Terroir? Terroir! – Riesling Loops

Today another “Riesling loop” was tackled. The path to the Scharfenstein castle ruins is now passable again, as it was blocked for a while by uprooted trees. Basically, this round is quite undemanding. However, with the current snowfall, the narrow path to the castle ruins is not always easy to see in some places and is not secured. Still a nice little snow tour.

Today I hiked my first 2 of the 14 Rheingau Riesling loops. The “all-rounder Riesling” and “Terroir!Terroir?” The relatively new routes (June 2023) of the Riesling loops are between 4 and 8 km long, too short for our weekend tours, but ideal for doing alone during the week. First I went to Martinsthal on the all-rounder circuit and then by car to Kiedrich and added the short 4 km lap. The sun came through and everything looked really beautiful - a nice walk through vineyards and a bit of forest on farm or forest roads. I already knew a large part of it from other hikes. The tours are excellently signposted, I didn't need my sat nav. Since I will also be doing the other loops, I have already created a collection - exceptionally also with the planned tours, so I have a better overview and you can also browse and look at the map. If anyone would like to go along, just write a comment under the respective tour. https://www.komoot.de/collection/2437723/-rieslingschleifen official description: https://www.outdooractive.com/de/route/hike/wiesbaden-rheingau/riesling-schleife-terroir-terroir-/802146801/#dmdtab=oax-tab1 Scenic circular hiking trail From the starting point you stroll through the streets of Kiedrich to the pretty market square. Here it is worth taking a look at the churchyard with the Gothic St. Valentinus Church and Michael's Chapel. The path leads through meadows along the gently gurgling Kiedrichbach. A steep path takes you up to Scharfenstein Castle along the slate cliffs that are typical here. Panoramic views over the wide vineyard slopes and an inviting picnic area are worth the effort. The path leads past the marriage vineyard. Since its creation in 1975, many vines have been planted because of love. The air and climate change in the most pleasant way when you walk along the edge of the forest. At the end you can taste the unique terroir and Rheingau origins at the wine tasting stand in the valley

We did this short loop today after the Riesling loop "Rhine and Vines" in Walluf. So we have now completed half of the 14 Riesling loops. We only found the starting board at the end of the tour; it is in front of the Kiedrich community center behind the parking lot on Sonnenlandstrasse. This Riesling loop also had beautiful views again. In order to get to the viewing platform of the Scharfenstein castle ruins, we would have had to apply to the municipality of Kiedrich (https://www.kiedrich.de/freizeit-tourismus/kultur-veranstaltungen/burgruine-scharfenstein/). Maybe we'll catch up on that at some point when we get the chance. You can find all of our Rieslingschleifen so far in our collection https://www.komoot.de/collection/2313638/-rieslingschleifen There is also a link to a website with all the Riesling loops, which are also described there.

Small but fine Riesling loop that promises a lot of variety. Terroir stands for the entire natural environment in which the wine is made here at Kiedricher Gräfenberg. This ambience includes elements such as soils, climate and topography. The Basilica Minor St.Valentinus is particularly worth seeing. A work of art for all the senses in the Gothic style. Another cross, the bone cross from the exhibition “LICHTreich”, can currently be seen here. Through vineyards and forest stretches we pass the Scharfenstein castle ruins. The jackdaws that live here give the castle tower a special touch. A steep descent leads back into the streets of Kiedrich. 🤩 I spent a short rain shower at ☕️ and 🍰. Afterwards I was able to tackle another Riesling loop, the 10th of a total of 14 for me. 😊

Before I'm back to running for others tomorrow, a quick Riesling loop today! Winter is supposed to come, at least according to the German Weather Service (DWD), and they're never wrong! So, one last run today before two days off are over and the madness beckons tomorrow. Highly recommended and easy to plan at short notice, because you always need an hour for nature and yourself! On to the next loop!

I went on the nice, not too long tour today. Had damn nice weather. I can only recommend the trail... Have fun hiking.

We actually just wanted to try out a café and stretch our legs. But since the whole place was strangely packed with people, it aroused our curiosity as to what was going on there...so immediately afterwards we went for a little walk around one of the (many) most beautiful places in the Rheingau on the not entirely serious Kiedricher Weinsteig...more of a drinking and stamping tour with few kilometers and a high density of fermented grape juice. Since I still had to drive, I only tried the non-alcoholic wine...no, not my thing yet, except for a sparkling wine, which was delicious. Highlights as always: the churchyard and church (it was open), Robert Weil winery, Scharfenstein and the really nice and delicious Café Ginkgogarten.