Do you like wine?  Do you like seeing where the wine comes from?  Would you like to walk through hills that have wine carts setup, which let you try said wine, oh and see some amazing views?  If you answered yes to these very important questions, then the Esslingen Wine Walk is for you.

A few weeks ago it was that lovely time again when a bunch of my friends and I trek our way to Esslingen on a Sunday afternoon, and take part in the Weinwandertag Esslingen or in english the Esslingen Wine Walk.  Esslingen is a lovely city right outside of Stuttgart.  People love coming here because its just a nice place.  It has a great river, where you can find a cafe and sit outside and just enjoy yourself.  This is truly my favorite event in the early part of the year.  Why?  Mainly because it lets you walk through the wine vineyards in Esslingen, take some really awesome pictures, and just enjoy being outside.  Not to mention that its pretty much all the hiking I’m ever going to do in the year.  Only problem with this event is the fact its on a Sunday.  Now I understand a little bit why this is the day they do it.  On Sunday nothing is open and you probably want to give the people something to do.  They can’t go shopping, there aren’t any shops open to buy beer, wine, or liquor.  Except for the main train station in Stuttgart, but not everyone lives by there, nor does anyone want to go just for that reason.  The only thing that are open are restaurants, cafes, oh and gelato stands.  Lovely tasty gelato.

So how does this little thing work?  The walk has 6 stands setup, which takes up about 5km, which is about 3 miles.  You start at the first stand, where you buy your sample glass, along with your first glass of wine.  From there you start your hike and wine tasting.  You spend about €3 or so for your glass, then your first glass is about the same price if not a euro less.  Depending on your love of wine, you probably will have a few glasses at the first few stands, then if you are with a group, it becomes cheaper to just pick a wine and buy a bottle from the next stands.  Just make sure you know what you like or are in the mood for.  Though the bottles are from €10 to €15, pretty cheap compared to if you were buying them from a say a restaurant.

This year the weather was OK at points, until the standard German storm came by.  You know sideways rain, hail, and massive winds.  Best part is when you are standing through this, completely pissed with the world, then it stops, the sun comes out, and you continue with your day.  This was my third time doing this event.  The first time the weather was fine, rained or looked to rain at a few random times.  Last year, it was completely to hot.  Drinking wine and walking around had to be the worse idea you could have.  Still we made it through and I had a nice time.  Along with the people who found random spots to just hang out and chill.

Now what do you all think is going to happen after you’ve walked about 3 miles or more and had a good amount of wine, and find yourself at the end of all this fun?  Well, if you guessed more wine, grilled sausages, other pork products, and a band, you’d be right.  Also, not just any band, a concert band, with a German lead singer.  Doing traditional German fest songs.  I really think that its not a choice.  You are pretty much required to have these things.  If you don’t, I think Germans may think the event isn’t a real event.  Especially if it’s an outdoor gig.

All in all, the wine walk is a great time.  Every year I’ve gotten to hang out with different groups of people.  We have a great time.  We see some really cool stuff, and enjoy decent German wine.  I would say if you are ever around the area, then you need to do this event.

Many more excellent things are coming up, can’t wait to share them with you on the next go around.  Enjoy the week ahead!

The Wine Walk experience