If you’ve ever dreamt of wandering through charming historical towns, sipping world-class wines, and dancing to lively music with a glass in hand, then Germany’s wine festivals are calling your name.
From the largest wine festival in Germany to cozy village celebrations, these outdoor parties are filled with wines just screaming sip me baby one more time.
Ready to uncork your curiosity? ‘Cause we’re about to spill all the insider knowledge about wine festivals in Germany, including our nine utmost favorites to visit in 2025.
Wine festivals in Germany 101: What you need to know before you go
We de-can’t even imagine a trip to German wine country without visiting a festival or two, and you’re about to find out why! Before we tell you all about our favorite ones, let’s go through some basics about wine festivals in Germany. 👇
What can I expect from wine festivals in Germany?
Picture cobblestone streets filled with laughter, parades complete with traditional costumes, and wine stalls everywhere the eye can see.
Now add some fireworks, regional wine queens, music, and local delicacies, and you’ve got yourself a good ol’ fashioned German wine festival!
During the day, you’ll see families with kids in tow (yep, these festivals are kid-friendly!), and then at night, kids trickle away, and a more boisterous party begins. 💃
You can come across these public wine celebrations anywhere from May to October, but the season peaks in August and September. And while these festivals range from quieter one-day affairs to weeks-long celebrations with amusement parks and concerts, there’s one thing that ties them all together: truly exceptional German wine.
🥂 Insider sip tip: Before you visit any wine festivals in Germany, we recommend popping by an ATM. You’ll most likely encounter quite a few stalls that are cash-only!
Where can I find wine festivals in Germany?
You can find wine festivals in all 13 of the German wine regions. There are over 1,000 held every year, so you can really take your pick.
⭐ If you need guidance on which wine festivals and sippenings to choose, stop by our events page and see what tickles your fancy! ⭐
How can I book wine festivals in Germany?
In most cases, you don’t need to book the festival itself! However, some festivals offer special events, tastings, or guided tours that require tickets or reservations.
Once you’ve gone through our list and selected the festivals you want to visit, we recommend checking out the festival’s website for any advance booking options or exclusive experiences.
Want to connect with other wine lovers? Maybe find a new festival-hopping buddy?
Join our Sipper’s Club—where we connect you to people, bottles, and boutique wineries that we guarantee you’ll love. Psst…we’ll also deliver wine straight to your door every month. 🥳
Top 9 Wine Festivals in Germany 2025
| What? | Where? | When? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt Raise a glass at the largest wine festival in Germany, where both sausages and Riesling reign supreme. | Bad Dürkheim | September 12 – 16 & 19 – 22 |
| 2. Stuttgarter Weindorf Discover Stuttgart’s charming wine village brimming with local wines, folky decor, and traditional Besens. | Stuttgart | August 21 – September 6 |
| 3. Mainzer Weinmarkt Sip rosé next to roses in Mainz’s lush city park and garden while enjoying art, live music, and rides. | Mainz | August 28 – 31 & September 4 – 7 |
| 4. Rheingau Weinmarkt Try 600 red, white, and sparkling wines from the Rheingau in the very heart of Frankfurt’s bustling city center. | Frankfurt | August 8 – 17 |
| 5. Weinfest der Mittelmosel Visit the picture-perfect town of Bernkastel Kues to traverse the wine road, featuring over 300 wines to sample. | Bernkastel Kues | September 4 – 8 |
| 6. Ingelheimer Rotweinfest Visit the grounds of a medieval castle and church to try the latest and best vintages from Germany’s red wine capital. | Ingelheim | September 27 – October 5 |
| 7. Rheingauer Weinwoche Enjoy 10 days of wine bliss in Wiesbanden’s stunning Schlossplatz with 1,000+ local wines and live music galore. | Wiesbaden | August 8 – 17 |
| 8. Deutsches Weinlesefest Join the jubilant harvest festival in Neustadt with parades, a wine queen coronation, and lively Haiselscher taverns. | Neustadt | September 26 – October 13 |
| 9. Rhein in Flammen Marvel at how the Rhine transforms into a sparkly sea of lights, complete with fireworks, illuminated boats, and flowing local wines. | Bonn Bingen/Rüdesheim Koblenz Oberwesel St. Goar | May 3 July 5 August 9 September 13 September 20 |
1. Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt
🗓️ 2025 dates: September 12 – 16 & 19 – 22
There’s no better way to start this list than with the Oktoberfest of wine festivals in Germany: Wurstmarkt. Don’t be fooled by the name (which directly translates to Sausage Market, btw), as this is actually the largest wine festival in Germany!
Over 600 years old, the Wurkstmarkt attracts around 600,000 people every September. It’s held in the spa town of Bad Dürkheim, right at the heart of the Pfalz wine region, Germany’s second-largest wine-growing hotspot!
