Ahhh the wine festival. If you follow me on Twitter and Instagram you're probably sick of me talking about it. If so, just skip this post. Otherwise, indulge me and feast your eyes on the 10 greatest days of festivaling in the world...the Rheinegauer Weinwoche Wiesbaden. This wine festival is unlike any wine festival I've ever experienced and is very different from the kinds of wine festivals that occur in the states. Not only is it 10 entire days long (from 11am to midnight every day), but it's also the 2nd largest wine festival in Germany next to Wurstmarkt in Bad Durkheim. Let me run this down for you: at most wine festivals in the states (or at least the handful that I've attended), you pay $25-$40 flat fee to get into the festival and get handed a small tasting glass. You then have to wander around to maybe 30 or 40 tents, stand in in lines with dozens of other sweaty drunk people, and wrestle your glass to the server for a mere sip of wine. Do that like 12 times and you're tired, irritated, wine-covered, and barely buzzed. No bueno.
At the Rheingau Wine Fest there is no entry fee...so, you get to hop around to over 100 different winery tents and order yourself a small glass of wine (served in beautifully etched wine glasses unique to each vintner) for a few euros (plus a small 'pfand' or glass fee-but you get that back upon returning your glass). Of course, you can taste the wine before you purchase a glass of wine, but having to go up and pay for a small glass drastically reduces the lines and crowds clambering around the tents. You order (and/or taste) what you want, find a table, and RELAX! Fest tables are around every tent as well as about 2 dozen different food vendors serving cheese platters, brats, flammkuchen, crepes, and pretzels bigger than your head. After drinking a few glasses (rather than sips) of delicious Rhine Region Riesling (the greatest Riesling in the entire world, mind you), those giant pretzels really come in handy. In addition to more wine tents than anyone could ever visit in 10 days (believe me, we've tried), the fest also boasts some pretty stellar entertainment from local bands. 80's cover bands are alive and well in Germany, folks. So are some super sweet dance moves, as noted in the video below. I absolutely love people watching at festivals here.
The colors! The pretzels! The dancing! The wine! Dude, sign me up. I'm glad you keep posting pictures because they're all so fun. I would have had no idea about this festival otherwise. So cool!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, right?! Best festival in the world in my book! But I'm kind of partial. :) :)
DeleteI went to Wiesbaden a couple of times and loved it! Should def try and and go to the next Wine Festival as it looks really fun :D / Virginia
ReplyDeleteYes you should! Every August...like clockwork! :)
DeleteLove the pictures! SO much fun, I want to go, ha!
ReplyDeletethis sounds like a blast. hurray for wine! ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, it looks like such a great festival! And it sounds so good that there are so many wines to taste and enjoy - just like those giant pretzels :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll try to take a look next year!
Wine tasting party German style, what could be better? a little jealous over here =]
ReplyDeleteA Golden State of Mind
I would die to go to a 10 day wine festival. Or any wine festival, really. This is going to be a long nine months with no wine for me, ugh. It's a bit easier in Tanzania because the wine sucks, but it looks like I'll be headed to Germany for my appointments.
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing! I would totally go to this! Also, I freaking love the pretzel!
ReplyDeleteThis is so so so cool... pretzels are seriously one of my favorite foods and those giant ones are looking like heaven right now :) Og course the wine isn't so bad either ;)
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Jenna
As much as I love your travel posts, I really love when you post things like this: a beautiful example of what life is like in Germany, and some details on how you guys are spending your time and enjoying your experience. Love it! I would LOVE to go to this wine festival... how incredible!
ReplyDeleteI have to say, that wine festival looks pretty epic! I might have to organise to be over in Germany in time for it next year! (Also, that pretzel is making me hungry!)
ReplyDeleteWhat brilliant fun! Makes me want to revisit Germany. : )
ReplyDeleteLouisa @ My Family and Abruzzo
I think that I might make the trip to Germany solely to attend this festival. Oh and say hi to you! ;)
ReplyDeleteThis looks and sounds amazing and that pretzel is HUGE!
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Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
How awesome! I so want that pretzel right now!!
ReplyDeleteForget the pretzel, I think I just fell in love with that cheese plate...
ReplyDeleteThat is one big ass pretzel................the photos makes some of us a bit jealous and by some of us I mean..............me..........
ReplyDeleteso fun!! wine tasting is my jam.. in any country
ReplyDeleteI have the same pretzel photo from when we went to Munich. Cute. :)
ReplyDeleteThis wine festival look ah-mazing!!
That Bretzel is the biggest I've ever seen! <3 (And it's a lovely photo of you!) Looks like so much fun :)
ReplyDeletenow that sounds like my kind of festival! i hate the usual crowds and lines at things like that so the fact that you can relax and actually ENJOY yourself, makes it worth it. plus, how can you turn down that pretzel?!
ReplyDeleteOh I need to go to this!!!! Riesling and ginormous pretzels = love!
ReplyDeleteOh I need to go to this!!!! Riesling and ginormous pretzels = love!
ReplyDeleteOh I need to go to this!!!! Riesling and ginormous pretzels = love!
ReplyDeleteDid someone say wine?! I'm a tad ashamed to say that I got ridiculously excited about this post when I saw the title and it's only 9am #wino
ReplyDeleteAnd then if the wine wasn't enough, that pretzel!!! I need that pretzel in my life.
My mom and I had been thinking about a trip to Germany for Oktoberfest (however, neither of us are beer drinkers...just for the experience) so this festival sounds WAY more up our ally! I love Riesling so you instantly sold me! And, that pretzel...HOLY MOLY! Ha!
ReplyDeleteAdding this to my list!
beautiful beautiful photos!
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