Perl Wine and Cellar Festival

The southernmost wine of Saarland

Perl is the only wine-growing municipality in Saarland—boasting three distinct wine-growing districts: Perl, Oberperl, and Sehndorf. Here, along the Moselle and within sight of Luxembourg and France, vines thrive on near-vertical slopes overlooking the river. The Wein- und Kellerfest serves as the annual stage for this small but incredibly proud community of vintners in the Merzig-Wadern district.

Open cellars, open courtyards

The concept is simple yet unique: over four days on the last weekend of October, wineries and private cellars throw open their doors. You wander from courtyard to courtyard, tasting your way through the vinological repertoire of Perl's winemakers, snacking on Riesling sauerkraut, Saumagen, tarte flambée, or venison goulash, before finding yourself in the next courtyard enjoying Crémant and a cheese platter. Every cellar offers a different vintage, and every winemaker has a story to tell.

Elbling, Riesling, and more

Perl's wines 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, alongside Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and, in the best locations, Riesling. Traditional bottle-fermented sparkling wine is also part of the repertoire. Anyone who has enjoyed a cool glass of Perl Elbling in the autumn sunlight above the Moselle understands why this festival has been drawing crowds for over four decades.

More than just wine

The festival is accompanied by a cultural program featuring exhibitions, concerts (folk, classical, Schlager, and often choral music), and small art installations within the wine cellars. The courtyards are heated, and the atmosphere becomes increasingly cozy as the hours pass—especially in the "Champus-Scheune" in Sehndorf, which serves as the social hub of the event.

The Saarland tri-border region

Visitors should combine the festival with a walk to the tri-border viewpoint or a visit to the gardens of the Roman Villa Borg. Perl is one of the few corners of Saarland that leans more toward France and Luxembourg than toward the Saar in terms of both landscape and culinary tradition—and it is precisely this location that gives the festival its unique atmosphere.