Once here, you’ll find rows and rows of wine stands, a few big wine halls, and tents with live music and dances. And when evening hits, you can take a gander at the firework display and take a ride on the snazzy Ferris wheel.
Despite the fact that it’s literally a sausage fest (and a “Bad” one at that 😉), the Wurstmarkt is definitely worth a visit.
Top 3 wines to pour & explore:
- Riesling
- Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
- Dornfelder
🥂 Insider sip tip: Don’t leave town without checking out the largest wine barrel in the world—the Dürkheimer Riesenfass, which holds over 40 million gallons of wine.
🍾 Wine in the area: Stop by Vier Jahreszeiten for a Pfalz wine tasting or guided cellar tour! Whichever experience you choose, you’ll get to try six awarded wines while learning all about the local viticulture.
2. Stuttgarter Weindorf (Stuttgart Wine Village)
🗓️ 2025 dates: August 21 – September 6
Watch as the Stuttgarter Weindorf transforms the city center into a charming wine village to celebrate the history and tradition of the Württemberg wine region.
Take in the folky decor, complete with wooden huts decorated with grape wines and tables adorned with classic red checkered tablecloths. This wine festival is known for its warm, inviting atmosphere, where locals and tourists alike gather to enjoy good wine, food, and company.
Many small, local winemakers even open their homes to serve their own wines alongside simple, homemade food. These are called “Besens” (meaning brooms) and are often marked by a broom hanging outside!
If you have kids 👉 visit on one of the two Sundays, when you’ll find the most kid-friendly activities, such as face painting and parades!
If you love food 👉 you have to try the maultaschen (dumplings) and käsespätzle (homemade noodles with fried cheese).
Top 3 wines to pour & explore:
- Trollinger
- Lemberger
- Schwarzriesling
🥂 Insider sip tip: Apparently there’s a grape-stomping event with local politicians at this wine festival. Germany, that’s a bit odd, but you do you.
3. Mainzer Weinmarkt (Mainz Wine Market)
🗓️ 2025 dates: August 28 – 31 & September 4 – 7
Mainz is filled with the viner things in life: picturesque half-timbered houses, historic cobbled streets, and a stunning city park complete with a rose garden.
The latter just so happens to be home to the annual Mainz Wine Market, known in Germany as Mainzer Weinmarkt!
Head on into Mainz’s Stadtpark to sip vintages straight from the heart of the Rheinhessen wine region. While you sip rosé next to roses, you can explore the arts and crafts stalls, live music, and fun rides.
Top 3 wines to pour & explore:
- Silvaner
- Riesling
- Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
🥂 Insider sip tip: While in Mainz, don’t forget to try the classic weck, worscht un woi, a.k.a. roll, sausage, and wine!
4. Rheingau Weinmarkt (Rheingau Wine Market)
🗓️ 2025 dates: August 8 – 17
Sick of all the charming German wine villages yet? As if! Either way, we’re ditching the towns for now and heading straight into the city for this wine festival. Welcome to Frankfurt—home of the Rheingau Weinmarkt!
The Rheingau Wine Market, also referred to as the Rheingau Wine Festival, is filled to the brim with a whopping 600 red, white, and sparkling wines to try from the Rheingau wine region.
Celebrated in the very heart of the city on the Freßgasse, Frankfurt’s popular pedestrian street with cafes and restaurants, the Rheingauer Weinmarkt is your chance to sip some of the best Rieslings in Germany.
Top 3 wines to pour & explore:
- Riesling
- Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
- Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc)
🥂 Insider sip tip: Be on the lookout for wine royalty! It’s rumored all the reigning wine queens from the Rheingau region flock to Frankfurt for this festival. 👑
5. Weinfest der Mittelmosel (Wine Festival of the Middle Mosel)
🗓️ 2025 dates: September 4 – 8
It’s time to visit the picture-perfect little town of Bernkastel Kues along the Mosel River, home to the Wine Festival of the Middle Mosel.
This classic Mosel, Germany wine festival has everything from an amusement park to locals dressed up in the traditional Mosel flowers and winemaker’s smocks. Each day holds something special: a wine queen coronation on Friday, fireworks on Saturday, and a traditional parade on Sunday.
Plus, best of all, there are over 300 wines to taste!
Top 3 wines to pour & explore:
- Riesling
- Elbling
- Eiswein
🥂 Insider sip tip: This festival features a wine road for visitors, where you’ll get to try 50 milliliters of some the best wines the Mosel wine region has to offer.
🍾 Wine in the area: Visit Deinhart Weine, a family-run, 100% organic winery known for its mineral-rich, premium wines. We highly recommend taking a guided tour of their captivating estate while sipping on a few of their prized vintages.
