Rems Valley Wine Route

The Rems Valley east of Stuttgart is wine country, and the villages around Schorndorf — Winterbach, Urbach, Remshalden — are surrounded by vineyards producing Trollinger, Lemberger, and Riesling. The marked Rems Valley Weinwanderweg (wine hiking path) connects several villages and can be walked or cycled in sections.

The best way to experience the wine culture is through the Besenwirtschaften: seasonal taverns, usually attached to family wineries, that open for a few weeks at a time to sell the new vintage. A broom (Besen) hung over the door signals that a Besen is open. They serve cold cuts, bread, and Maultaschen alongside the wine. The schedule is published by the regional winegrowers' association and changes each season.

things to do sight
A story
The Trollinger grape, almost unknown outside Württemberg, covers more of the Rems Valley vineyard area than any other variety. It produces a light red wine — pale, slightly tannic, and not particularly strong — that the locals drink in large quantities and outsiders often find puzzling. The Württembergers regard it as their regional treasure, and the Besenwirtschaften that serve it are one of the genuinely local experiences in the area.