September 22, 2026, 7:35 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
And the winner is … This year, the TRAVELBOOK Award was once again presented in Berlin on September 22, 2026. In the category of the most beautiful European wine region, the award stays in Germany this year: The Ahr Valley in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia won. The other contenders in the category were Kakheti in Georgia, Dealu Mare in Romania, Valais in Switzerland, and Calabria in Italy. All the information about the winning region.
The Ahr Valley in Germany
The Ahr Valley is mostly located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and partly in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Ahr River flows through the valley, flanked by steep hillsides where the steps of the wine terraces climb upward. These are the cultivation areas for Pinot Noir wines, which thrive exceptionally well in this location. The Ahr Valley is synonymous with Pinot Noir like no other German wine region, with about 65 percent of the 500 hectares of vineyards reserved for it. These are tended by the winemakers by hand.
The Ahr Valley is one of the most renowned red wine regions on the continent. In Germany, according to the information page of the valley, it is even the largest contiguous red wine-growing area with 80 percent red grape varieties. And this year, it was even named one of the best travel destinations by “Condé Nast” due to its picturesque scenery (TRAVELBOOK reported).
Now, TRAVELBOOK readers join in, having voted the Ahr Valley as the most beautiful wine region in Europe at the TRAVELBOOK Award 2026.
Wine Cultivation After the Flood Disaster
Many probably still associate the name Ahr Valley with the flood disaster of 2021. At that time, 135 people died, and one is still missing. Additionally, 60 hectares of vineyards were flooded, and cellars and wineries were destroyed or severely damaged. Meanwhile, a large part of the infrastructure in the Ahr Valley has been restored or is under reconstruction. This also applies to wine cultivation.
On some steep slopes above the Ahr, according to a report by “Südwestrundfunk,” or “SWR,” from June of this year, little of the flood disaster’s impact was visible. The Pinot Noir grows here as usual, reports “SWR.” In other places, the vineyards are also affected, and some areas can no longer be planted to protect against flooding. The situation is similar in the valley itself, near the Ahr, in the flood zone. Here, new regulations are causing changes in wine cultivation. Only recently has planting been allowed again, and only in the direction of the river and with a two-meter distance. The permissible cultivation area has also been reduced, giving the river about 30 meters more space, as “SWR” reports. The reconstruction of some wineries and other production sites is partly hampered by missing permits and other bureaucratic hurdles.
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What You Can Experience in the Ahr Valley
As a popular wine region in Germany and Europe, the Ahr Valley offers various wine-related activities. Visitors can participate in guided tours through the vineyards and taste their products directly at wine tastings at various wineries. Winemakers also offer cellar tours.
The Ahr Valley is also popular with hikers, with its vineyards, forests, and meadow landscapes. A frequently used route is the Red Wine Trail, which leads through the wine landscapes of the Middle Ahr, as the information page of the Ahr Valley states. Another hike recommended especially for sporty hikers is the AhrSteig, and a third with various options is the AhrSchleifen. There are both guided hikes and the opportunity to explore the Ahr Valley independently. Besides hiking, the region can also be discovered by bicycle.
Additionally, the wine region offers numerous events and other leisure activities. These include an open-air stage, swimming pools, a cinema, mini-golf, a summer toboggan run, a climbing forest, animal parks, and many more.
All information about the other contenders for the title of the most beautiful wine region in Europe can be read at TRAVELBOOK.
Methodology for the TRAVELBOOK Award
Again this year, we say: All nominated regions, countries, and others of the TRAVELBOOK Awards are already winners. Even if they did not achieve overall victory. Because: Each travel destination had already made it to the shortlist in advance, meaning it was selected from a large number of contenders in a category.
The TRAVELBOOK editorial team asked the community on Facebook and Instagram for help and consulted experts from the travel industry to create the shortlist. For the first time this year, not only TRAVELBOOK readers but also BILD readers voted. In total, more than 150,000 votes were cast to determine the trend travel destinations for 2027.