Perl Wine and Cellar Festival

The southernmost wine of Saarland

Perl is the only wine-growing municipality in Saarland—and with three grape varieties in the districts of Perl, Oberperl, and Sehndorf. Here, on the Moselle and within sight of Luxembourg and France, vines thrive in partly vertical steep slopes above the river. The Wine and Cellar Festival is the annual stage for this small but very proud winegrowing community in the Merzig-Wadern district.

Open Cellars, Open Courtyards

The concept is simple and unique: For four days on the last weekend of October, the wineries and private cellars open their doors. You wander from courtyard to courtyard, tasting your way through the vinological repertoire of Perl's winegrowers, enjoying Riesling-sauerkraut, Saumagen, Flammkuchen, or wild goulash in between, and then arriving at the next courtyard for Crémant and a cheese platter. Each cellar offers a different drop, and each vintner has their own story.

Elbling, Riesling, and Co.

The wines of Perl reflect the geological richness of the Upper Moselle: The typical Elbling—an ancient variety cultivated almost exclusively here and in neighboring Luxembourg—grows on shell limestone soils, along with Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and in the better locations, Riesling. Sparkling wine made by traditional bottle fermentation is also part of the repertoire. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a cool Elbling from Perl in the autumn sunlight over the Moselle understands why this festival has attracted crowds for over four decades.

More than just wine

The festival is accompanied by a cultural supporting program: exhibitions, concerts (folk, classical, Schlager, often also choral music), small art events in the wine cellars. The taverns are heated, and the atmosphere becomes cozier as the evening progresses—especially in the Champus-Scheune in Sehndorf, considered the convivial hub.

Saarland's Tri-border Area

Visitors to the festival should combine their visit with a walk to the tri-border viewpoint or in the garden of the Roman Villa Borg. Perl is one of the few corners of Saarland that is culinarily and scenically oriented more towards France and Luxembourg than towards the Saar river—and it is precisely this location that makes the festival so atmospheric.