Wein am Stein

Festival in Germany's Largest Contiguous Vineyard

The Stein is Würzburg's most famous vineyard site and, at 85 hectares with slopes ranging from 30 to 65 percent, it is Germany's largest contiguous vineyard. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe himself called Steinwein his favorite vintage. Against this backdrop, the Wein am Stein festival takes place annually for two weeks in mid-July – an open-air event amidst the vines, with views over Würzburg, Marienberg Fortress, and the Main valley.

Fourteen Evenings, 42 Concerts

The festival is organized by Weingut am Stein of the Knoll family. Over two weeks, approximately 42 live acts – about three concerts per evening – are spread across two stages in the middle of the vineyard. The program ranges from pop and rock to reggae, soul, jazz, and electronic music:

• Shantel (July 10) – Balkan pop star
• Oliver Koletzki – electronic music
• David Puentez – DJ and producer
• Jamaram (July 23) – Munich-based reggae ensemble
• Mark Tamonea – Soul/Funk
• Falschgeld – Franconian dialect rap star

Wine and Culinary Delights

During the concerts, Weingut am Stein serves its Steinberg wines directly: Silvaner from the Stein (the king of Franconian grape varieties), Rieslings, Burgundies, red wines, and sparkling wines. The festival concept is explicitly gastronomic: an open-air restaurant with upscale Franconian cuisine, wine table reservations, optional wine table packages for 6 people ranging from €215 to €625. "Best of Festival" packages combine wines, food, and concert tickets.

The Location – Würzburg Wine Myth

The Steinberg is part of the Franconian wine landscape, the only German wine region where grapes grow almost exclusively on shell limestone. The vines benefit from the heat-retaining properties of the light-colored limestone and one of the highest sunshine durations in Germany. In the midst of the festival, guests at the tables have a direct view of Würzburg, Marienberg Fortress, and the Main valley – a panorama that regularly elicits enthusiastic comments even from French wine fans.

Würzburg – Capital of Franconian Wine

Würzburg is located in Unterfranken, Bavaria, on the Main river and is home to three world-class wineries (Juliusspital, Bürgerspital, Staatlicher Hofkeller). The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site (Würzburg Residence) and the economic and cultural center of Franconian wine. Wein am Stein is one of the three major Würzburg summer events, alongside Hafensommer and the Africa Festival.

Getting There and Reservations

The best way to get there is on foot or by shuttle from the city center. Recommended arrival time: 5–6 PM on weekdays, 3–4 PM on weekends – the festival often sells out weeks in advance. Reservations should be made several weeks ahead via the official website wein-am-stein.de.