Created in October 1935, the Weinstrasse celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2015. The 85-kilometer route was designed to connect the main wineries on the left bank of Germany's Rhine river.
World's oldest wine route —
Created in October 1935, the Weinstrasse celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2015. The 85-kilometer route was designed to connect the main wineries on the left bank of Germany's Rhine river.
John Malathronas
Neustadt is the wine metropolis of the Weinstrasse, full of half-timbered houses next to baroque buildings and a church divided into Protestant and Catholic halves.
Neustadt —
Neustadt is the wine metropolis of the Weinstrasse, full of half-timbered houses next to baroque buildings and a church divided into Protestant and Catholic halves.
John Malathronas
In September, the small town of Bad Durkheim holds an annual Oktoberfest event to celebrate local wines. It claims to be the biggest wine festival in the world, with 600,000 visitors every year.
Drinking music —
In September, the small town of Bad Durkheim holds an annual Oktoberfest event to celebrate local wines. It claims to be the biggest wine festival in the world, with 600,000 visitors every year.
John Malathronas
Despite the popularity of the festival and the wine trail within Germany, little is done to promote it internationally.
Street food —
Despite the popularity of the festival and the wine trail within Germany, little is done to promote it internationally.
John Malathronas
The reason for its lack of fame? The Weinstrasse is known as "a stroke of genius with a problematic provenance." There's a clue as to why hidden in Bad Durkheim's church, the Ludwigskirch.
Ludwigskirche —
The reason for its lack of fame? The Weinstrasse is known as "a stroke of genius with a problematic provenance." There's a clue as to why hidden in Bad Durkheim's church, the Ludwigskirch.
John Malathronas
Ludwigskirche features a mural of the Crucifixion. Look closely and one of the thieves crucified alongside Jesus bears a remarkable resemblance to Adolf Hitler. This was possibly an anti-Nazi statement made by the artist who created it. The Weinstrasse was the brainchild of prominent local Nazi Josef Burckel.
Hitler mural —
Ludwigskirche features a mural of the Crucifixion. Look closely and one of the thieves crucified alongside Jesus bears a remarkable resemblance to Adolf Hitler. This was possibly an anti-Nazi statement made by the artist who created it. The Weinstrasse was the brainchild of prominent local Nazi Josef Burckel.
John Malathronas
Burckel conceived the Weinstrasse as a way to promote German wine at a time when a wine surplus was drastically impacting prices. It worked. Today the route still winds through the same well-kept villages, such as Wachenheim.
Wachenheim village —
Burckel conceived the Weinstrasse as a way to promote German wine at a time when a wine surplus was drastically impacting prices. It worked. Today the route still winds through the same well-kept villages, such as Wachenheim.
John Malathronas
In the town of Schweigen, at the southern end of the Weinstrasse, Bruckel had a "Wine Gate" erected. The gate still bears graffiti from when U.S. forces occupied the area at the end of World War II.
The Wine Gate in Schweigen —
In the town of Schweigen, at the southern end of the Weinstrasse, Bruckel had a "Wine Gate" erected. The gate still bears graffiti from when U.S. forces occupied the area at the end of World War II.
John Malathronas
At 37, Andreas Grimm is one of a new, younger generation of wine makers in the region. His family own vineyards in Schweigen.
New wave —
At 37, Andreas Grimm is one of a new, younger generation of wine makers in the region. His family own vineyards in Schweigen.
John Malathronas
Hans-Christian Stolleis, 23, works at his family's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stolleis.com" target="_blank" target="_blank">vineyard</a>, which once produced wines by appointment to the Bavarian Court and now grows, among others, a rare Auxerrois -- a slightly sweeter version of Pinot Blanc.
Family business —
Hans-Christian Stolleis, 23, works at his family's vineyard, which once produced wines by appointment to the Bavarian Court and now grows, among others, a rare Auxerrois -- a slightly sweeter version of Pinot Blanc.
John Malathronas