Gentle hills, secluded valleys, excellent wines, warm people and historic places are just some of the features that draw guests to Germany’s largest wine-growing region.
1. Breathtaking landscape
Rheinhessen’s nature is a blessing for the soul. Green in summer; radiant red or yellow in autumn. And although the seemingly endless sea of vines dominates the landscape, Rheinhessen is home to many other natural spectacles like for example rare, but for Rheinhessen typical defiles, which are a paradise for endangered animal and plant species, small forests with old tree population or beautiful flowering heaths on high plateaus.
2. Numerous hiking trails
The hilly landscape of Rheinhessen offers more than 290 kilometres of hiking trails, where guests can enjoy walking through the vineyards and cast a glance over the shoulders of winegrowers at their work. The certified hiking trails lead directly through the vines, from one award-winning vineyard to the next. A variety of thematic trails pick up interesting geological and historical facts of the region. On the Alzey “Küstenweg” (eng. coastal path) for instance, hikers learn that where there is a sea of vines today, there was once a primordial sea.
3. Delicious wine
With over 26,000 hectares of vineyards, Rheinhessen is the largest wine-growing region in Germany, and Mainz is the German wine capital. Even the Romans cultivated wine here because of the ideal climate. Today, almost 3,000 wineries produce excellent wines on the fertile soil. Especially the Rieslings cause a sensation worldwide.
The Rhine-Hessian wine shops are the best place to get information about the modern, uncomplicated wines straight from the wine growers – and to taste them. The premises of the shops are, besides, as diverse as their products themselves. There are wine shops with special architecture, with exciting events or with an extraordinary variety of wines.
4. Calm nights and tasty cuisine
In rural Rheinhessen peace and relaxation instead of noise and rush are on the agenda. Hotels, inns, guesthouses and holiday apartments in the region offer the perfect accommodation after a hilly hike or long bike tour. In many wine villages visitors can also stay overnight right at the winegrower’s place. Camper sites right in front of the winegrowers’ vines get guests even closer to the grapes.
Mainz and Rheinhessen also score points with an authentic cuisine. It describes the Rhine-Hessian way of life, the uncomplicated nature of the wine taverns and restaurants and the large portion of local colour that is served with every dish.
5. Jolly celebration
Cultural and wine festivities belong to the Rhine-Hessian lifestyle, which guests are more than welcome to be part of and discover. Along with celebrations set right in the vineyard such as the wine festival in the “Kirchenstück in Mainz Hechtsheim”, the charming Mainz wine market, the “Da Capo Festival” in a unique castle courtyard setting and the impressive “Nibelungen Festival” are highlights of the region’s cultural events.
6. Exciting history
The imperial palace in Ingelheim, the Nibelungen saga in Worms, the book printing in Mainz – the region is packed with important past and outstanding personalities.
Impressive castle ruins, past which hiking trails lead, vineyard watch towers full of heartbreaking love stories, churches with mysterious architecture that no one can fully explain – in Rheinhessen history can be found on every corner, even beyond the great sights.
7. Ideal location
A favourable location is beneficial to a wine region. Rheinhessen is located in the immediate vicinity of the Rhine-Main area, on the Rhine bend between Bingen, Mainz, Alzey and Worms. The transport connections to long-distance and regional railway stations, to three major motorways and to Frankfurt Airport are excellent. Whether car drivers or users of public transport – in Mainz and Rheinhessen visitors are mobile!