These are some of the best wine festivals to visit when travelling to Germany

Calling on all wine tourists. Is Germany on your bucket list?

Unless you are a true wine geek, the answer might be a definite no. That’s understandable, as the world’s 9th largest wine producing country by volume can be still considered an emerging wine travel destination. In part because local wineries have only recently embarked on a tasting room culture with regular opening times and dedicated staff. It’s true that most wineries welcomed visitors in the past, but usually that meant you either had to arrange your visit in advance, had to knock on the front door hoping to find the winemaker or someone from the staff to let you in, if you did not speak German, the struggle was real and leaving without buying some bottles of wine would feel embarrassing. In addition to all that, German wines still struggle to get the international recognition they deserve. Once again, unless you are a wine geek that knows better.

While it’s true that Germany is still working to become a modern and innovative wine travel destination like California’s Nappa Vally, it is a country that knows how to celebrate the most epic wine festivals.

Germany has a long tradition of wine festivals with over 1,000 of them taking place across the whole country every year. These events offer an awesome opportunity to learn more about German wines, get in touch with winemakers, and have a great time in general. Many will offer the opportunity to join a wine masterclass, go to special wine tastings, and enjoy a fantastic culinary offer based on regional food specialities.

With the wine festival season starting in early spring and running until around September/October, now is the time to plan your itineraries and book your tickets (where needed)!

If you are looking for the perfect wine festivals to visit this year, below are my recommendations for the most interesting and fun wine festivals to visit in Germany.

The list includes both major festivals across most of Germany’s official winegrowing areas along with several more specific events which will typically require booking your tickets well ahead.

Wine Festivals in the Pfalz Wine Region in Germany

Germany’s second-largest winegrowing region is home to many renowned wineries. Over recent years, this includes many newcomers with innovative winemaking concepts. Renowned for Riesling wines, the warmer local climate conditions have led winemakers to plant more and more Pinot grapes lately.

It’s fair to say that from early summer until the start of the harvest season, nearly all small wine towns across the Palatinate (Pfalz) wine region will host their own special wine event. Below I have listed the most popular events worth to put on your wine travel bucket list.

Bad Dürkheimer Wine Nights

If you had always dreamed about a hike during beautifully illuminated vineyards during the night, this is your opportunity. The approximately 6-kilometre hiking route open to the public will be lined by stalls offering local food specialities and non-alcoholic beverages to purchase.

Along the way, you will also encounter special wine huts operated by more than 20 local wineries offering samples of their wines. However, if you want to participate in wine tasting, you need to purchase one of the tasting passes – which are limited to 4,000 per night. These will allow you to sample 15 wines.

Dates for 2024: 1.-2. March 2024, 5pm to 11pm

Bad Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt

Despite the name (sausage market) this annual event is said to be the world’s largest wine festival. Hold over two long weekends from early to mid-September, the small town will turn into a fairground of events from live music to parades, fireworks, and market stalls offering local culinary specialities. Of course, the main attraction will be the more than 300 still and sparkling wines from the Palatinate wine region on offer in the wine village.

Dates for 2024: 6.-10. September and 13.-16. September

Deidesheimer Weinkerwe

The unusual name is derived from the term kermes or kirmess which stands for a large outdoor festival with fairy wheels, processions, live music, and food stalls. In the case of the Deidesheimer Weinkerwe, the event was originally created as an opportunity to clear out wines kept in the cellar just before the start of the new harvest to make space for the new wines. Over the years, the festival found a growing number of supporters enjoying above all the wine and culinary offerings.

Stroll along Bahnhofstra?e, the small ally connecting the local train station with the central market square to sample local wines and regional food specialities offered at the many stalls that line the street. Alternatively, head to the participating wineries who will open their cellar doors during the event or the local restaurants.

Learn more about Deidesheim and why the small wine town is an awesome wine travel destination in general in my post Why you need to visit Deidesheim on the German Winestrasse.

