten days, the quality and diversity of Rheingau wines and sparkling wines take center stage in the heart of the state capital. At the same time, with its down-to-earth, family-friendly atmosphere, the Wine Week bridges tradition and the future, strengthens regional identity, and showcases Wiesbaden—both within and far beyond the city limits—as a delightful and livable destination.”

The 49th Rheingau Wine Week, featuring a total of 117 booths, will be officially opened on Friday, August 14, at 5 p.m. on the stage in front of Wiesbaden City Hall. Wiesbaden’s Mayor Gert-Uwe Mende and Mayor Christiane Hinninger will give the traditional kickoff together with the Rheingau and Wiesbaden wine royalty. 

The design of the official Wine Week wine glass is once again highly anticipated this year. The glass is once again made from a lighter—and thus more CO₂-efficient—material and features an image of Villa Clementine this year. It is available for three euros at the Wiesbaden Tourist Information office as well as at nine wine and food stands during the Rheingau Wine Week. An ESWE Wine Festival ticket is also being offered again to encourage eco-friendly travel to and from the event by bus and train. Upon presentation of the ticket, visitors will receive a voucher worth three euros, which can be redeemed for a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic beverage. The voucher can be redeemed at the 20 partner wineries (listed on the back of the voucher); and it is available at the booth in front of the ESWE Mobility Center at Marktstraße 10. In addition, two secure bicycle parking facilities will be available during Wine Week at the Marktkirche and in the Prinzengässchen, which can be used free of charge during opening hours.

New formats, new bands, and even more “Riesling Vibes” define the music program for this year’s Rheingau Wine Week. The “Riesling Vibes” DJ format, developed last year in collaboration with the Rheingau’s young winemakers, is being significantly expanded following its successful premiere and will be featured on all three stages for the first time in 2026. On Monday, August 17, DJ BEN.RN, DJ RIES.ling, DJ Peter Latino, and D-Jane Nicole will spin sets on the stage in front of the Marktkirche. On Wednesday, August 19, DJ MV Pete and “freitanzen” will provide electronic beats on the Schlossplatz. The program concludes on Sunday, August 23, with DJ Daniel Stern and DJ Rauschhofer at the Dern’schen Gelände. In this way, the Rheingau Wine Week combines traditional wine culture with modern DJ music over three days of events.

Another new feature is the “Wine & More” format: On select event days, a varied program centered on Rheingau wine will complement the wine festival’s offerings. Visitors can look forward to a diverse lineup of events and interesting insights. The events begin at 11 a.m. on the first Saturday of the festival at the Dern’schen Gelände, on Tuesday in front of the Marktkirche, and on the second Saturday of the festival at the Schlossplatz.

The lineup of bands also brings something new to the table. The Rheingau Wine Week will kick off with a musical performance by the band Glow. Making their debut appearances are, among others, Groove Color, Eighties Euphoria, Klara & Benny, Mo’Soul, Cool Aid, Groovetime, and Soundspace. Other highlights include performances by Deine Jungs, Fräulein J. & die Tournedos, Cherry Bomb, and Max Headroom. Popular, long-standing bands such as Los 4 del Son, Pasi der Pogo, Colin Frost & Paul Maré, and the Couch Potatoes are also returning to the stages. In total, the three stages on Schlossplatz, in front of the Marktkirche, and on the Dern’schen Gelände will offer a diverse music program featuring around 50 bands every day of the ten-day event, each running until 10 p.m.

There will also be new highlights at the “world’s longest Riesling bar”: With the Jakob Christ winery from Rüdesheim and the Wegeler winery from Oestrich-Winkel, two additional wineries will be represented at the Rheingau Wine Week for the first time this year. This year, Schlossplatz will once again feature a selection of fine wines from one of Wiesbaden’s sister cities—this time from Fondettes on the Loire. 

There are also new culinary discoveries to be made: Those who wish to pair their wine with complementary specialties will find additional options this year. Among others, “Wiesbaden Kocht” with panini and loaded fries, as well as the Zuckerburg Crêperie, will enrich the culinary offerings of Rheingau Wine Week. To ensure the festival grounds remain clean during the event, plastic dishes and cutlery will continue to be avoided. In addition, a three-euro deposit on reusable bottles will once again be in effect.

