Happy Ending at the LakeWine Events at Lake Constance

The sun is shining and the wine glows in the glass. The vineyards stretch to the shore. Lake Constance glistens behind them. Sailboats glide through the waves. The days are relaxed in this region of pleasure. But the nights can be exciting. This has a lot to do with the wine grown here.

With an area of 600 hectares and seven cross-border wine growing areas, Lake Constance is one of the small but fine wine destinations. The soil consists of sandy loam interspersed with gravel and scree from the Alps, and is therefore very rich in nutrients. Thanks to the mild climate and fertile soils, many quality wines thrive here, especially white wines made from the grape varieties Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. They are appreciated for their fine aromas and fresh acidity. Among the red wines, Pinot Noir is particularly important

Today, wine from Lake Constance is widely appreciated. But 100 years ago, it was considered undrinkable. On the Swiss side of the lake, winegrowers had great success with a new variety called Müller-Thurgau. However, it was forbidden to import the cuttings. Johann Baptist Röhrenbach and his son Albert, both winegrowers from Immenstaad, wondered how they could still get hold of these vines and bravely undertook an adventurous journey: at night, Albert rowed across the border to the Swiss side of the lake with a fisherman friend. He smuggled 400 vines of Müller-Thurgau home in April 1925. The variety quickly revived viticulture, first at Lake Constance and later throughout Germany.

Quality in German viticulture is a top priority at Lake Constance. Winemakers there are reinventing their wine tastings, too. For example, stop by 'Fräulein Seegucker', a dusted-off interpretation of a tavern, at the Aufricht Winery in Stetten. Or book an evening wine and sail trip on the St. Jodok Freighter in Immenstaad. The traditional family winery Röhrenbach also has something new to offer. They impress with innovative cuvées and a bubbly Müller-Thurgau sparkling wine.

There are a number of wineries at Lake Constance that open their taverns seasonally. Here you can taste and buy your Müller-Thurgau and other wines right on the spot. Some wineries even offer overnight accommodations. Imagine enjoying a last glass of regional wine while watching the sun set over the water — simply magical!