12th Weinbergfest Seitenroda

Seitenroda — A Village with a Wine View

Seitenroda is a district in the Saale-Holzland district, not far from the Leuchtenburg near Kahla in the southern Saale valley. The vineyards above the Saale valley are part of Germany's northernmost wine-growing region, Saale-Unstrut — even though the main cultivation is concentrated in the area between Naumburg and Freyburg, the slopes near Seitenroda belong to Thuringia's historical viticultural tradition. The annual Weinbergfest honors this tradition with a village-run summer festival.

A Festival in the Vineyards

Unlike most wine festivals, the Seitenroda festival does not take place in a closed marquee but directly in the vineyards above the village. Wooden pavilions and simple stalls are set up between the rows of vines, and long wooden tables and benches invite visitors to linger. The view over the Saale valley — the course of the Saale river, the Leuchtenburg in the distance, the forests of the Thuringian Slate Mountains on the horizon — lends the festival its special atmosphere.

Regional Wine Enjoyment and Specialties

The focus is on Thuringian wines — Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, Dornfelder — and occasionally Federweißer (new wine) during early harvests. The organizers serve regional specialties: Onion cake from a wood-fired oven, Flammkuchen with bacon and sour cream, Thuringian bratwurst and dumplings with roulades. A coffee table with homemade cake is set up in the afternoon.

Music and Atmosphere

A small live band or an acoustic trio provides musical accompaniment — mostly in a folk and Schlager-oriented style that matches the village-run character of the festival. As dusk falls, fairy lights are strung up, and the festival gathering gathers around the bonfires.

Hiking and Wine Combine

The Saale valley near Seitenroda and Kahla is one of Thuringia's most beautiful hiking areas. The Leuchtenburg — the "Queen of the Saale Valley" with the famous "Skywalk" steep view and the spectacular porcelain world — is just a few kilometers away. Visitors to the Weinbergfest can combine the day with a hike from the Leuchtenburg across the Saale slopes to Seitenroda — wine as a reward after the climb.