Late Harvest – Riesling Loops

I didn't like this tour that much. A total of 800 m through forest and with breaks another 300 m on natural paths, the rest of the concrete, asphalt or paved is no fun for hiking

At short notice yesterday we arranged to go hiking with @Ina and Manfred this afternoon. It shouldn't be too long a round with a few meters of elevation gain. Since Silke also had to work in the morning, we chose another Riesling loop. Now we're just missing one. In terms of weather, it was actually reported to be nicer and warmer today - instead of the predicted 20 to 22 degrees, we only had 13 to 16 degrees on the lap. The sun couldn't really be seen and the sky was orange from the Saharan dust. It was still nice though. We wish all of our followers a Happy Easter.

Today we met up with the "Girls on Tour" again. We had Regina as a backup today and despite the fog and the lack of visibility, it was a nice get-together. At the end we went to the Moser coffee house. The cakes there are all homemade and were delicious.

Today, to stretch my legs, we went for a Riesling tour in wonderful weather.

From sun 🌞 to rain ☔️ everything was there today. However, things only got really ugly when I was already sitting in the Viennese café. 😇 Wonderful tour through colorful vineyards with a view of the monastery and past the basilica and Johannisberg Castle, including the crosses from the "LICHTreich" exhibition that I'm still missing. Actually, I wouldn't have hiked at all today, but luckily my analog alarm clock ⏰️ was an hour ahead this morning. 🤷‍♀️ On the radio there was information that the radio was celebrating its 100th birthday today. Cause for some reflection. I started an apprenticeship as a radio and television technician almost 50 years ago. My father advised me not to waste my talents on old tube receivers, but to focus more on electrical engineering. I still remember the first color televisions. They could be used to heat the living room and were regularly used in the workshop. It was repaired and not thrown away. Luckily, if necessary, I could breathe new life into my old kitchen radio with the unmistakable resonance of a wooden casing. I just don't want to have to throw it away. 📻

Today I spontaneously took a detour to the Rheingau on my way - another 2 Riesling loops were on my plan (numbers 9 and 10). First we went on the "Spätlesereiter" - a 6 km long route from Johannisberg Castle and around the castle. Like all loops, this one was well signposted. A relaxed round with great views - but I didn't quite understand why the statue of the Spätlese Rider is only on the next round, the Schlösserblick. You can find my other Riesling bows here: https://www.komoot.de/collection/2437723/-14-riesling-schleifen-rheingau Official description: https://www.outdooractive.com/de/route/hike/wiesbaden-rheingau/riesling-schleife-spaetlesereiter/802200350/ The Riesling loop moves away from the Johannisberg in a northwesterly direction. Here too, the foresight is a real pleasure for the mind and soul. Behind Hansenberg Castle, now a boarding school, lie the Taunus forests, the Elsterbach meanders in the floodplains and mixed forests and vineyards alternate on the eastern side of the valley. The valley is crossed at the Ostermühle winery and bar before the path leads back up into the vineyards. Once at the top, the view turns to the Johannisberg and another highlight: the Hotel Kloster Johannisberg. Originally built as a “cold water sanatorium”, the facility was also used as a monastery in the 20th century. Another stop at the wine tasting stand, then we head down to Johannisberg im Grund to reach the castle on the other side of the valley through the much-praised Johannisberg vineyard location

Johannisberg has made wine and Riesling history. In 1720, the Prince Abbot of Fulda ordered the entire vineyard to be planted with 200,000 Riesling vines. Johannisberg is considered the birthplace of the Spätlese (late harvest). Until the end of the 18th century, permission to begin the grape harvest had to be obtained from the Prince Abbot in Fulda. When the messenger arrived late in 1775 and the cellar master harvested the grapes he thought were lost, he recognized the superior quality of the late harvest. What a blessing 🥳