Weinschmaus am Katzenhaus

The Tri-border Area as Guest in the Vineyards

Perl is located on the Upper Moselle, in the far west of Saarland, where Germany, Luxembourg, and France meet. Here — and only here — is Saarlandic wine, grown on the steep slopes above the river. And here, at the Katzenhäuschen, a baroque pleasure pavilion in the middle of the vines, the Weinschmaus am Katzenhaus takes place annually.

The Historic Katzenhäuschen

The Katzenhäuschen was built in the 18th century by Christoph Bernhard von Nell — as a small pleasure pavilion for social gatherings with friends amidst his vineyard. Today, it is a symbol of Perl's wine culture — a secluded, idyllic building with a view of the tri-border area. The unusual name? An allusion to the numerous cats that were once kept in the cellars to control mice.

Young Vintners from Three Countries

The initiator of the event is Matthias Jacoby, a young vintner from the region, who designed the format as a cross-border meeting of young wine enthusiasts. Young vintners from Luxembourg, France, and Germany present their summer wines — Rieslings, Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Crémant, Rosé. Tastings are held directly with the vintners, in an atmosphere that is significantly more relaxed than at an official wine fair.

Evening Sun, Campfire, Live Music

The festival starts in the afternoon with tastings, extends into the evening sun — and ends around a campfire with live music. Young bands from the greater region, regional specialties (Lyoner, Mosel cheese, Flammkuchen, Lorraine quiche), and the view of the setting sun over the three countries make the Weinschmaus one of the most atmospheric wine festivals in the greater region.

Saarlandic Wine Summer

The Weinschmaus is part of the larger Saarlandic Wine Summer, an event series that showcases the Saarland wine region around Perl during the summer months. A reminder that Saarland means not only industrial culture and Faasend (Carnival), but also cultivates its own small, high-quality wine region.