If you are looking for things to do in Wiesbaden, why not consider an outing to the nearby Rheingau wine region? From Wiesbaden some of the best wineries, vineyards and wine tasting locations are just a short drive west into the wine country.
Rent a bike, take a train (or book a wine tour) and enjoy both the scenery of the Rhein River and the taste of Rheingau. Here are five of our favourite wine destinations near Wiesbaden:
Hattenheimer Weinfässer – the local winegarden
13 Winemakers from the village Eltville-Hattenheim take weekly turns in manning a lovely kiosk made up from old barrels, named Hattenheimer Weinfässer. Grab a glass of chilled wine, a bottle even better, order some of the snacks on offer and sit down at the benches or in the grass right on the Rhein River Banks. No sniffing or slurping though… this is where the locals enjoy an uncomplicated glass of wine to end the day, the regions answer to Bavaria’s Biergarten … the Weingarten.
Best time to go: April to October, early evening – a perfect time to enjoy the sunset on the Rhein River.
Dive into Wine History
1000 year-old Monastery Eberbach is THE place to get an understanding of German wine history, wine culture and geography. Visit the extremely well preserved medieval buildings, taste the wines of the monastery brand, and enjoy the views at the terrace of the famous Steinberg vineyard. The wine tasting pavilion ‘Schwarzes Haus’ – located in the vineyard – pours wines right from the place where they were incepted.
Allocate at least 2-3 hours for the visit. The modernised monastery winery is at a short hike from the historic buildings – but well worth the visit. Eberbach is part of BottleStops’ Rheingau Tour.
Schloss Vollrads – Family Estate for 900 years
Until the end of 1980s Schloss Vollrads was owned and managed by the family von Greiffenclau for 900 years. Still today the historic site has a bit of a familiar atmosphere, but is now sporting a small tasting room and an excellent restaurant. The Vollrads wines are exported all over the world.
Free for outside visits, but do inquire in advance for an indoor tour of the historic living quarters.
Tip: in December, Vollrads organises its very own Christmas market, which is absolutely worth a visit.
Schloss Johannisberg – First Riesling Estate
They say Emperor Charlemagne was the first to understand the value of the Johannisberg hillsides for winemaking – apparently after observing that snow would melt faster at Johannisberg than in neighbouring areas. Johannisberg castle also claims the fame of being the first Riesling estate in the world, also the first Late Harvest Riesling got documented here. To us though, Johannisberg stands out for the beautiful views from its terrace, and the spectacular historic wine cellar.
Tip: In summer the Castle’s outdoor tasting area ‘Goetheblick’ sells wine by the glass – perfectly paired to vineyard views. Also private guided tastings and cellar visits are available on demand (or can can be arranged as part of an exclusive BottleStops day tour.)
RheinWeinWelt – the World of Rhein Wines
Interested wine tourists will strike gold at the tasting room RheinWeinWelt, located in the hip surroundings of a former distillery in Rüdesheim. Opened in 2017 this slightly hidden gem offers 160 wines on the tap – literally. Self-service wine dispensers invite you to not only taste classic wines from the Rhein region, but to discover more obscure varietals as well – taste a juicy Scheurebe for instance or a rosé made from Dornfelder grapes. There is a bistro, too, with a range of tapas style snacks and freshly prepared meals.
Our special tip: the lovingly compiled tasting platters with selections of local cold cuts and cheeses – perfect to share.
You can also discover the sights and wines of Rheingau and many other wine regions on a BottleStops wine tour. We take you on a day trip – in the comfort of a luxury van and with an English language expert guide.
