1. Altenahr
The starting point of this hike is the picturesque Altenahr, a wine-growing town on the winding banks of the Ahr river. Use the opportunity to pick up some refreshments here for your hike – perhaps even a bottle of wine from the local winegrowers, as the hike starts off with a steep climb. High above the town sit the ruins of the medieval Are Castle, and from here the Red Wine Trail leads directly into the vineyards.
2. Altenahrer Eck
The Altenahrer Eck offers not only one of the most stunning views of the Ahr valley and the surrounding vineyards, but is a prime location along the Ahr in its own right as well. The steep and rocky terraced hillsides don’t make viniculture easy. But the grapes – in particular Spätburgunder – feel at home in the graywacke sandstone and weathered shale soils. Not only can you see it – you can taste it, too.
3. Mayschoß
The Red Wine Trail continues on to the idyllic wine-growing village of Mayschoß, a vintner’s island in a sea of grapes. The ruins of the 11th-century Saffenburg castle overlook the community. In the village, you’ll find romantic half-timbered houses as well as the Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoß-Altenahr – the oldest winegrowers’ association in the world. A tour of the historic wooden barrel wine cellars would make for an ideal stopover on your hike, as would a wine tasting.
4. Recher Herrenberg
A steep stairway leads from Mayschoß up to the Recher Herrenberg vineyard with an unobstructed view of the ruins of Saffenburg castle, whose residents once owned the vineyard. The Frühburgunder and Spätburgunder grape varieties in particular grow on these steep terraced hillsides with their soils of volcanic rock, shale, and graywacke sandstone. And because the bluff faces so wonderfully south, the grapes get plenty of sun to produce the red wines characteristic of the Ahr.
5. Dernau
Vineyards become a small mixed forest and then vineyards once more – until the Red Wine Trail leads finally to the wine-growing town of Dernau. The town’s wineries and wine taverns are inviting places to fortify yourself and to end the hike with a glass of wine from the surrounding hillsides. If you plan your trip for wine festival season, you can visit the Dernau Wine Festival, which always takes place the last weekend in September and features a winegrowers’ parade. Other wine festivals take place in the neighboring towns in September and October. In addition, Dernau and the surrounding area (from Altenahr to Marienthal) celebrate the Mittelahr spring wine season from April to May.
