Esslingen Vineyards

The vineyards of Esslingen are an integral part of the town's landscape and economy. They terraced the south-facing slopes of the Neckar valley long before the town's half-timbered houses were built, and they remain in production today, climbing up the hillside from the river's edge to the walls of the ruined castle above.

The Winzerkeller Esslingen, the town's main wine cooperative, offers tastings and sells a range of local wines. The best time to see the vineyards is during the harvest in September and early October, when the Zwiebelkuchen (onion tart) and Federweißer (young fermenting wine) season begins — a combination unique to the region and celebrated at outdoor festivals throughout the autumn. A walk up through the vineyards to the Burg, with views expanding as you climb, is one of the best free things to do in Esslingen.

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Esslingen is one of the few German cities where vineyards grow right up to the edge of the historic centre, terracing the steep slopes directly below the castle walls. The local Weingärtner cooperative manages most of the urban vineyards and makes both still wines and Sekt from Riesling, Trollinger, and Schwarzriesling grapes. The Trollinger grape, nearly unknown outside Württemberg, produces a light red wine that locals drink in enormous quantities — Esslingen's wine festivals in September see the town's population effectively double for several weekends.

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