Outstanding Vinotheks Details

The vinothek owned by Helmut and Christel Isler is certainly easy to find these days. While it was a bit off the beaten track up until a few years ago, the married winegrowers decided a relocation was in order and put it on the map in more ways than one. And so in 2014, following one year of construction, a modern new vinothek with a wine warehouse was erected to the south of Neustadt, at the edge of Diedesfeld and directly on the German Wine Route.

The 85-kilometer German Wine Route is one of the country's oldest and most beloved tourism routes and offers a wide range of sightseeing highlights. For the past two years, the vinothek at Weingut Isler has been proud to count itself among them. It is positioned directly underneath Hambach Castle — an icon of the German democracy movement in the 19th century since the famous "Hambacher Fest" of 1832, which protested against Bavaria's reign over the Pfalz at that time.

The estate in Neustadt and its 13 hectares under vine have been in the family's hands since 1700. Helmut Isler and his beloved Christel are the tenth generation to continue the proud tradition; the next generation, in the form of son Alexander, is already active in the vineyards and the cellar, while daughter Carolin handles marketing.

Yellow sandstone and concrete-gray plaster, anthracite-hued windows and door frames and paint in rusty tones make the vinothek extraordinarily attractive from the outside. The interior design is no less accomplished. Modest natural-colored stone alternates with parquet, while the oak furnishings are combined with a number of objects from the world of wine, including the coat racks made from barrels and the riddling racks hung on the front of the counter. It's a place to relax and taste freely, whether at a table on the ground floor, on a couch in the cozy fireplace lounge, or in the upper story of the vinothek with a splendid panoramic view. That latter space can be booked for weddings and birthday celebrations of up to 64 persons.

The ventilation system is hidden quite unobtrusively under a modern hanging ceiling with dimmable LED lights. Large abstract oil paintings on the walls add to the harmonious atmosphere. It's a construction where every square centimeter has been carefully considered.

The available menu also benefits from the same careful eye. A selection of ham and cheese, salami or beef carpaccio, as well as a daily selection of freshly baked cakes — and, of course, plenty of fine wine: from classic varieties typical to the region such as Riesling and Silvaner or Weißburgunder and Dornfelder to the more striking taste profiles of Chardonnay and Muskateller, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Cubin.

As a special service for guests arriving in recreational vehicles: if a lengthy tasting with food and drink makes driving on an unwelcome proposition, Helmet and Christel Isler have a few camper-friendly parking spots available. After all, the rest of the Wine Route will still be there tomorrow...