6. Ingelheimer Rotweinfest (Ingelheim Red Wine Festival)
🗓️ 2025 dates: September 27 – October 5
When the weather gets chillier, and a crisp fall breeze hits the air, you know it’s time to warm up with a velvety glass of red wine. The Ingelheim Red Wine Festival is the pour-fect place to do so!
Held in a pretty unique spot—the grounds surrounding a medieval castle and church—the Ingelheim, Germany wine festival is overflowing with the latest and best vintages from the country’s red wine capital.
Don’t miss the crowning of the Red Wine Queen, the live music, and, of course, the not-so-secret star of this festival: the elegant and complex Spätburgunder!
Top 3 wines to pour & explore:
- Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
- Frühburgunder (Pinot Noir Précoce)
- Dornfelder
🥂 Insider sip tip: In episode two of Politicians Meet Wine, the mayor of Ingelheim hosts a special wine-tasting event at the Rotweinfest. Known as the Burgundy wine tasting, the mayor showcases a few of the region’s finest red wines for you to sample.
7. Rheingauer Weinwoche (Rheingau Wine Week)
🗓️ 2025 dates: August 8 – 17
Want to visit the longest wine bar in the world? If so, you’ve got to stop by the Rheingau Wine Week to sip from over 100 wine stalls featuring 1,000 (yes, you read that right) different wines, including prized Rieslings and a smattering of reds and rosés!
This Wiesbaden, Germany wine festival is set up along the historic streets and squares of the city center, creating a vibrant atmosphere topped by live music and regional specialties.
While in town, pair your crisp Rheingau Riesling with some spundekäs—a creamy cheese spread made with quark, cream cheese, herbs, and onions. 😋
Top 3 wines to pour & explore:
- Riesling
- Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
- Botrytized Riesling
🥂 Insider sip tip: If you love pairing your wine with live music, this wine festival in Germany is where it’s at. Over 50 bands perform at Rheingauer Weinwoche each year, ranging from German folk music to contemporary.
🍾 Wine in the area: Mosey on over to Weingut Kaufmann, home of superb Rieslings and the Pinot trio: Blanc, Gris, and Noir! Sip back and relax as you try 7-9 of their top wines, alongside some local bread and cheese.
8. Deutsches Weinlesefest (German Wine Harvest Festival)
🗓️ 2025 dates: September 26 – October 13
Admire the beautiful fall foliage as you traverse the Deutsche Weinstraße, Germany’s oldest wine road, to visit the Deutsches Weinlesefest in Neustadt.
Visit the wine village set up for the occasion (known locally as Haiselscher), where you can enjoy snacks such as flammkuchen (akin to a thin-crust pizza) and saumagen (Pfalz sausage) to accompany the best new vintages of the season.
Besides the local wine galore, the Deutsches Weinlesefest is also known for its grand parade with elaborately decorated floats, marching bands, and traditional costumes.
Top 3 wines to pour & explore:
- Riesling
- Dornfelder
- Federweiße
🥂 Insider sip tip: Move on over, regional wine queens! This festival is where the German National Wine Queen is elected and crowned every year—a tradition dating back to 1931.
9. Rhein in Flammen (Rhine in Flames)
🗓️ 2025 dates: May 3, Bonn | July 5, Bingen/Rüdesheim | August 9, Koblenz | September 13, Oberwesel | September 20, St. Goar
We’ll end on a not-so-typical festival—instead of being held in one wine town, it’s held in five separate ones from May to September throughout the Mittelrhein wine region!
All five Rhine in Flames events have three very important things in common: the Rhine River, delicious wine, and spectacular fireworks (think New Year’s Eve meets Fourth of July 🎆).
Along the banks of the Rhine, you’ll see castles, fortresses, and ruins lit up in lights, making the river a shimmering sea of color. You’ll also find live music, wine markets, and local food stands.
Top 3 wines to pour & explore:
- Riesling
- Müller-Thurgau
- Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
🥂 Insider sip tip: Cruise the Rhine in an illuminated boat, sipping wine, trying regional specialties, and admiring the fireworks overhead.
🍾 Wine in the area: Heading over to Rhine in Flames in St. Goar? Don’t forget to stop by Weingut Philipps-Mühle to indulge in a wine tasting with a winemaker’s meal! Try seven organic, local white wines, accompanied by homemade sausage, ham, and cheese.
German wine festivals, you had us at Merlot ❤️
Whether you’re a seasoned wine connoisseur, or just love a good outdoor party with immaculate vibes, wine festivals in Germany are simply where it’s at.
Each festival brims with unique charm, exquisite wines, and uniquely German celebrations that will leave you with unforgettable memories, IG-worthy snaps, and perhaps a new favorite vintage (or three).
Whichever wine festival you choose to visit, we promise you one thing—you definitely won’t be Bordeaux. Prost to your next Really Grape adventure! 🥂
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