Wein am Simmersee

The Simmersee is a man-made reservoir in the city park of the Hunsrück district town — not a lake in the classic sense, but a park-like water area with lawns, a playground, a café, and walking paths. This very city park area is the setting for "Wein am Simmersee", a relaxed summer wine festival that consciously sets itself apart from the hectic market stall format of many other wine festivals.

The concept is "Picnic with Wine": Several regional vintners — primarily from Mittelrhein, Mosel, and Nahe — set up their stalls in the park, serving Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder, Rosé, and Sekt. Visitors come with their own picnic blankets, folding chairs, picnic baskets and make themselves comfortable on the lawns around the lake. There is no seating, no fixed places — this makes the atmosphere open and family-friendly.

Culinary offerings are complementary: food trucks or club stands offer hot meals (flammkuchen, bratwurst, fries), but the concept promotes the picnic character — many visitors bring their own snacks with cheese, bread, grapes, olives, and their favorite ham.

Musical accompaniment is provided by a small stage with live music — mostly acoustic acts, singer-songwriters, or jazz duos, whose sound subtly enhances the atmosphere without drowning out the picnic conversations. The festival begins in the late afternoon and continues into the evening. The setting sun over the lake, the lights around the park, and the hushed conversations of the picnic groups create a rare summer mood.

The organizers are the City of Simmern and the Simmern-Rheinböllen association, often with the support of Weingut Forster and other regional partners. Free admission — the city sees the festival as a gift to the community.