Best vineyard views

The view from the plateau of the 11th century Saffenburg castle ruin, perched above the picturesque wine village of Mayschoß, is spectacular. This is the oldest castle ruin in the Ahr Valley. From here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the wildly romantic Ahr River with its steep terraces and the surrounding towns.

The Texas Pass offers sweeping views of the forests and vineyards stretched across the Kaiserstuhl, 'Emperor's Chair'. It is situated on the road that winds through the Kaiserstuhl between Kiechlinsbergen and Oberbergen.

The terroir f site in Stetten shows how wine has shaped the cultural landscape of Silvaner’s homeland since 1659 and what importance the Main river has for winegrowing in the Franken region. From the viewing platform high above the dry grasslands, the magnificent view extends far into the glittering valley of the Main, a sea of grape vines all the way to Würzburg and the Spessart.

Looking south from the Herrnberg vineyard in Umstadt, over the Wächtersbach valley to Veste Otzberg rising in the background, brings a sense of calm. The winegrower Karl Petermann appreciated this smooth transition from the foothills of the Odenwald into the hill country of Reinheim, a view that invites you to linger and rest. And so this vineyard view bears the name: Petermanns Ruh (Rest).

The Kleine Kalmit (Little Kalmit) is a 270 m high elevation on the edge of the Palatinate Forest. The view from here is one of the most beautiful in the Pfalz. It is a geological relic from the Tertiary Period, when a sea advance deposited a layer of sediment made of shells and corals. The so-called shell limestone not only shapes the landscape today, but also the top wines growing on it.

One of the most beautiful vantage points along the Rhine is the view from the small rest area below the Nollig ruins. If you are feeling adventurous, you can climb up a rocky spur from the Wisper Bridge in Lorch in just under 30 minutes. The steepest part is secured with steel cables. There is also an alternative, easier route. The seating area is located directly on the Rheinsteig, the premium hiking route from Wiesbaden to Bonn.

The view from Ruhkreuz Zornheim lies at the starting point of the Zornheimer Berg Hiwweltour. This certified hiking trail follows a round circuit through orchards and vineyards, climaxing with a panorama extending over the rolling hills of Rheinhessen to the Odenwald, Taunus, Frankfurt skyline and Donnersberg.

From the Nürer Kopf, high above the town of Leutesdorf, you can enjoy sweeping views over the Romantic Rhine towards Neuwied. There is even a big wooden swing for you to sit back and take it all in.

This full day’s hike, almost 17 km long, through steep slope vineyards, forests and a nature reserve, winds through both the current and the original Mosel valley, where the river used to flow north of Lieser. Along the way, the circular route crosses sections of the ‘ObstArtWeg’ near Wehlen, where sculptures and objects provide information about the flora and fauna.

The stele site for Nahe’s Best Vineyard View 2020 lies just below the Kertzer woodlands, right next to the Niederhausen Wine Trail. With its two recliners, it offers an ideal resting point with an impressive view of the vineyards around Niederhausen and on the Lemberg.

It takes around 5.5 hours to walk around the scenic Geiseltalsee, Germany's largest man-made lake. The 26 km circular trail offers many beautiful viewpoints, including three 14 m high observation towers that provide a unique panoramic view of the lake and the neighbouring towns.

Standing in the middle of the Seusslitzer Schloss vineyards, directly at the site of the Lehmann winery, you can enjoy an impressive view over the Elbe to Nossen. The route to the viewing seat is as winding as the river, as you twist and turn through vines, parks, forests and stairways.

The Michaelsberg, also known as the "Guardian of the Zabergäu" (‘magical region’), is located next to the wine town of Cleebronn on the Württemberg Wine Route. The conical mountain, rising 394m high, offers a fantastic panoramic view to the Königstuhl and Katzenbuckel in the Odenwald, the Löwenstein mountains and the Swabian Alb.

The Sondersberg Viewpoint, which rises above the wine-growing village of Dernau, offers spectacular views of the Ahr Valley. Dernau’s oldest wine estate, the Schlosshof, had the viewing platform built on the Sondersberg, in the middle of the Schieferlay location.

The point where the Black Forest meets the Rhine Valley is also the place where the Rebland wine region sprawls around the town of Kappelrodeck, and where the Dasenstein soars up: Centuries ago, a beautiful damsel, the daughter of Rodeck Castle’s owner, fell in love with a poor farmer’s son.

The Terroir f lookout point at Iphofen’s Schwanberg was named the Best Vineyard View in Franken for 2016 by Wines of Germany. In addition to its spectacular view, Terroir f at Iphofen’s famous Julius-Echter-Berg vineyard also offers interesting insights into the world of wine – from the Franconian wine region to distant wine-growing regions, including those in North America or South Africa.

A map at the “Gute Zeit, böse Zeit” fountain in Heppenheim provides information on all the vineyards in the Hessische Bergstraße region, particularly the Heppenheimer Eckweg vineyard, which forms part of the larger Heppenheimer Schlossberg estate. The Eckweg was officially documented as early as the year 1200.

On the outskirts of Wachenheim, the Best Vineyard View in the Palatinate Region for 2016 provides vistas over the ruins of the Wachtenburg – the symbol of the historic wine-growing city on the German Wine Route. The oldest sections of the castle date back to the 12th century, and its rectangular keep served as a residence and defence structure.

Perched high above the wine village of Kiedrich, the distinctive keep of the Scharfenstein Castle ruins towers over the grapevines. A hiking trail leads from the town through the Kiedrich brook valley and up to the ruins.

The Hiwweltour Heideblick certified quality hiking trail takes you from Siefersheim to the Winzeralm vineyard, where you can sit on traditional wooden benches and large loungers and enjoy not only the Best Vineyard View in the Rheinhessen Region for 2016, but also wines, grape juice, and snacks from Siefersheim’s Weingut Zimmermann winery.