Seasonal grower-run pop-up taverns in courtyards and cellars around Bernkastel, pouring the family's own wine with home cooking in spring and autumn.
The list: Seasonal pop-up grower taverns set up in winegrowers' courtyards and cellars in and around Bernkastel, pouring the family's own wine with simple home cooking
Tip: A straw wreath or bouquet over a grower's door means the family is pouring their own wine that night; these Strausswirtschaften open in spring and autumn.
Address: Gestade 18, 54470 Bernkastel-Kues, Germany, Mosel
Saarburg vinothek pouring around 20 top Saar growers including Egon Mueller and Geltz-Zilliken, with inexpensive self-pour tasting flights.
The list: A Saarburg vinothek pouring around 20 of the Saar's best growers, from Egon Mueller-Scharzhof and Geltz-Zilliken to Van Volxem and Peter Lauer, in self-pour tasting flights
Tip: At a few euros for a three- or six-wine flight, it is the cheapest way to taste cult Saar names like Egon Mueller side by side.
Saar estate vinothek in an 1898 turreted Saarburg manor, with tastings of steep-slate Riesling and Sekt from a fifth-generation family.
The list: Tastings of estate Saar Riesling and Sekt in an 1898 turreted manor, made from steep slate sites by a fifth-generation Saarburg family
Tip: Taste in the grand 1898 manor with its turret and sweeping staircase; the estate's Saarburger Rausch Rieslings are the highlight.
Village vinothek in Wiltingen showcasing the fine, delicate Rieslings of the Saar's steep slate sites for tasting and purchase.
The list: A village vinothek in Wiltingen showcasing the fine, delicate Rieslings of the Saar's steep slate sites for tasting and purchase
Tip: Pair a stop here with the Van Volxem lounge next door on the Schlossberg for a full Wiltingen-Saar afternoon.
Hotel sparkling-wine manufactory in DEINHARD's historic Bernkastel cellar, making and pouring traditional bottle-fermented Riesling Sekt.
The list: A hotel sparkling-wine manufactory in the historic cellar at Bernkastel's market house, making and pouring traditional bottle-fermented Riesling Sekt
Tip: Book a Sekt tasting in the cellar to taste traditional-method Riesling sparkling made on site, a German answer to grower Champagne.
Modern estate vinothek in the Traben-Trarbach Rosenhof, pouring Bindges Mosel Riesling with traditional-method Riesling Sekt and Secco.
The list: A modern estate vinothek in the historic Rosenhof, pouring Bindges Mosel Riesling alongside traditional bottle-fermented Riesling Sekt and Secco
Tip: Pair the still Rieslings with the estate's traditional-method Sekt; the Secco is the easy-drinking summer-terrace option.
Dedicated Mosel Sekt house in Lieser refining selected wines into traditional-method sparkling, with tastings of Riesling and Pinot Sekt.
The list: A dedicated Mosel Sekt house refining selected Mosel wines into traditional-method sparkling, with tastings of Riesling and Pinot Sekt
Tip: A rare Mosel address focused purely on sparkling; taste the Riesling Sekt to see how the region's racy acidity suits traditional-method fizz.