Moselfest Winningen – Germany's Oldest Wine Festival

Winningen is the largest wine-growing village on the Mosel and the southernmost wine-growing community of the Untermosel. On the steep slate slopes of the famous Uhlen, Röttgen, and Brückstück vineyards, some of Germany's most exciting wines thrive – mineral, precise, and highly regarded. The Moselfest Winningen, celebrated for centuries, is considered Germany's oldest wine festival and a central event of the wine year.

The 2026 edition runs from August 28 to September 6 – ten full days of festivities with a density and duration unmatched among German wine festivals. The entire town center, including the market square, St. Peter's parish church, the Mosel promenade, and the alleyways, becomes a festival mile. Wine stands from Winningen vintners, festival tents, stages for live music, culinary stalls, and a family program characterize the festival.

A special program item is the Historische Zinntafel, a festive event where the wine queens, the festival committee, and selected guests convene in a historic atmosphere – a custom that makes the centuries-old roots of the festival visible. The Ehrenbauer appointment is another traditional highlight, where deserving personalities are named "honorary vintners" – an award with an ironic wink and a deep connection to the village identity.

The grand finale is the spectacular fireworks display on Sunday, September 6, 2026. A pyrotechnic show will be launched over the Mosel and the vineyards, observed by thousands of visitors from the Mosel meadows and the opposite bank. Fireworks boat trips can be booked in advance.

Naturally, Winningen's wines are the centerpiece: Riesling on slate (often dry, with a distinct acidity and mineral profile), Spätburgunder from Germany's oldest Riesling sites, and other varieties. The wineries in the village – including internationally renowned names like Heymann-Löwenstein and Reinhard Knebel – serve their wines at the festival stands and shape the gastronomic profile.

Anyone visiting the Moselfest should be prepared for a long stay: accommodations in Winningen and the surrounding area are booked up long in advance during the festival period – early booking in spring is essential. Those arriving from Koblenz (8 km) can take the train (Winningen station) or cycle along the Mosel Cycle Path.