The historic wine town of Oberkirch plays an important role in the wine-growing region of Baden, the warmest region in Germany. Winegrowing in Oberkirch looks back on a long tradition: around 2000 years ago, the Romans brought the first vine plants to the region. At the beginning of the 17th century, Duke Friedrich of Württemberg had 40,000 vines planted near the Ullenburg in Oberkirch-Tiergarten and the Fürsteneck. The Riesling vine found its home on the Klingelberg in the Oberkirch district of Haslach, which is why Riesling is known in the Ortenau today as “Klingelberger”.
In Oberkirch, viticulture is practised today on a total area of about 550 hectares. Of this, 430 hectares are marketed by the Oberkircher Winzer eG cooperative and the remaining area by private wineries.
Numerous hiking trails lead through the vast vineyard landscape, inviting visitors to stroll and linger. Especially in September and October, there is a lot going on in the vineyards, when the grape harvest, or “Herbsten” as it is called here, begins. If you want to taste the great wines in a convivial atmosphere, you should definitely visit the wine festivals in the Renchtal. The Oberkirch Wine Festival, which is known throughout the region, always takes place on the first weekend in September. If you prefer something more cosy and homey, you can visit the many small farm and wine festivals at the numerous fruit and wine farms in Oberkirch or visit our wine taverns in spring and autumn. There you will find many delicious regional dishes to go with our own wines.
Because in the Renchtal we live by the motto: Taste the Black Forest! Besides the classic wine tasting or a vineyard walk with a certified wine guide, there are other great ways to learn more about Baden wine. Whether it’s an adventurous ride on a Landrover, a vineyard safari or a rolling wine tasting where two horses pull a carriage – enjoy Oberkirch’s wine at the most beautiful vantage points and let yourself be spoilt with a wine tasting and a snack.
Our tip: Oberkirch wine hike “From Hell to Paradise”: taste the excellent wines and enjoy a four-course meal during a foray you make on your own through the vineyards.
Oberkirch has been designated a Wine South Wine Town. This certification offers guests numerous opportunities to immerse themselves in the topic of wine. There are also certified Weinsüden hotels, which stand for regional food and fine wines from the surrounding area.
Oberkirch is celebrating the Oberkirch Strawberry Festival for the 24th time this weekend. Tonnes of delicious strawberries are harvested in the region every year.
Naturally, the fruit takes centre stage again this weekend. Fruity strawberry punch, delicious strawberry milk, strawberry cakes and tarts in a wide variety of flavours and many other culinary delights await visitors to the Oberkirch pedestrian zone.
In addition to regional self-marketers, wineries and food stalls, numerous artisans from the region also offer their treasures for sale.
Open-air concerts frame the Strawberry Festival and create a great atmosphere. There is also a great programme for the little ones on both days of the festival and, of course, the Baden-Württemberg Strawberry Queen will be on hand to sign autographs.
The Oberkircher Wine Festival is pleasure for all wine enthusiasts!
Traditionally, visitors can look forward to a varied programme over the four days of the festival. Great bands to celebrate and enjoy are waiting to inspire the audience. Traditionally, the Oberkirch wine princess will open the festival on Friday and ring in the four days of festivities.
Once again there will be plenty on offer for young and old!
The “Culinary Wine Hike” has become a classic. Hiking enthusiasts and wine gourmets are invited to hike from “hell to paradise” through the beautiful vineyard landscape of Oberkirch. The 7-kilometre trail leads past Oberkirch’s landmarks – the Schauenburg ruins and Gaisbach Castle – and promises a special hiking experience with fantastic views over Oberkirch and into the Rhine valley. Delicious Oberkirch wines, sparkling wines and culinary delicacies are served at the stations. You can start at the Oberkirch market square between 10:00 and 14:00. Various bands will provide musical entertainment along the hiking routes.
A supporting programme, especially for the little ones, provides entertainment along the way – pure enjoyment, simply heavenly!
The Renchtal holiday region with the towns of Oberkirch, Lautenbach and Oppenau runs between the Baden Wine Route and the Black Forest National Park. The town of Oberkirch is the gateway to the Renchtal, in the midst of a sun-drenched orchard and vineyard landscape and invites you to stroll and linger with its picturesque half-timbered houses and pedestrian zone. From the Schauenburg ruins, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the town and the Rhine plain as far as Strasbourg.
The Renchtal offers many different culinary specialities: from star chefs to nature park innkeepers, the top restaurants spoil your palate with delicacies from the traditional Baden-Alsatian cuisine. The inns are not only popular for their wood-fired bread and bible cheese, onion tart and new sweet (Federweißer), but also for their cosiness. Many farm shops with a variety of fresh products are waiting to be discovered. Whether Riesling or Spätburgunder – everyone will find a good drop here! But it is not only wine that spoils the palate – the heart beats just as strongly for the distillery. The Renchtal has over 1,000 distilleries. It is important to everyone, whether cook or innkeeper, winegrower or distiller, farmer or beekeeper, that it “tastes good”.
The Renchtal has about 800 kilometres of well-signposted hiking and cycling trails to offer. Three quality hiking trails, so-called dream tours, are dedicated to very different themes: historical paths and legends on the Lautenbacher Hexensteig, magnificent distant views on the Maisacher Turmsteig and the long tradition of distilling culture on the Oberkircher Brennersteig.
