Germany is home to several different wine growing regions and I am fortunate enough to live in one of them. Wine lovers will also be pleased to learn that wine walks are a common occurrence in Germany. There are different types of wine walks. There are the self guided wine walks that can be done at anytime, stopping at besens (see Hungry or Thirsty in Germany? Look for a Broomstick) along the way, or organized wine walks which occur on a scheduled day. On an organized wine walk, you’re served wine right in the middle of the vineyard, or avoid the lines and just buy a bottle of wine, sipping it at your leisure as you stroll through the vineyards as we did on the Esslingen Wine Walk (a small town near Stuttgart). Somehow wine tastes so much better when you’re sipping it in the same vineyard where the grapes were grown.
Organized wine walks are popular in Germany so there are likely to be a lot of people there as there was at the Esslingen Wine Walk.
The ultimate wine holder on a wine walk.
Have you ever done a wine walk? Which type of wine walk do you prefer?
For more info on wine walks and wine travel in Germany see The German Wine Institute Wine Travel (some pages in English, some only available in German) and Wine Walks in Stuttgart (a brochure in English that includes a map for self guided wine walks).
This photo has been submitted as part of Travel Photo Thursday, a weekly travel photography showcase organized by Nancie at Budget Travelers Sandbox where you can see more travel photos from around the world.
I'm Laurel, a former Program Director from Canada now living in Munich, Germany. I love traveling, diving, and hiking. I'm also an animal enthusiast with a special affinity for monkeys, cats and sharks.
I love the wine region in Germany – it is hands down my favourite countryside in the world!
But I am a little biased as my family has a vineyard in the Mosel region. We often talked about relocating to a small village along the river. You never know, it still might happen!
Love wine, love walking and I love Germany! You’ve hit them all with this post. The Wine Walks link will be used at some point. I think I’ll leave the wine glass holder at home though
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@Cam – I love it too, I am seriously jealous. The Mosel region is beautiful. As a traveler, Germany is such a great place to live, it’s close to everything. Hope you make the move!
@Debbie – I know some of my favorite things all at once! I didn’t use a wine holder either, but they were quite popular
I wish I could have done this while I was in Germany. Being served wine in the middle of a vineyard — perfect. I did see many vineyards while on the train. They’re so beautiful on the hillsides, some of which looked really steep!
Cathy Sweeney recently posted..A Sniff of Cologne
@Cathy – Next time, you’ll just have to come back
Some of them are really steep and after a couple of glasses of wine, they seem even steeper 
We cruised through the Mosel region on a wine-tasting cruise last fall and thought the area was just so beautiful. We were amazed at the vineyards that are planted on very, very steep hillsides that run right down into the river. They actually use conveyer type devices to pick and harvest the grapes, it is so steep.
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I always forget that Germany has great wine too. That looks like a pretty walk .
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@Jan – I actually have yet to do a river cruise in Germany, something I’m hoping to change this month. The Mosel region is so beautiful, I couldn’t believe how close they were to the river either.
Heya Laurel, something I have never tried before so if I ever get the chance, I will do a Wine Walk and drink
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@David – Would highly recommend it. It’s fun trying all the different wines and a good excuse
I think that wine holder is one of the best inventions ever
Have you tried ice wine in Germany? I had it way back when somewhere in Frankfurt I think… I’m not sure of it tasted so good because I was only 17-18 and the wine was pretty sweet or because it was actually good. Haven’t had it ever since.
Sabrina recently posted..Skiing in Santa Fe
Interesting, I would not have guessed Germany for wine. We’ve done several of these in Sonoma and Mendocino (including the hands-free wineglass holder). You would hope the wine and excercise would offset one another, but it didn’t work out that way…
Kris Koeller recently posted..The Governor’s Island Jazz-Age Lawn Party
I never saw such wine holder
Vi recently posted..Places for panoramic view of Rome. Pincian Hill
I so agree that wine tastes even better in the vineyard. And I do like a lovely German Riesling.
Sophie recently posted..What to do in Kiev
I am a big fan of wine tours. A wine walk would be perfect. Walk enough to burn off some calories and sober up a bit before the next glass
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A wine walk seems like a very civilized thing to do. I love German Riesling and would happily spend many a day investigating – all in the name of research. Do you own a wine holder Laurel??
Leigh recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday: Calgary City Lights
Usually wine tours are just in the basement where the barrels are. This is different. Would love to try it out. I drink wine like I have an IV.
adventureswithben recently posted..Florida Travel Cocktail Podcast is Now Available on iTunes!
First time I ever heard of a wine walk, too. Thanks for sharing. I drink beer
I’ve only done wine tasting (wine walking) twice, and both times in California. It would be great to try it out in a different country. I need to get one of those holders for sure!
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@Sabrina – The wine holders were definitely popular. I didn`t realize there was ice wine in Germany, I thought it was just a Canadian thing. Will have to look for it here.
@Kris – I just keep telling myself that the walking compensates for all the wine (I`m OK with being a bit delusional in this case). Germany is more known for its whites, especially its Reislings than its reds, but there are a lot of vineyard here.
@Vi – I had never seen a wineglas holder like this before either.
@Sophie – I also like German Reislings, but my German friends always want non-German wines – go figure.
@The Travel Chica – Me too! But I was surprised at how tipsy I was by the end of the wine walk
@Leigh – Civilized is a good way to put it. Haven`t bought a wineglass holder yet, I`m holding out
@Ben – Somehow I could see you enjoying a wine walk
@RyukyuMike – Well they do have monastery tours when beer and wine are made, if that`s more your thing. Those are also quite popular.
@Michael – I would love to try it in California, such beautiful scenery.
Our favorite is the Kulinarische Weinwanderung in Freinsheim every September – we have been every year except one. It’s very popular in the area so it’s pretty crowded, as you note. Along with your wine there’s all kinds of food like Saumagen, cakes, Knoedel, etc.
We’ve also done the May 1 Weinwanderung in the Hessische Bergstrasse a couple of times. The walk goes several kilometers through the hills and there’s not as much food as the other one, but the area is absolutely beautiful. You can stamp a pass at every wine booth you find and if you get enough, you can enter to win something.
My main tip is to also bring some water and sunscreen with you because there is no respite from the sun in the vineyards!
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