Autumn enjoyment: 7 circular tours in wine regions in Germany, Austria and South Tyrol

1. South Tyrol: Pinot Blanc and Lake Kaltern
2. Franconian wine country: Volkacher Mainschleife tour
3. Weinviertel: Wine tour with insights
4. Heilbronn countryside: N1 Wine-Country-River
5. Dresden Elbland: Wine experience tour
6. Rheinhessen: Amiche Tour
7. Burgenland: B40 Red Wine Cycle Route

1st South Tyrol: Pinot Blanc and Lake Kaltern

Start/finish: Kaltern / 23.3 km / 422 metres difference in altitude

Not far from Lake Kaltern and around 20 kilometres south of Bolzano in front of the "Erste + Neue" winery, this short but challenging route starts in South Tyrol's Adige Valley, running west of the river. Surrounded by wooded mountain massifs towering over 2,000 metres high, the South Tyrolean Wine Road crosses the largest wine-growing region in South Tyrol, Eppan. It is known above all for its Pinot Blanc. However, around 20 different grape varieties are cultivated on a total of 941 hectares: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon, Müller-Thurgau, as well as the red wine varieties Pinot Noir, Cabernet and Merlot. The route passes through pretty little wine villages, and after starting in a north-easterly direction, the two Montiggl lakes lie along the way. In Kaltern, both the lake, where the vineyards reach right up to the shore, and the town centre with its picturesque market square and wine-influenced townscape are equally enticing. A total of 756 hectares of vines are cultivated in the municipality of Kaltern, almost equally divided between red and white varieties.

Arrival

• By train to Bozen/Bolzano or long-distance bus, by bus to Kaltern/Caldaro (only limited bike transport possible)
• By car to Bolzano/Bozen via the A22 motorway (from the north and south), via the SS40/SS38 (west), E66/SS49 (east), then SS42 to Caldaro/Kaltern

Wine experiences

Kaltern Wine Museum, wineries, wine tastings and guided tours in Kaltern, Eppan, St. Pauls, St. Michael (www.suedtiroler-weinstrasse.it/de/orte and on www.eppan.com under "Events")

Other highlights

• The historic wine villages of Kaltern, St. Pauls and St. Michael,
• Montiggl Lakes
• There are many castles in the surrounding area, such as Hocheppan Castle and Boymont Castle

Bike service and hire

• Eppan: www.eppan.com/de/erleben/bike/bike-service
• Kaltern: Self-service stations, www.kaltern.com/de/radverleih-in-kaltern.html, www.kaltern.com/de/bike-self-service-stationen-in-kaltern.html
• www.suedtirol-rad.com

Bike-friendly accommodation

• Kaltern: www.kaltern.com/de/bikefreundliche-beherbergungsbetriebe-in-kaltern.html
• Eppan: www.eppan.com under "Accommodation"

Info and route planning

• www.suedtiroler-weinstrasse.it, there under "Experience", "Wine cycle routes"
• www.suedtirolerland.it, there under "Leisure & Active", "Cycling & Mountain biking"
• Compass "South Tyrol Cycling Guide", bikeline "South Tyrol Cycling Region"

2nd Franconian Wine Country: Volkach Main Loop Tour

Start/finish: Volkach / 35 km / 336 m elevation gain

Nestled between the Spessart, Rhön and Tauber valleys, most of the Franconian wine country meanders along the Main, which runs west-eastwards in sometimes sharp bends. Wine is grown here on around 6,300 hectares, the leading variety being Silvaner. The largest cities are Würzburg and Schweinfurt, but there are also attractive points along the route, especially in the smaller towns and certain places in the region, many of which are located in the vineyards; the most beautiful ones bear the "terroir f" seal. Cyclists can reach one such spot on the Volkacher Mainschleife, which starts at the caravan park near the new Main bridge, via the first of two moderate climbs at Vogelsburg Castle, where a wide view of the Mainschleife awaits. The route continues on mostly asphalted paths through the vineyards, along meadows and fields and through many cosy little wine villages such as Sommerach on the wine island, where the largest contiguous vineyards in the Franconian wine-growing region stretch out. The tour offers plenty of opportunities to sample Franconian wine in the right surroundings.

