The Solo Scale:
When I knew I was heading to Trier, I instantly had one goal in mind. I wanted to find the best Riesling that I could, knowing how renowned the area is on the Moselle river (Mosel in German). While I received a recommendation beforehand about a standing bar right in the main square that I could drink at, I quickly found a better option via a local guide. That was the Weinstube Kesselstatt, a fantastic wine bar with outdoor seating and a great array of options.
Sitting outside under the canopy of leaves is a fantastic experience. It’s extremely communal and offers plenty of tables. Since it is a popular location, some of these may already be reserved. The closer you get to dinner, the busier it gets. Not only do they serve wine, but they also offer a food menu. In the winter, you can still sit out here. They even have blankets and heat lamps for a dip in the temperature.
Another thing to watch out for is that the tables get busy near dinner and so does the line to order. Rather than wait staff coming to the table, people go inside to purchase wine from the list of options and food as well. When I first arrived just after 4:30, the line was short. However, when I got up to get my second class, the line had tripled in size.
When it comes to ordering, you have three options. You can do a 0.1cl, 0.2cl, or order the whole bottle.
TRIP TIP: If you’re unsure what you’ll like, get two of the 0.1cl right at the start. I opted for a single one of the 0.2cl thinking I could easily go back later. As I mentioned above, the line had ballooned in size and I had dinner plans to get to. In retrospect, I should have ordered two glasses the first time around.
The wine that I got first wound up being a semi-dry Riesling. The menu is actually organized from sweet to very dry on the board, making it easy to understand where to order from. Personally, the semi-dry wound up being too sweet for my liking, so when I returned for a second glass (which wound up being a takeaway bottle), I asked them for what the driest possible Riesling was. The staff’s recommendations were on point. It was exactly to my tastes, so if you’re in doubt, ask for a suggestion!
TRIP TIP: If you’re planning to buy a bottle of wine as a souvenir, don’t be discouraged by the board prices. These are the prices to buy a bottle and stay. You’ll actually see a discount from that price to-go, which made my souvenir bottle a nicely priced surprise.
The wine bar isn’t just for tourists. It’s clear that lots of locals come out to sip and spend time with their friends. It’s clear that they know quality. If you don’t know which wine you want, this is a great sampling option for you. I recommend that you get a bunch at once, especially if the line isn’t long yet.
Otherwise, get your wine and your table and simply enjoy the Rieslings that Trier has to offer!
Check out their website for more information!
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