9 Best Sights in The Rhineland, Germany

The origins of this grand wine estate date from 1100, when Benedictine monks built a monastery and planted vines on the slopes below. The striking early-18th-century palace is closed to the public, but wine tastings and cellar tours take place from Monday to Saturday, and there is an excellent wine shop, which also offers the estate's gin. The excellent restaurant, Schlossschänke, offers stunning views over the vineyards.

Built in 1211, Schloss Vollrads is the oldest of Germany's major wine estates. The tower, built in 1330 and surrounded by a moat, was the Greiffenclau residence for 350 years until the present palace was built in the 17th century. There is a wineshop, and the castle's period rooms can be toured during concerts, festivals, and wine tastings—check the website for specific dates. It's 3 km (2 miles) north of town. In addition to the restaurant (which closes early for dinner at 8 pm), you can sit outside on the patio in the warmer months and order very good Flammkuchen (baked thin-crust pizza, typically with bacon and onions) and sausages from the food truck.

Drop down into a labyrinth of cellars beneath Trier's streets or visit the estate's elegant Vinothek (wine store) to sample fine Rieslings, which were built on almost two millennia of priestly tradition. Tastings are available which showcase six wines and one sparkling wine.

A friendly husband-and-wife team run this winery, which has eight generations of winemaking tradition behind it. They make a special collection of rieslings with labels designed by visiting artists, and have an unpretentious tasting room close to the river.

The 55-km (34-mile) drive from Bernkastel to Trier takes in another series of outstanding hillside vineyards, including the Brauneberg, 10 km (6 miles) upstream from Bernkastel. On the opposite side of the river is the Paulinshof, where Thomas Jefferson was impressed by a 1783 Brauneberger Kammer Auslese during his visit here in 1788. You can sample contemporary vintages of this wine in the beautiful chapel on the estate grounds with suggestions from the friendly staff.

This winery's presence in the Mosel includes vineyards in seven different villages and a grand villa in the center of Bernkastel, where a cozy Vinothek (shop) is found inside the mansion's vaulted cellars. Tastings are available, but groups of five or more people should call ahead to book. Try the light and flinty Alte Badstube am Doctorberg Riesling.

Established in 1991, this winery is very new compared to many others here. Combing modern with traditional winemaking principles, it has succeeded as one of the best and most interesting Grand Cru vineyards in the region. Try the light but complex Trarbacher Hühnerberg Riesling Spätlese.

Built by the English aristocrat John Sutton, this beautiful villa south of St. Valentine's Church is home to one of Germany's leading wine estates. Its famed Rieslings can be sampled in the tasting room at no cost (but with the expectation that a bottle or two of wine is purchased afterward). For 10 people or more, an exclusive tasting including a two-hour cellar tour can be arranged in advance for a fee.

This winery dating to at least 1744 specializes in the production of high-quality dry whites. The modern, winebar style of their Vinothek sets them apart from other local establishments. They're located down an unassuming village lane, and also offer accommodations in a guesthouse. Wine tastings can sometimes be arranged during off-hours if you call ahead for an appointment.