Apple Wine in Hessen
Special to Road Trips for Foodies
By Hessen Tourism
Few things are more traditional in Frankfurt than the Apfelwein (apple wine, known as Ebbelwei or Äppler), and it is a must-try if you are visiting the city. Traditionally, apple wine is served in a blue-grey crockery jug, the so-called “Bembel”.
Possmann is a recognized apple wine producer in Germany, and has even recently opened a shop directly in central Römerberg in Frankfurt. You want to gather more information where the “Bembel” comes from? Then you may find some answers during a guided tour at the wine press house Höhl in Hochstadt where you can take a look behind the scenes of Germany`s oldest apple wine press house. Afterwards you will be familiar with the production process of apple wine, history of the wine press house and you will know the different types of the Hessian cult beverage. Currently Höhl and Possmann are the market leaders in terms of apple wine production, with an annual production of around 25 million liters of apple wine and apple juice.
Additionally, in the same area, there are several smaller apple wine producers worthy of a visit. Just outside Frankfurt’s doors in Nieder-Erlenbach, Premium apple wines are offered by Schneider – Obsthof am Steinberg. This high-quality producer focuses all efforts on selecting the right kind of biological apples, making sure that the degree of sweetness is precise enough to make their apple wine stand out from the crowd. Here, along with a glass of apple wine, you can enjoy fresh and locally-produced food that perfectly complements the taste of the wine. Furthermore, there is a diverse event program all year round, like different strawberry excursions, apple rambles or apple festivals.
At Krenzer’s wine press house located in the middle of the beautiful Rhoen region you are highly welcome to take a look behind the scenes of a family owned wine press house true to the motto “Experience for yourself!”. Tasting their self-made apple wine and apple-sherry is an absolute must-try and shouldn’t you be able to return home by car in the evening, you are warmly invited to stay overnight at Krenzer`s Rhönschaf-Hotel.
Also notable is Heil`s premium-quality apple wine. Located in the picturesque Taunus region the family owned wine press house offers a broad portfolio of apple products, e. g. different kinds of apple wine, juices or “Pirlo”, a blend of nonalcoholic apple wine flavoured with black currant and elderberry. Apart from guided tours they also organize different events, like the “Apfelfest” (apple festival) taking place at the open air museum Hessenpark in Neu-Anspach.
Visitors who rather prefer to discover Frankfurt in a comfortable way are invited to take a ride on board the famous “Ebbelwei-Express”, a charming colorful tram passing numerous sights of the city. Here you are offered the perfect Apfelwein-tasting experience: To explore Frankfurt while enjoying a glass of the traditional “Frankfurter Apfelwein”! Tickets can be purchased directly in the tram.
Apple wine gourmets should definitely stop off at the ApfelWeinBistrorant at the Landsteiner Mühle located in Weilrod in the Taunus region. Innkeeper Michael Stöckl is Germany`s first and probably only apple wine sommelier, demonstrating that apple wine is eminently suitable for cooking. Daily opened from May till August.
(Photo courtesy of Tourismus+Congress GmbH Frankfurt am Main)