Fulda celebrates 250 years of late harvest riders: wine hustle and bustle in the castle!

Fulda celebrates 250 years of late harvest riders: wine hustle and bustle in the castle!

The city of Fulda is facing a very special celebration: the 250th birthday of the Spätlese rider will be celebrated in 2025. The anniversary year commemorates the discovery of late harvest in 1775, which contributed to the wine's worldwide fame. Not only the city is looking forward to these celebrations, but also wine lovers from the region and beyond Vogelsberger newspaper reported.

The whole thing starts in April with an exciting evening of lectures and a wine tasting in the Vonderau Museum. The collaboration between local wine shops and the catering industry is celebrated here, putting the special wine in the spotlight in a variety of ways. A highlight is the Fulda Wine Festival, which will take place from August 27th to September 6th in the inner courtyard of the Fulda City Palace. Anyone who stops by on these days can look forward to live music and enjoyable wine tastings.

Hidden history and events

The history of Spätlese begins in 1716, when Prince Abbot Constantin von Buttlar acquired the former Benedictine monastery on the Johannisberg. The baroque complex soon developed into a renowned wine region. In the 1960s, a clay sculpture in the winery's courtyard commemorates the discovery of the Spätlese rider, which was created in 1775 due to a delay in obtaining permission to harvest. According to reports, the prince abbot's courier waited 14 days longer than planned; It is unclear whether this was due to a hunt by the prince-bishop or even robbers. When the grapes were finally harvested, the noble rot had already done its job. The apparently spoiled grapes not only led to a new wine, but also revolutionized the entire history of wine, like that Website Knowledge Fulda mentioned.

What makes this event so special is the discovery of the exceptional quality that arose from this coincidence. The monks of the castle, who harvested the grapes that had become noble rotten, quickly became famous for these wines. The wine surpassed all previous qualities and laid the foundation for the importance of the late harvest in wine growing. Since 1989, the Fulda Wine History Convention has dedicated various activities to celebrating this tradition. The symbol of the convent, the Late Reading Rider, is reflected in a comic and a series of postcards that keep the story alive.

A feast for all senses

The Fulda Wine Festival promises to be a true experience for all the senses. In addition to high-quality wines from the region, a variety of events are also on offer: tastings, wine tours and even rare dinners are on the program. Stefan Doctor, the manager of the Schloss Johannisberg winery, is also planning a remarkable campaign in which he would like to bring the grapes to Fulda by bicycle. The conclusion of the wine festival on September 6th will be marked with a meaningful “permission to read” from Mayor Dr. Heiko Wingenfeld represents a successful connection between tradition and modern enjoyment.

Overall, the history of the Spätlese Rider and the associated celebrations impressively show how deeply rooted viticulture and culture are in the Fulda region. If you would like to take part in these events in Fulda, you should mark the dates in your calendar. Because there are guaranteed to be many special moments to experience on the 250th anniversary of the Spätlese - a celebration for all wine lovers!