And if you’re worried that you won’t find your favorite wine stand in its usual spot this year due to the redesigned Marktkirche forecourt—don’t worry, because the change isn’t that big: The redesign of the square in front of the Marktkirche creates an expanded event area that will also incorporate the wine stands previously located on the adjacent lawn next to the daycare center. The eight stands previously located there will thus be fully integrated into the new stand layout on the expanded Marktkirche forecourt. The stands will largely be arranged on both sides of the rows of trees, as before, while the stage will remain at its tried-and-true location in the center of the square. However, the new layout offers sufficient space to plan the event structure flexibly and according to need.

Those who do not wish to explore the diversity of regional winemakers on their own can experience the Rheingau Wine Week from a unique perspective during a guided “sparkling wine hopping” tour with tastings. The tour will be led and hosted by the knowledgeable Rheingau wine presenter Katharina Höfling. During the approximately two-hour tasting, participants will get to know five renowned Rheingau winemakers and their sparkling wines directly at their wine stands. The number of participants is limited; tickets can be booked via the link “Experiences in Wiesbaden and the Rheingau | Visit Wiesbaden.”

For families, the Evangelical Family Education Program in the Wiesbaden Deanery is offering childcare for children ages five to eleven on both Saturdays and Sundays. On Saturdays from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., a variety of painting, arts-and-crafts, and play activities await the children at the Haus der Marktkirche. Thanks to the support of Wiesbaden Congress & Marketing GmbH, childcare is free on both Sundays; on both Saturdays, the cost is 6 euros per child per hour, and 3 euros for siblings. Registration is not required; children will be accepted as long as spaces are available.

The 49th Rheingau Wine Week at a Glance

· The Rheingau Wine Week booths are open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight.

· There are 117 stalls, including 93 wine stalls, 20 food stalls, and, once again, a town twinning stall. This year’s host is the Naurod-Fondettes Sister City Association. In addition, there is, among other things, a water stand operated by ESWE Versorgung, a Lotto Hessen sales stand, and the charitable stand “Ihnen leuchtet ein Licht.”

· The two bicycle parking garages at the rear exit of the Marktkirche (across from “Lumen”) and in Prinzengässchen next to the rear entrance of the State Parliament are staffed on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. and Sundays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Use is free of charge.

· Once again, there is a city-subsidized ESWE Wine Festival ticket that not only enables affordable, eco-friendly travel by bus and train. In addition, upon presentation of a Wine Festival ticket, visitors receive a voucher worth three euros. This voucher can be redeemed for a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic beverage at one of the 20 partner wineries (listed on the back of the voucher). The voucher is available at the booth in front of the ESWE Mobility Center, Marktstraße 10.

· Three stages will feature musical entertainment: on Schlossplatz, on the square in front of the Marktkirche, and on the Dern’schen Gelände. The bands’ performances will end at 10 p.m. on all ten days of the event. In addition, “Riesling Vibes” takes place on Mondays at the Marktkirche from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Wednesdays at Schlossplatz from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday, August 23, at the Dern’schen Gelände from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

· The “Wine & More” presentations by Rheingau winemakers will take place on Saturday, August 15, starting at 11 a.m. on the stage at the Dern’schen Gelände; on Tuesday, August 18, starting at 11 a.m. on the stage at the Marktkirche, and on Saturday, August 22, starting at 11 a.m. on the stage at Schlossplatz.

· Childcare is provided by the Evangelische Familienbildung in the Wiesbaden Deanery on both Saturdays (from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day) and Sundays (from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day) at the Haus der Marktkirche. Thanks to the support of Wiesbaden Congress & Marketing GmbH, childcare is free on Sundays; on Saturdays, the cost is 6 euros per child per hour and 3 euros for siblings.

· Restroom facilities will be set up between the Marktkirche, City Hall, and Restaurant Lumen; between the Marktkirche and the kindergarten; and at the corner of Marktstraße and Friedrichstraße.

· The first-aid station is located between the Marktkirche and the daycare center. The first-aid station is staffed Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Fridays from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays from 2 p.m. to midnight, and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.

· The taxi stand is located at its regular spot on Friedrichstraße (operating hours: 2 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Additionally, during the Rheingau Wine Week, there is a taxi stand on Wilhelmstraße (operating hours: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.).

· An ATM will be set up at City Hall, between City Hall and the Marktkirche, which will also display a map of the Wine Week booths.

· Four advertising columns have also been set up on the festival grounds, displaying the Wine Week booth map.

Further information about the 49th Rheingau Wine Week, the musical program, and the map of the stands is available online at www.wiesbaden.de/weinwoche (opens in a new tab). Photos and highlights from the Rheingau Wine Week can be shared on Instagram using the hashtag #rieslingsfreunde.