Freinsheim offers red wine hike this weekend

by Petra Lessoing
435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs


The historical wine village of Freinsheim, located at the German wine street, sponsors its annual red wine hike today, Saturday and Sunday.

The red wine hike is a guided tour leading on the wine hiking path to a vineyard called “Musikantenbuckel.”

Today, it starts at 6 p.m. from the historical town hall as a torch hike. Torches are available near the town hall and at different stands throughout the village.

Two guided tours are also scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The first tour starts at 11 a.m. after a welcome speech by Wine Princess Carolin I and performances by local musicians.

The second tour begins at 12:30 p.m. and meets at the Baroque town hall from 1732.On all three days of the event, local vintners offer various red wines such as Dornfelder, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot and Spätburgunder in their wineries and at stands. To help warm up during the cold weather, Glühwein (heated red wine spiced with cloves and cinnamon sticks) will be offered.

Visitors can also taste a variety of food specialties such as potato soup, dampfnudeln, rumpsteak with onions, venison goulash with homemade dumplings, fresh oysters, cheese appetizers and red wine cake.

The stands are open 6 to 9 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Freinsheim has a medieval ring wall from the 15th century, which surrounds the old part of town with towers and gates. It is known as one of the nicest and most complete town fortification facilities in the Pfalz.

For visitors, it’s worth the trip to explore Freinsheim with a tour around the town wall, which takes about one hour.

To get to Freinsheim, travel on A6 direction Mannheim, take the Grünstadt exit and follow the signs to Kirchheim, Dackenheim and Freinsheim.