Freinsheim conducts annual red wine hike

by Petra Lessoing 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Courtesy photo Participants of the red wine hike in Freinsheim walk through the vineyards passing several food and beverage stations. The event takes place today, Saturday and Sunday.
Courtesy photo
Participants of the red wine hike in Freinsheim walk through the vineyards passing several food and beverage stations. The event takes place today, Saturday and Sunday.

The wine-growing community of Freinsheim will sponsor its first event highlight of 2016 in its vineyards: a red wine hike. The event, under the motto “Fresh air, culinary specialties and fine red wines,” will take place today through Sunday.

The red wine hike is a guided tour on the wine-hiking path leading from the town hall to a vineyard called “Musikantenbuckel.” Hikers can make stops at 15 food and beverage stations along the route.

Tonight at 6 p.m., a guided torch hike will lead interested participants from the Baroque town hall to the first food stand. Torch sales will start at 5:15 p.m. near the town hall and in a winery near the train station.

On Saturday and Sunday, guided tours will start at 11:30 a.m. at the historical town hall. Wine Princess Anne II and a local music group will welcome hikers.

The Freinsheim soccer club will sponsor its seventh annual 10-kilometer folks run starting at 9:30 a.m. Sunday from the club’s restaurant Harmonie on Dackenheimer Strasse 40, 67251 Freinsheim. The starting fee is €5 if registering in advance at www.br-timing.de. Registration will be possible until 30 minutes prior to the run for an additional €3.

On all three days of the event, local vintners will present various red wines such as Dornfelder, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Dorsa, Saint Laurent and Spaetburgunder in their wineries and at stands. To warm up, Gluehwein, which is a heated red wine spiced with cloves and cinnamon sticks, will also be served.

Visitors can taste a variety of food specialties, including: meat dumplings with horseradish sauce, potato soup, potato pancakes, dampfnudeln, cheese soup, rumpsteak with onions, deer goulash with spaetzle, red wine onion soup, fresh oysters, lobster, scampi with spaghetti, spinach dumplings with cheese sauce, bratwurst, pea soup and game goulash. Desserts will include lukewarm chocolate cake with red wine plums, red wine cake and red wine muffins.

Food and beverage stands will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. today and 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

To get to Freinsheim by car, travel on A6 direction Mannheim, take the Gruenstadt exit, and follow the signs to Kirchheim, Dackenheim and Freinsheim. However, officials recommend commuting by train.

For more information, visit www.vrn.de.

Courtesy photo Hikers take breaks to taste local wines and regional food specialties during the red wine hike, which takes place today, Saturday and Sunday in Freinsheim.
Courtesy photo
Hikers take breaks to taste local wines and regional food specialties during the red wine hike, which takes place today, Saturday and Sunday in Freinsheim.