Here we go again … A wine-tour in the Zellertal
Again this year, the early summer is showing off with some very sunny days. After all of those dark winter-days, this weather basically invites you to spend time outside. And how would you spend time better than starting summer with a wine tour in the pretty Palatinate region with and by Rainer Giessen. We already rung in summer like that the previous year and it was not a disappointment. The tour was planned two month ahead. With new constellation and new framework but same goal as the previous year. Off we went towards the Zellertal.
Wine safari with Rainer Giessen
We reached our hotel after a short trip through the sunny Rhineland-Palatinate. Hotel Kollektur was our accommodation. This listed building is located in the middle of the picturesque countryside of Zellertal and welcomes its guests with an amazing view over the valley and the neighboring towns. Nice place to be… Everyone checked in and we used the time until the wine tour started to have some chilled drinks on the patio of the hotel’s restaurant. It seemed like other people had the same idea because more and more people joined us.
View from Hotel Kollektur
At 3.00 pm the tour started. Rainer Giessen picked us and 10 other participants of the tour up, directly at the hotel. It turned out, that all tour-participants stayed in the same hotel… very convenient. Our first stop on the tour was not far from the hotel, in the Gutspark of the Zell Community. Annette, Rainer’s wife, was already awaiting us and equipped everyone with the obligatory wine-glass-carry-pouch. Of course, the air needed to leave our glasses and therefore the tasty sparkling SanSi Secco was poured into our glassed. With the sun shining, this was a successful opening to the tour.
The first stop not far from Hotel Kollektur
We walked towards the vineyards. And the corks kept plopping. Portugieser, Grauburgunder, Dornfelder. There was something for everyone and it was tough to decide which wine tasted the best. Our wine-crew kept moving through the vineyards and it seemed like time was standing still. Just like the previous year, Annette prepared a pick nick-style lunch. Next to numerous wines that were there to try they served hearty sausages, cheese, pickles and bread. Empty wine boxes and a pick nick blanket offered the perfect opportunity to enjoy the wines and the food as well as rest and relax. The mood within the group was easy and everyone started to talk shop.
Off we go through the vineyard
At some point we had to leave the camp again to resume our tour. Of course we were rewarded with more tasty wines. The sun started to set and alcohol levels increased. We had the same destination as the year before: The vineyard of Annette and Rainer Giessen. After about 4 hours we finally reached our destination. We got a tour of the production process and had the unique chance of sampling wines directly from the barrel before we sat down at the nicely prepared dinner table.
The buffet is opened
A tasty and hearty dinner awaited us, consisting out of homemade sausages, cheese and bread as well as the complete wine menu of the Giessen winery. Every wine someone wanted to sample was opened and by the end of the evening you could not see the table amongst all those wine bottles anymore. Everybody was busy taking notes regarding the wines on the menu in order to resolve how much of which wine would find its way into the trunk of the car the next day. Around 10.30 pm Annette drove us back to the hotel.
Shadow on that sunny day was provided
The next morning, a tasty breakfast was served at the hotel. However, just like the previous year, not everyone got to enjoy it. But oh well, that just shows how good the wines are. Before heading home, Annette and Rainer opened the gates to their winery again to let us purchase our favorites in reasonable amounts and also test the capacities of the trunks again.
The master and his work
Once more, this wine tour was an amazing event and we can just absolutely recommend it. Those who want to take a tour with authentic, sincere and funny vintners should not pass on that one! The only thing we have left to say is: See you next year!
