Attention wine drinkers: This trail is for you.
Most of the wine- or vineyard-themed trails I have followed focus on seeing particular terroir or grape varieties, or learning about the vinicultural processes involved in making a regional wine. But one trail along the foothills of the Hessische Bergstrasse wine region though, seems to focus on enjoyment of the final product, that is to say, drinking the wines themselves. And given the name of the trail, the Winzer und Weinstuben Tour, (the Vintner and Wine Bar Tour), that is not surprising.
From the northern start in Zwingenberg, to its terminus a short 19 kilometers later in Heppenheim, this trail is designed for the consumption of local wine. Right at the trail’s official start in Zwingenberg stands the Rebenhof winery, on the appropriately named Riesling Street (Rieslingstrasse). With liberal open hours, and offering samples of several wines, it is easy to start the trail with the right attitude. But that is only one of three wineries on or very close to the trail in Zwingenberg alone. Additionally, there are several local restaurants in town serving regional wines. These are especially abundant in the pedestrian zone in the next town, Bensheim. The trail conveniently passes through it as it makes its way south. This is the largest town in the area, and accordingly, has a great selection of eateries. On a sunny day, inviting-looking outdoor seating, and plenty of it, makes it easy to stop to enjoy the food and wine of this region.
Beyond its name, a couple of features of this trail’s design made me realize that the Winzer und Weinstuben Tour really is designed for enjoyment of the local product. In addition to its short distance, it was virtually flat. No great distance to cover, no hills to surmount, no real exertion of any sort is required, which also makes it an ideal trail for people looking to get back into cycling. Additionally, being laid out along the north-south line of the foothills, along an axis also serviced by a regional train, makes it convenient for cyclists and their bicycles to return to the start point within just a few stops.
Perhaps even anticipating degraded navigational skills at this point, the trail from Bensheim to Heppenheim is a straight shot, along a nice cycle path through the countryside. On the right are farm fields, while to the left lie vineyards, covering the undulating slopes of the hills. Some of the region’s most well-known parcels tuck into those nooks and crannies offering the best exposure to the sun.
The trail ends in Heppenheim, passing the giant Bergstraesser Winzer winery, with its large selection of wine and comfortable wine bar, before continuing to its end point in Heppenheim’s pedestrian zone in the historic center of town. Here, in addition to well-maintained half-timbered houses fronting onto narrow alleyways or closed squares in that town, there are even more convivial restaurants and pubs to visit. If by this time you haven’t found a place to enjoy the local wines, then maybe this trail is not for you!