Dates for 2024: 9.-13. August and 16.-20. August 2024

Wine Festivals in the Mosel Wine Region in Germany

Renowned for being home to some of the steepest vineyards in world, the Mosel wine region (comprising the Mosel Valley and the adjacent valleys of the Saar and Ruwer rivers) is known to produce some of the best white wines across Europe, especially Riesling.

Weinfest der Mittelmosel (wine festival of the middle Mosel)

The five-day event takes place in one of the most stunning little wine towns along the Mosel. Bernkastel-Kues with its picture-perfect half-timbered houses, narrow cobble stone streets, and lovely small squares is an attraction on its own, and indeed a huge tourist draw in the area.

The festival will feature a procession, many live acts, music, a craft market and fireworks. However, the highlight is the roughly 300 metre long ‘wine road’ set up through the town where your can taste Riesling wines from many different areas of the Mosel.

Dates for 2024: 29 August to 2 September 2024

Mosel Festival Winningen

Said to be the oldest wine festival in Germany (although there are so many, so who really knows), this 10-day festival in the small wine town of Winningen again offers it all: processions, live music, events, food, and lots of wine tasting opportunities. It ends with a huge firework illuminating the Mosel River and the surrounding steep vineyards on the last evening.

Dates for 2024: 30 August to 8 September 2024

Saar Riesling Sommer

Not your classic wine festival but rather a tasting event with access to various renowned Saar wineries. The event sees a total of 15 of the local wineries open their cellar doors and offering wine tasting to visitors. In addition, at each winery there will be a guest winemaker from other regions in Germany and globally.

Between the wineries, a shuttle service will make sure visitors can safely travel along a round route. Which means, no designated drivers are needed.

Additional events, like a special opening wine tasting and dinner are also typically taking place.

To participate, you need to purchase tickets which are available for each of the two days separately or for as combined 2-day ticket.

Dates for 2024: 24.-25. August 2024, 12pm to 6 pm

Wine Festivals in Rheingau Wine Region in Germany

Renowned to be the birthplace of Riesling and late harvest wine (even though the later by mistake), picturesque Rheingau boasts various of Germany’s oldest wineries, many family-led wineries looking at several generations of winemaking, some newcomers, and above all beautiful small wine towns nestled along the Rhine River.

Rheingau Wine & Gourmet Festival

A wine region with the many superlatives of the Rheingau certainly needs a wine event standing up to the hype. Rheingau Wine & Gourmet Festival is considered to be likely the largest such event in the world.

Running for two-and-a-half weeks, the festival boasts many internationally acclaimed chefs and sommeliers from around the world. They will create wine pairing menus around dedicated wines and food from a particular wine region for lunch and dinner events.

Host for most of the wine menu events is the well-known Hotel Kronenschl?sschen in Eltville-Hattenheim though a few will also take place at Kloster Eberbach, one of Germany’s oldest wineries.

To participate, reservations must be made in advance and depending on the wines and food involved, prices can be on the higher side (and will not include accommodation).

Dates for 2024: 22. February to 10. March 2024

Rieslingfest in Kiedrich

If you love Riesling and lesser crowds, this small festival dedicated to Riesling wines made in the small wine town of Kiedrich is a must.

Typically held during the second part of May, this small wine festival is organized by a number of local wineries offering to sample their wines. Nestled in the small historic town centre of Kiedrich will be various wine and food stalls and there will be live music in the evenings.

Dates for 2024: TBC mid-May

Wine Festivals in Rheinhessen in Germany

The largest German wine region by vineyard area is located in central-western Germany just south of Mainz. It is known to produce mostly white wines (with over 70% of its total area planted to white varieties), though some excellent reds are made here too. The area stretches along the Rhine River (including some of the lovely wine towns along the Upper Middle Rhine Valley) and reaches into the Taunus Hills, the Odenwald and Hunsrück.

Mainzer Weinmarkt

Mainz is considered the entrance to Germany’s largest wine region, Rheinhessen. Though you won’t find any vineyards in the city itself, it is nonetheless strongly connected to the nearby winegrowing area which you can feel at any visit year-round.

