Oberkirch Wine Festival 2026

Four Days of Renchtal Wine Culture

Oberkirch is located in the picturesque Renchtal valley, one of the most important wine-growing regions of the Ortenau at the edge of the Black Forest. The traditional wine town celebrates its grand wine festival annually on the first weekend of September – in 2026, this means from Friday, September 4th to Monday, September 7th. The venue is the festival grounds at the Renchtalstadion on Raiffeisenstraße, which will become the meeting point for Renchtal wine culture for four days.

Opening with the Wine Princess

The ceremonial opening will be performed by the Oberkirch Wine Princess on Friday evening, September 4th, 2026, starting at 5:00 PM. She will tap the first barrel and hand over the festival to the citizens of Oberkirch with the traditional saying. The Wine Princess is elected annually from the wine-growing families of the Renchtal and represents the region throughout the year at events across Baden-Württemberg. The first evening will feature a live band; the stands of the Oberkirch Wine Cooperative and individual wineries will be open from 5:00 PM.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday — Festival Operations

On Saturday, September 5th, the festival activities begin at 2:30 PM and continue late into the night. On Sunday, September 6th, the traditional morning pint (Frühschoppen) with brass music and lunch will start at 11:00 AM – many families from the Renchtal gather here. Monday, September 7th, starting at 11:30 AM, is traditionally the quieter closing day, often referred to as the "Kehraus-Tag" (farewell day). Live bands alternate daily, with the program being a mix of regional folk music, Schlager, and cover pop.

Wines of the Renchtal and Ortenau

The focus is on the wines from the Renchtal vineyards: Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) as the leading grape variety of the Ortenau, along with Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc (Weißburgunder), Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder), and Gutedel. The Oberkirch Wine Cooperative – one of the largest cooperatives in Baden – will be present with its large stand, along with the region's private vintners. A special feature: the Oberkirch Renchtal mulled wine (Glühwein) specialty, made from their own production, which is also served on cool autumn evenings. Sparkling wine specialties from the Schloss Staufenberg sparkling wine cellar complete the range.

Culinary Offerings

The culinary offerings are dominated by Baden and Swabian classics: Maultaschen, Käsespätzle, Schäufele, grilled bratwurst, game from the Black Forest, regional cheese, and Flammkuchen from nearby Alsace. The Ortenau patisserie will be represented with Black Forest gateau (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte), Linzer Torte, and apple strudel. Several food trucks will offer international specialties – from grilled spare ribs and currywurst to vegetarian wraps. Sponsors of the festival include Sparkasse Offenburg-Ortenau and several regional media partners.