Vinum Riesling Festival Heilbronn

Vinum Riesling Festival Heilbronn — the Crème de la Crème of German Riesling

On Saturday, July 11, 2026, the renowned VINUM wine magazine will host the exclusive Riesling Festival 2026 in the historic Deutschhof in Heilbronn-Mitte. The focus is on the annual VINUM Riesling Champion — arguably the most important award for German Riesling wines. You can taste the top Rieslings of the vintage directly from the award-winning vintners and learn the stories behind each bottle.

The Wine Fair in the Deutschhof

From 1 PM to 6 PM, the wine fair will take place in the inner courtyard of the Deutschhof (Deutschhofstraße 6). Around 30 award-winning wineries from all German growing regions — Württemberg, Pfalz, Rheingau, Mosel, Nahe, Baden, Franken — will present their Riesling selection. The vintners will be present at their stands to answer questions about cultivation, vinification, harvest, and style. You can taste selected wines — dry, off-dry, noble sweet — and discover how differently Riesling can taste depending on the terroir.

Gala Dinner on the 10th Floor

For those who wish to deepen their experience, the exclusive gala dinner on the 10th floor of the Parkhotel Heilbronn, located right by the train station, offers spectacular panoramic views of the city, the vineyards, and the Neckar valley. The 5-course menu will be accompanied by selected top Rieslings, curated by the VINUM sommelier to complement each course. For €139 per person, you can enjoy a culinary evening that combines Riesling, Heilbronn's top gastronomy, and breathtaking views.

Heilbronn — Württemberg's Secret Wine Capital

With nearly 130,000 inhabitants, Heilbronn is one of Germany's largest wine cities and the gateway to the Württemberg wine region. The city itself boasts around 500 hectares of vineyards — a unique concentration in the heart of a major city. The Deutschhof is one of the most historic sites in the city center: a former seat of the Teutonic Order with Renaissance architecture, now home to the Heilbronn City Library and the Municipal Museums. The Riesling Festival has found an ideal setting here for years — architecture, courtyard, atmosphere.

Riesling 2026 — The Champion Vintage

The VINUM Riesling Champion 2026 is determined through a preliminary round: VINUM invites German vintners to submit their best Rieslings. A panel of experts, including sommeliers, oenologists, and journalists, conducts blind tastings and evaluations. The TOP 30 are invited to present at the festival, and the winner holds the title "Riesling Champion" for one year. At the Heilbronn festival, you have the rare opportunity to compare the complete TOP 30 side-by-side — something usually only accessible to trade tasters.