Arrival

• By train to Würzburg, from there by bus to Astheim-Volkach
• By car via the A7 motorway, exit Würzburg/Estenfeld, onto the B19/St2260 via Prosselsheim to Volkach. Alternative: Approach via the A3 motorway

Wine experiences

• "terroir f" (special viewpoint with information boards about wine),
• Escherndorfer Lump/Vogelsburg vineyard,
• Vinotheque in the Culture and Communication Centre (KuK) in Dettelbach with the possibility of wine tasting (www.dettelbach-entdecken.de/vinothek, closed from November),
• Wine island with many places to stop for refreshments

Other highlights

• Pilgrimage church Maria im Sand
• Museum "Pilgrims and pilgrims" in the KuK (see above)
• Münsterschwarzach Abbey

Bike service and hire

• Charging stations in Volkach, at the Vogelsburg, in Escherndorf,
• Rental at the Aral petrol station in Dettelbach (Mon-Fri),
• Further bike service centres for repair, hire and charging in many places in the area (www.fraenkisches-weinland.de/radfahren/radreparatur)

Bike-friendly accommodation

Numerous accommodation options in Volkach and Dettelbach, www.fraenkisches-weinland.de/radfahren/fahrradfreundliche-gastgeber

Info and route planning

• www.fraenkisches-weinland.de, to order there: "Pleasure tours to Main & Wine: Cycling in the Franconian Wine Country"
• ADFC regional map of Würzburg/Fränkisches Weinland

3rd Weinviertel: Wine tour with insights

Start/finish: Retz / 55.6 km / 468 m elevation gain

The Weinviertel in the north-east of Lower Austria is the largest wine-growing region in the Alpine republic (approx. 15,800 hectares) and can be best experienced from the saddle with its network of cycle paths covering around 2,000 kilometres. There are also the occasional climbs - even on our suggested tour - but the overall profile is moderate. The route starts in the north near the Czech Republic at the pretty main square of Retz, then one highlight follows the next. Be it the Retzer Erlebniskeller, Austria's largest historic wine cellar, or some of the typical cellar alleys: Here you can literally immerse yourself in the history of grape harvesting, production and storage. The cycle rest stops - self-service cellars or drinking fountains - offer refreshments in between (don't forget to pay!). But there are also plenty of places to stop for refreshments and to sample the regional wine along the way. Grüner Veltliner is the region's leading variety. The "Weinviertel DAC" label identifies the certified Weinviertel wine with its unmistakable spicy, peppery flavour. "Districtus Austriae Controllatus" means "controlled Austrian designation of origin". Red wines are also available from Retz.

Arrival

• By train via Vienna, from there by regional express to Retz
• Accessible by car via main roads

Wine experiences

• Retzer Erlebniskeller (guided tours: retz-gv.regiondo.at/fuehrung-durch-den-retzer-erlebniskeller)
• Cellar lane Zellerndorf Maulavern incl. cellar museum
• Öhlbergkellergasse Pillersdorf (Visits: www.kellergassenerlebnis.at/kellergassenfuehrungen-im-weinviertel.html)

Other highlights

• Retz windmill
• St Michael's Church Pulkau
• "Pulkauer Bründl": pilgrimage site/rest area with listed chapel
• Celtic settlement on the Sandberg

Bike service and hire

• sgrafit bike (Retz),
• Landgut & SPA Althof Retz (Retz).
• "weinstimmig" Dworzak (Deinzendorf),
• Charging stations in Pulkau, Zellerndorf, Röschitz, www.weinviertel.at/radservice-stationen, among others

Bike-friendly accommodation

• Pulkau: Pension Rudi - Winery Kellner family
• Retz: Löscher wine farm
• Schrattenthal: Winery and guest rooms Pointner family
• www.weinviertel.at/radfreundlich-unterkuenfte

Info and route planning

• www.weinviertel.at/radfahren, can be ordered at www.weinviertel.at/prospektbestellung: "Erfrischend genussvoll. Cycling in the Weinviertel"
• "Cycle the Weinviertel. Unlimited cycling pleasure"
• "Kompass Weinviertel" hiking/cycling map

>> you can find even more cycle tours in the Weinviertel in Lower Austria here

4th Heilbronn region: N1 Wine-Country-River

Start/Finish: Lauffen a. Neckar / 49 km / 396 m elevation gain

Lauffen am Neckar is the birthplace of Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843), whose poem, considered by many to be the most important, also features the juice of the vine in its title: "Bread and Wine" is the title of the 160-verse work. If you like, you can combine Hölderlin, wine and cycling on this signposted N1 tour through the heart of Württemberg's wine-growing region, as the poet's birthplace is home to a museum - and there are plenty of impressions of wine and wine-growing, including tastings, along the way. A northern and a southern loop branch off from Lauffen railway station as a junction. Each is attractive in its own right, but both can be wonderfully combined. The northern loop leads through the gentle vineyards along the River Zaber (Zabergäu), then to the Neckar near Heilbronn and back along the Zaber to Lauffen. The southern route runs past the Katzenbeißer steep slope area on the Neckar. At Neckarwestheim, you have a wide view over the Neckar valley and into the Zabergäu from the accessible keep of the Liebenstein castle complex. The route continues over a plateau to the Neckar near Kirchheim. You cycle leisurely back to the starting point below steep vineyards on the Neckar valley cycle path.