The most important wine event, the annual Mainzer Weinmarkt takes place over two long weekends at the end of August and first week in September. It is in truth a full wine village set in the city’s large central park featuring wine huts and tents where you can sip on wine and enjoy local food. Many of the local Rheinhessen wineries will be present at the festival, along with a small selection of international wineries. There is also a dedicated sparkling wine event. In the evenings, there will be live music as well.

Dates for 2024: 29. August – 1. September & 5.-8. September 2024

AUSGEZEICHNET Red Wine Festival

The name does sound even a bit wired in German, translating into awarded. An obvious hint to the quality of the wines showcased.

The little town of Ingelheim itself is famous for being the red wine capital of Rheinhessen (an otherwise acknowledge white wine region, though of course nearly all wineries will make red wines as well).

The nine-day event in September features live music along with excellent food and local wines. It takes place inside the compound of the historic medieval castle and adjacent castle church which in the evening will be tinged in beautiful colours. There will also be a small amusement park with rides and a Ferries wheel.

The beautiful gothic Burgkirche (castle church) is the perhaps most photographed building in a vineyard at least in Rheinhessen, if not Germany. Build during the first half of the 15th century, it is regarded as one of the best-preserved fortified churches in southern and western Germany.

Unless you plan very carefully and early, it might be difficult to almost impossible to attend the highlight of the annual event. The Lord Mayor’s Pinot wine tasting held in the festival marquee features 15 selected Pinot wines paired with matching food.

If you want to learn more about winemaking in Ingelheim and why you should put the place on your wine travel bucket list whether you plan to come for the red wine festival or at another time, read my post A visit to Ingelheim, the red wine hotspot of Rheinhessen and its leading wineries.

This year, the festival will take place from 28th September to 6th October 2024.

Wine Festivals in the Middle Rhine Valley

This very special area located between Bingen and Bonn straddles two German wine regions on both sides of the Rhine River. Rheinhessen, the largest German winegrowing area and the renowned Rheingau region, known to be the birthplace of both Riesling and late harvest wines.

Rhein in Flammen

Perhaps one of Germany’s internationally best-known festivals, Rhine in Flames is taking place annually on five different dates at five different locations along the river. Though it is not officially considered to be a wine festival, the towns playing host to the event will nonetheless arrange their individual wine events alongside the stunning fireworks.

In early September, Rhine in Flames will be held at Oberwesel, the historic wine town in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper Middle Rhein Valley. Coinciding with the event is the Oberweseler Weinmarkt, extending over the historic market square and into the surrounding vineyards. More than 150 local wines, sparkling wines and spirits are waiting to be sipped along with local food specialities.

Dates for the Oberwesel event 2024: 14. September 2024

Wine Festivals in Württemberg Wine Region

This under-the-radar wine region located in the southwest of Germany is known to produce predominantly red wines thanks to its warmer weather. Vineyards are mostly located along the Neckar, Rems, and Enz Rivers, with the Rems Valley perhaps the best-known local wine area.

Stuttgarter Weindorf – Stuttgart Wine Village

Held directly in the city centre, spanning Stuttgart Market Square, Schillerplatz and Kirchstra?e, this is one of the largest wine festivals in Germany. More than one million visitors will usually descend on Baden-Württemberg’s capital to sample nearly 500 local wines. Of course, you will be given the opportunity to try some of the favourite local food specialities like Sp?tzle and Maultaschen.

There will be live music but the most fun event likely is a special grape stomping competition involving local politicians.

Dates for 2024: 28 August to 8 September 2024

Wine Festivals in the Franken Wine Region in Germany

Located in the northwest of Bavaria, Germany’s third largest wine growing region Franken (or Franconia) is nestled between the stupendous mountain ranges of the Rhön, Steigerwald, Taubertal and Spessart. The city of Würzburg with its century old stately wineries such as Bürgerspital, Staatlicher Hofkeller, and Juliusspital is undoubtedly the region’s wine capital. Though there are many more small historic wine towns nestled along the Main River that make the Franconian wine region a history-laden gem to be explored.

