Alken Wine and Winery Courtyard Festival

Alken is a picturesque Moselle village on the right bank of the Moselle between Koblenz and Cochem. Thurant Castle, one of the largest and best-preserved castles on the Lower Moselle, towers above the village and has shaped its appearance since the Middle Ages. The steep slopes around Alken produce Rieslings of considerable minerality – the 'Alkener Bleidenberg' vineyard in particular has made a name for itself.

The Wine and Winery Courtyard Festival, held on the third weekend in August, is the most important social event of the year in the village. Unlike most Moselle wine festivals, it deliberately focuses on a decentralized concept: Alken's winemakers open their own courtyards and cellars, presenting their wines in a familiar setting and enabling direct conversations about vineyards, vines, vintages, and styles.

This form of event has gained significant popularity on the Moselle in recent years. Guests appreciate the personal encounters with the wine-producing families, the opportunity to taste in the original cellars and vinotheques, and the calm, wine-typical atmosphere. With a festival glass and a map in hand, visitors wander from courtyard to courtyard – the courtyards are distributed within walking distance in the village center, making the tour easily accessible on foot.

Culinary offerings at the courtyards include winemaker's snacks, tarte flambée, Eifel cheese, and Moselle specialties. Acoustic music groups at several stations provide a pleasant accompaniment without disrupting the intimate character of the event. The festival atmosphere matches the high standards of viticulture: no large stages, no loud amplification, but wine, conversations, and enjoyable lingering in the courtyards.