Vogtsburg im Kaiserstuhl: View of Oberbergen from the Kaiserstuhl ©deutscheweine.de (Deutsches Weininstitut)

Inspiring Germany

13 spectacular views across the vineyards

You simply must experience it: steep vineyards, wide rivers, Trulli, ruins, castles and plenty of good wine!

Where wine grows, it is always beautiful – because the vines demand that of their environment. They love to grow facing the sun, to draw the optimal moisture from the cool mist of a river, and their grapes should ideally dry on a slope with a gentle breeze. German wine grows in 13 wine growing regions on the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Neckar, Ahr, Nahe and their tributaries, as well as around Lake Constance. It goes without saying that there are beautiful landscapes to be seen all over. An initiative by the German Wine Institute has awarded prizes to 39 "Most Beautiful Wine Views" in these regions. Let yourself be inspired and find your own personal favourite place, favourite view and certainly your favourite wine on your travels through the German wine landscapes.

We therefore present a selection of the award-winning "Most Beautiful Wine Views". Our tip: it is best to travel from one to the next. On your way there, stay at wineries, taste Riesling, Pinot Noir or whatever the winegrowers fancy introducing you to, and indulge in culinary delights at country inns. This way, you'll learn about the characteristics of the various growing regions, their special geography, soil structures, specialisation in one grape variety or another, and much more. One thing these viewpoints have in common is that you can enjoy gorgeous hikes and bike rides through the vineyards and surrounding areas from there. Because of this, the German Wine Institute's website also offers information on the routes, durations and difficulty ratings of the hikes.

Ahr: Saffenburg castle ruins in Mayschoß

Mayschoss: View over Mayschoss and vineyards in the Ahr valley ©Adobe Stock (julia_sergeeva)

This dreamlike landscape spreads out before you like a painting: the picturesque wine village of Mayschoß, the curve of the river Ahr, the striking vineyards. The castle ruins themselves are also worth seeing: they date back to the 11th century.

Baden: view from the Texas Pass

Baden wine growing region, the Kaiserstuhl hills ©Deutsches Weininstitut GmbH

Texas in Baden: this freak of nature is a real spectacle. The Kaiserstuhl is dramatically beautiful in its own right. From the Texas Pass, you have a wonderful far-reaching view over the vineyards and forest – almost like the Garden of Eden.

Franconia: terroir f in Stetten

Main-Spessart: Vineyard terraces between Gambach and Karlstadt in the Grainberg-Kalbenstein nature reserve ©AdobeStock (dina)

Between Würzburg and the Spessart, the Franconian wine landscape offers a very special formation: the Franconians call this spot a "magical place" and have named it "terroir f".

Hessische Bergstrasse: Petermanns Ruh

Hessische Bergstrasse wine region: Starkenburg Castle in Heppenheim ©Deutsches Weininstitut GmbH (DWI)

The forward-thinking winemaker Karl Petermann recognised the beauty of this place and ensured that we would still be able to enjoy the view over the foothills of the Odenwald into the Rheinheim hill country even today. Cheers, Karl!

Middle Rhine: Nürer Kopf

The wine-growing area Middle Rhine, Leutesdorf ©Deutsches Weininstitut GmbH (DWI)

Relax and unwind on a giant swing, as you enjoy the view over the majestic Rhine. However, you have to walk a little more than a kilometre to get there!

Saale-Unstrut: winegrowing at Lake Geiseltal

Naumburg: Couple hiking in the vineyards of Saale-Unstrut ©Saale-Unstrut-Tourismus e.V. (Transmedial)

Like a mirror for the vines, Lake Geiseltal lies nestled in the landscape. It is Germany's largest artificial lake and has three 14-metre-high observation towers, from which you can look out over the whole region: where today, vines grow, there used to be mining...

Moselle: Heldensicht viewpoint

Moselle wine region – vineyards ©Deutsches Weininstitut GmbH (DWI)

This wine view is one for the hiking enthusiasts and, like the name of the hike itself, leads from the "Strom zum Urstrom" (stream to the primeval stream): starting in Lieser, the path clearly traces the primeval stream of the Moselle.

Saxony: vineyard view over the curve of the Elbe in Diesbar Seußlitz

Get on the road. This wine view can be reached via a short hike past a few wineries. The reward: a gorgeous view of the horseshoe bend of the Elbe!

Palatinate: Kleine Kalmit

No less than 270 metres high, the Kleine Kalmit rises above the wine village of Ilbesheim, and from here you have an enchanting view of the sea of vines and the other landscapes of the Palatinate Forest.

Nahe: Kertzer Woodlands in Niederhausen

Here you can lie back and be amazed: at the Kertzer Wäldchen they've set up two large loungers for you to enjoy the view of the vineyards around Niederhausen and the Lemberg.

Rhinehessen: Ruhkreuz Zornheim

The land of a thousand hills. In Rheinhessen you can see far: the view from the Zornheimer Ruhkreuz lies at the starting point of the "Hiwweltour Zornheimer Berg", an official circular hiking trail which leads through orchards and vineyards.

Rheingau: Nollig Ruins in Lorch

Here you can enjoy the view of the Rhine from far above and sit right on the Rheinsteig, a great route from Wiesbaden-Bieberich to Bonn. If you like, you can climb up the cliff in just under 30 minutes, with the steepest part secured with steel ropes. Don't worry: there is an alternative route!

Württemberg: Michaelsberg Cleebronn

This wine view is best enjoyed in autumn: when the vine leaves turn colourful, all spread out like a carpet of red and orange. From here you have a fantastic panoramic view all the way to the Königstuhl and Katzenbuckel in the Odenwald, the Löwenstein Hills and the Swabian Alb.

Precise details of starting points, duration, route features and more great views in the German wine regions of previous years can be found here.