From late spring to early fall, there are many local wine events with most of the historic wine villages celebrating their own wine festival. However, a few are certainly worth planning for.

Wein am Stein

For 14 days (and nights) each year, the region’s renowned winery Weingut am Stein turns into a wonderland for wine lovers. Sip the winery’s excellent wines, and enjoy a fantastic culinary food offer, along with live music while sitting in the midst of the surrounding vineyards overlooking the city of Würzburg.

Officially called a ‘music festival in the vineyards’ over the years the event that started as a small get-together of Weingut am Stein’s owner and winemaker Ludwig Knoll and his university friends over 40 years ago, now features various music bands and attracts hundreds of visitors each year.

Places at the Wein am Stein festival are limited. Check the winery’s official website for ticket sales.

To learn more about Weingut am Stein and its great wines, check out my post A visit to Weingut am Stein.

Dates for 2024: 11.-28. July 2024

Sommerhausen Wine Festivals

It’s safe to say, this beautiful small wine town is an absolute favourite when it comes to the many gems to be found in the area. It is home to a couple of wine events, including two wine festivals located at the small historic village square featuring local wines, food and live music, ‘Kleines Weinfest’ and the ‘Sommerhausen Street Wine Festival’.

Dates for 2024: Kleines Weinfest 18.-20. May 2024; Street Wine Festival 29. June to 1. July 2024.

Wine Festivals in the Ahr Wine Region in Germany

Renowned for its quality wines, the Ahr Valley, dominated by the Ahr River, a tributary of the Rhine, has come to unhappy fame in 2021 when many of the small towns along the river – and many of the local wineries – were destroyed by severe floodings. While locals still struggle with the aftermath of the disaster, there is also a strong determination to return to the old strength of the area and welcome back visitors. And this picturesque valley is certainly a destination a true wine lover should put on the bucket list.

Ahrweiler Weinwochen – Ahrweiler Wine Weeks

The traditional Ahrweiler Wine Weeks held over two weekends in September are one of the largest wine festivals in the Ahr Valley. Surrounded by the towns four massive city gates the town square transforms into a wine wonderland. Stalls set up on the square offering wine tastings and local food are joined by local restaurants, cafes, and bars with special offerings. In addition, there will be live music

Dates for 2024: 30. August to 1. September & 6-8 September

Wine Festivals in the Baden Wine Region in Germany

Germany’s southernmost – and warmest – winegrowing region Baden stretches from Baden-Baden to the Swiss border. Distributed into nine different subregions, there are many different styles of wine though it’s the red varieties ruling in the area.

Breisgauer Weinfest – Breisgau Wine Festival

Each year the historic town centre of Emmendingen will be taken over by around 15 local wineries offering samples of their wines. In addition, expect food specialities such as Sp?tzle (you are after all still in the state of Baden-Württemberg), specially created gourmet plates (the area is home to a couple of Michelin-starred restaurants) and the Sch?ufele-Burger which is inspired by the local meat dish Sch?ufele (pig’s scapula, made from pig shoulder meat).

Markgräfler Wine Festival

Located the historic wine town of Staufen, this regional wine festival is looking back at a history of 70 years (the first took place in 1954). Highlights are the many different local red wines, including the local hero Gutedel, along with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and more.

There will be of course local food as well, along with live music and parades.

Dates for 2024: 2.-5. August 2024

Lake Constance Wine Festival (Bodensee Weinfest)

Straddling the shores of Lake Constance, the medieval village of Meersburg with its two castles is one of the beautiful gems along the shores of Lake Constance.

Each year in September the square of Meersburg Castle turns into a wine wonderland with many of the local wineries from the Lake Constance area. Among the local foods offered are fresh fish from the lake, while local bakeries and butcher shops will also offer their local specialities. Special events include a wine breakfast and there will be live music on all days.

Dates for 2024: 6.-8. September 2024