When I first moved to the Nahe wine region a year ago, I was blown away by the natural beauty, the excellent wines and the historical monuments to be found here. The Nahe, a wine region surrounding the Nahe River in southwestern Germany, is not one of the most internationally well-known wine regions in Germany but the beauty, accessibility and wide variety of wines makes this a place to watch. Due to its relative anonymity, the Nahe offers a great opportunity to experience local culture off the beaten path.
The Nahe is the second oldest wine region in Germany after the Mosel and includes the spa towns Bad Kreuznach, Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg and Bad Sobernheim as well as a number of smaller picturesque wine villages. The Nahe Wine Route, established just 30 years ago, winds through these towns and villages for 110 km.
There are excellent wineries to be found here at prices below the more well known regions such as the Mosel and Rheingau. Some of my favorite wineries include Genheimer Kiltz in Gutenberg and Johann Tulius in Bad Sobernheim. Try the Pinot Noir from Genheimer Kiltz. The 2007 vintage recently won the prestigious Gold Medal of the Mondial du Pinot Noir, an award that helps dispell the myth that Germany only produces world class white wines.
Besides wine, of course, there are lots of activities to do such as biking, hiking, spas, castles and ruins. Below are a couple of highlights:
Biking along the Nahe River
Spend a half day biking around the beautiful Nahe River region. You will see vineyards, stunning cliffs, forests, romantic towns and historical ruins. This 30km tour will take you past “Rotenfels”, the largest cliffs between Scandinavia and the Alps. Stop at Niederthaelerhof (between Schlossböckelheim and Oberhausen) for some food and some excellent wine from local vineyards. In Bad Münster am Stein, enjoy the medieval old town, the ruins of Rheingrafenstein, the Nahe River and spas. At a leisurely pace, expect to spend 5 hours for the tour. The tour is not difficult but there are two decent climbs.
Hiking on Rotenfels
Rotenfels, by Bad Münster am Stein and the Nahe River, is the highest cliff between Scandinavia and the Alps. It offers some spectacular views of the region, including some castles, the Nahe River, Bad Münster am Stein, and the surrounding vineyards. You can drive to the top and take a leisurely walk around the top of the cliffs.
Tour the ruins of Rheingrafenstein
Across the Nahe River facing Rotenfels lies Rheingrafenstein, castle ruins built on the face of the cliffs of a small mountain. Rheingrafenstein is reached by taking a ferry (actually, a small wooden raft) and then hiking up a forested trail for 20 minutes. The view is spectacular and the ruins themselves are a lot of fun to walk around in.
Relax in the spas of Bad Kreuznach
The spa town of Bad Kreuznach offers a variety of options to relax and unwind. The BÄDERHAUS has numerous saunas, steam baths, pools and relaxation areas along with a restaurant and rooftop terrace. Spend an hour in the nearby salt grotto, made with several tons of salt imported from the Dead Sea. The air you breath during just one hour in the salt grotto is the equivalent of spending 3 days oceanside. Finally, just sit on a bench next to one of the many saltworks in the Salinen Valley along the Nahe River, which help fight against sickness and afflictions such as rheumatism.
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This spring, a friend of mine is embarking on a medical trek through Nepal to help locals with heathcare. After recently reading the inspiring book, Three Cups of Tea by Glen Mortenson, I am especially inspired by this volunteer work and wish Andrew the best of luck. To offset travel and trip expenses for this volunteer project, medical volunteers such as Andrew need our support. Below is an excerpt about the medical trek from his Facebook Trip:
