EXPLORE ANCIENT VITICULTURE
Grapes have been cultivated on the sunwarmed hillsides of the ˝Tuscany of Germany˝ since the early Middle Ages . The Württemberg wine region is known for green hills , forests and fast cars : Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are headquartered in nearby Stuttgart . Follow the seven-mile Stuttgart Wine Hiking Trail , a circular route that invites you on a journey through the thriving terroir . You ’ ll find old varietals like riesling , trollinger , pinot noir and lemberger alongside new plantings of cabernet dorio and acolon .
Esslingen is a charming medieval and Renaissance town a few miles south of Stuttgart known for its steep vine-covered slopes and ancient stone walls . Romans brought viticulture to this valley , and the vineyards in Esslingen were described in documents dating from 778 . Deeper into the Rheingau region is August Kesseler , an awardwinning winery that has collected national titles like ˝Winegrower of the Year , ˝ ˝Collection of the Year˝ and ˝Producer of the Year . ˝ Stop in for a pinot noir or riesling tasting at their location situated on a dramatic hilltop , reachable by chairlift in the summer months , with breathtaking views of the Rhine River , stately castles and orderly rows of grapevines .
Stuttgart Wine Hiking Trail , Germany
SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS
For the ultimate in luxury wine experiences , board a hot-air balloon and let yourself drift among the clouds over terraced landscapes , storybook villages and winding rivers . In the predawn hours , meet your pilot and crew and observe the preparations for your flight including the dramatic fire lighting and steady inflation of your balloon . During your 90-minute one-way trip , toast the enchanting valley with a glass of German wine in hand . You ’ re welcomed back to Earth with a delicious breakfast to celebrate the adventure .
CRAFT YOUR OWN GIN
Third-generation distiller Gebhard Steng is at the helm of a family business producing handcrafted gin as well as classic fruit spirits , brandies and wines . Like his father and grandfather , Steng cultivates grapes and potatoes to produce lemberger , riesling , schwarzriesling and other varieties that have grown in these fertile soils since Roman times . Today , guests can create their very own gin at the Steng Estate in what looks like a chemistry lab . The workshop includes a demonstration of the distilling process , a history of gin and handson grinding of floral , aromatic and citrussy herbs to flavor the alcohol . Participants blend their own personalized botanical gin with mint , lavender , rosemary , orange slices , lemongrass , cardamom , cloves and rose petals , some from the estate ’ s herb garden .
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