New project: Reviving forgotten vineyards in the Lahn Valley!

New project: Reviving forgotten vineyards in the Lahn Valley!

An exciting project could soon make the Lahn Valley blossom. An initiative dedicated to exploring former vineyards was presented today at the Nassau Business and Tourism Committee. The aim is to reuse partially forgotten paths with dry stone walls and thus create a lively connection to the wine-growing history of the region. As the Rhine newspaper reported, several communities signaled their interest in connecting these cultivated areas with each other.

Viticulture on the Lahn looks back on a long tradition, which is particularly cultivated in places like Obernhof and Weinähr. The roots run deep here - Obernhof can look back on over 750 years of wine-growing history and was mentioned in a document as early as 1266. As part of the “Obernhof has a future” initiative, the local council recently launched various measures to further strengthen the importance of viticulture. This also includes participation in the “Our village has a future” competition, where Obernhof took top places, like the Website Viticulture on the Lahn explained.

Viticulture and community

Today, three winemakers manage vineyards in Obernhof, with the main growing areas being on the Obernhofer Goetheberg and the Adelhahn. An important land consolidation project is currently being implemented, which aims to sustainably secure viticulture for future generations. After 50 years of being fallow, areas have already been cleared and replanted. In the course of these efforts, the “Obernhof & Weinähr Citizens' Vineyard” was created, which represents a connection between tradition and innovation.

In April 2021, the association “geweinschaft e.V.” founded, which is committed to promoting the cultural asset “Lahnwein”. The association is committed to combining traditional vineyards with modern grape varieties and wants to make the vineyard experience tangible for the community. They obviously have a good knack for it, because the response has been surprisingly positive.

Historical connections and wine knowledge

But it's not just the local winemaking history that's interesting. The cultural and historical development of wine has a long tradition in Germany. For example, an extensive bibliography has been available since 2003, which includes almost 40,000 titles on German-language wine literature. This unique collection, which is supported by the Rhineland-Palatinate State Library Center, among others, contributes to further deepening the understanding of wine and its value, as shown at the Website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture is to be read.

The connection between viticulture and culture will continue to be strengthened on the Lahn in the future. The current projects and the commitment of the communities are creating new perspectives for the region, which are likely to attract both locals and visitors. And that's exactly what makes the Lahn Valley an exciting place for wine lovers and those interested in culture.