Established in 1935, the German Wine Route meanders 85 kilometres through the vineyards and orchards of the Palatinate region. It begins at the German Wine Gate in Schweigen-Rechtenbach (near the French border) and ends in the town of Bockenheim an der Weinstraße.
Drive between the cellar doors, wine bars and outdoor arbours, where you can sample world-renowned Riesling produced in the Palatinate wine region. The German Wine Route is surrounded by hillsides blanketed in vineyards and groves where figs, kiwis and lemons are grown, with the blossoms in spring making this a particularly spectacular time to visit.
A highlight of exploring the German Wine Route is visiting the record-breaking Giant Wine Barrel, which overlooks the main square of Dürkheim. Rather than wine, it holds a wine bar and restaurant that can accommodate around 650 people during wine-tasting events and hosts the town’s annual Sausage Fair.
Getting there
Schweigen-Rechtenbach is just under two hours’ drive from the heart of Frankfurt and Frankfurt Airport while Bockenheim an der Weinstraße is a little over one hour from Frankfurt’s city centre. Having your own vehicle is the most convenient way of exploring the German Wine Route.