Arrival

• By train with the Metropolexpress, which travels to several places in the region, via Stuttgart to Lauffen station.
• By car: from Cologne A3, from Munich A8, from Berlin A9

Wine experiences

• Wine tastings and cellar tours in various wineries along the route
• Wine bar at the Römischer Gutshof (enquire about opening hours: service@lauffener-wein.de, +49 7133 1850)
• Kirchheim wine terrace (Sundays only, access via a staircase, www.heilbronnerland.de/poi/weinterrasse-kirchheim)

Other highlights

• Hölderlin artwork in the roundabout
• Hölderlin House, Jupiter Giant Column
• Lauffen town hall castle with castle museum
• Waldensian Museum Nordhausen
• Nordheim Town Hall Park
• Liebenstein Castle Neckarwestheim with a view from the keep over the Neckar valley
• Alt-Neckar nature reserve

Bike service and hire

• Four "RadServiceStationen" along the way (www.radfahren-bw.de/radservicestationen, also www.radfahren-bw.de/service/werkstaetten-reparatur),
• Rental: www.radfahren-bw.de/service/rad-und-e-bike-verleih
• EnerGeno Bikeport charging stations on the banks of the Neckar or at Untere Kanalstraße 34 in Heilbronn-Horkheim;
• Bike transport: possible on public transport, plus private providers: www.radfahren-bw.de/fahrradtransport

Bike-friendly accommodation

The "RadServiceStationen" (see above) Hofcafé "Café & Wein" (Heilbronn-Sontheim) and Hotel-Gasthaus Adler (Brackenheim-Botenheim) as well as Bett+Bike (www.radfahren-bw.de/urlaubsplanung/bett-bike)

Info and route planning

• www.radfahren-bw.de, can be ordered there: "RadErlebniskarte Heilbronner Land"
• "Topographical cycle map of the Heilbronn region"
• bikeline "Württemberger Wine Cycle Route"

5th Dresden Elbland: Wine experience tour

Start/Finish: Weinböhla / 26.4 km / 72 m elevation gain

Saxony has the smallest wine-growing area in Germany with 493 hectares under cultivation, but according to the German Wine Institute, "top quality wines are produced here". The regional wine culture can be experienced along the Saxon Wine Route, which was opened in 1992 and stretches for around 60 kilometres from Pirna north-east via Dresden and Meissen, the "cradle of Saxon viticulture", to Diesbar-Seulitz. The proposed circular tour covers part of this route, starting and finishing at the Zentralgasthof inn in Weinböhla. Shortly after the start, cyclists pass the Ratsweinberg and the Königlicher Weinberg. Numerous wineries invite you to stop off and sample the Saxon wine, which is a rarity. Most of the wine grown here is white (approx. 82%); Müller-Thurgau, Riesling (12.6%) and Pinot Blanc (12.4%) are the most common grape varieties. Part of the route leads along the Elbe cycle path to Meißen. From there, the route heads eastwards back to Weinböhla.

Journey

• By train: A regional train stops at the starting point in Weinböhla, Meißen is also well connected
• By car: From Dresden e.g. from the Dresden Wilder Mann exit or Dresden Airport via the S81

Wine experiences

• Historic winery in Weinböhla with local history museum www.weinboehla.de/de/heimatmuseum.html,
• Several wineries, vineyards etc. with wine bars, wine shops and restaurants in Niederau, Meißen, Sörnewitz

Other highlights

• Weinböhla: Velocium - Saxon Bicycle Adventure World, velocium-weinboehla.de, König-Albert-Turm, Friedensturm, Wartturm.
• Other venues: Open-air theatre Gellertberg, moated castle Oberau, old town Meißen

>> Read also: the most beautiful cycle tours in Saxony

Bike service and hire

• Fun-22 bike and boat hire Meißen,
• MietOn hire 24/7 Meißen market,
• Thomas Schuster bicycle service Meißen,
• The bicycle chain Weinböhla K&K Bike GmbH,
• Charging stations in Weinböhla at Velocium (see above) and in Meißen at Kändlerpark

Bike-friendly accommodation

• Several providers in Meissen, for example, can be found at www.radfahren-bw.de/urlaubsplanung/bett-bike
• "Accommodation" at www.dresden-elbland.de

Info and route planning

• www.dresden-elbland.de
• Publicpress: Cycling and hiking map: "Meißen, Moritzburg - Radebeul - Elbweindörfer", cycling map "Dresden Elbland, Ostergebirge, Sächsische Schweiz"

6th Rheinhessen: Amiche Tour

Start/finish: Bodenheim / 32.9 km / 110 m elevation gain

Located in Rhineland-Palatinate, Rheinhessen is Germany's largest wine-growing region with over 25,000 hectares of vineyards. However, the name of our tour of choice has nothing to do with wine. "Amiche" refers to the fact that part of the route from Bodenheim, around 15 kilometres south of Mainz, runs along the former railway line with the nickname "Amiche" (for Annemarie), which ran to Alzey, a further 40 kilometres to the south. Other sections run along the former route of the "Valentinchen" railway line from Undenheim to Nierstein. The route passes through historic wine villages such as Köngernheim or Dalheim and - if travelling anti-clockwise - towards the end along the world-famous "Roter Hang" vineyard on the Rhine between Nierstein and Nackenheim, which is around five kilometres long. The vineyard takes its name from the red soil on which high-quality Rieslings grow. Overall, the route through the foothills of the Rheinhessen hills is mostly flat, although there are a few short, steep climbs at the beginning. For the section along the Rhine back to the starting point in Bodenheim, cyclists take the Rhine Cycle Route and the Rhine Terraces Route.

Arrival

• By train: By RB or S-Bahn from Mainz to Bodenheim
• By car: From the south, take the A61 and/or A6 motorways to exit 23 Ludwigshafen Nord, from there take the B9 to your destination. From the north A3, A67 and A61 to the A60 (Mainzer Ring), exit 24 Mainz-Laubenheim, from there B9 to destination

Wine experiences

• Several wineries with a bar, wine tavern, terrace and/or restaurant, e.g. Weingut Gauer/Potsdamer Hof above Bodenheim with sweeping views and open vinomats throughout,
• Weingut Klein in Nierstein with bar, Fri.-Sun., www.klein-nierstein.de/weingut.
• More: www.rheinhessen.de/de/erlebnisse

Other highlights

• Historic town hall Bodenheim
• Dalheim corn maze
• Viewpoints Roter Hang between Nierstein and Nackenheim and Brudersberg "Most beautiful wine view" Nierstein
• Carl Zuckmayer Monument Nackenheim
• Parish church of St Gereon Nackenheim

Bike service and hire

• Köngernheim bike service station,
• Nierstein bike service station (incl. charging station and repair station),
• EWR charging stations in Bodenheim and Nackenheim,
• E-bike hire in Oppenheim,
• mp2radshop in Bodenheim

Bike-friendly accommodation

• www.rheinhessen.de/buchung-und-service
• www.radfahren-bw.de/urlaubsplanung/bett-bike

Info and route planning

• www.rheinhessen.de, there to download: "Radrouten Rheinhessen",
• ADFC: Regional map Rheinhessen

7th Burgenland: B40 Red Wine Cycle Route

Start/finish: Deutschkreutz / 38.6 km / 236 m elevation gain

Burgenland in the east of Austria is one of the country's best-known wine-growing regions. We have chosen a tour in central Burgenland, where the red wine variety Blaufränkisch is predominantly grown. Despite a few climbs, the tour through the gently undulating landscape is easy to cycle and, apart from a small section of forest path, runs on tarmac country and local roads. Exception: At "Bienendorf" near Deutschkreutz there is a cycle path with 20 steps where you unfortunately have to carry your bike. The route leads from the starting point of Deutschkreutz on the Hungarian border partly through the idyllic vineyards of the region with the municipalities of Raiding, Horitschon and Neckenmarkt. There are some wonderful views, for example into the Goldbachtal valley before the turn-off towards Neckenmarkt or at the end point of the "Weißer Weg", an ascending, shrub-covered former hollow path, where you have a wide view. Along the way, there are numerous opportunities to sample regional wines at winegrowers and wine bars.

Arrival

• By train: Deutschkreutz railway station can be reached via Vienna
• By car: accessible via country and local roads

Wine experiences

Numerous winegrowers and local wine shops, winegrowing and flag-waving museum in Neckenmarkt focussing on vineyard work and vine refinement, red wine nature trail

Other highlights

• Castle, Carl Goldmark Museum in Deutschkreutz
• Franz Liszt Birthplace, Liszt Path in Raiding
• Observation tower in Horitschon

Bike service and hire

ARBÖ (Austrian Automobile, Motorbike and Cyclist Association) bicycle breakdown service on tel. 123, with the Burgenland Card (free with Burgenland Card partners from one overnight stay) there are some free services, hire and charging stations at www.burgenland.info/radverleih-service

Bike-friendly accommodation

• Laschalt organic farm, www.velontour.info/unterkuenfte/laschalt-biohofgut
• www.burgenland.info, there under "Overnight stay", "Accommodation", "For cyclists"

Info and route planning

• www.burgenland.info/erleben/sportlich-aktiv/mit-dem-rad
• www.deutschkreutz.at/radfahren.html
• App Burgenland
• bikeline cycling guide "Burgenland cycling region"
• Kompass Burgenland hiking/cycling map

GPS data

The GPX tracks for the seven cycle tours in the wine regions can be found in the MYBIKE Collection on komoot or here for direct download