Curious wine enthusiasts like me can hardly wait to taste the first wines of the ‘new vintage’. Luckily, the traditional and newer tasting events have kicked off and offer excellent opportunities to do so.

Tastings are particularly exciting when the ‘new’ wine is promising, like the 2025 vintage, which I was able to sample a few weeks ago. As a general rule for this vintage: the Burgundy varieties are the winners, but Rivaner and Gewürztraminer also impress with their high quality.

Tasting days also offer the chance to sample older vintages at the ideal time. Once the primary aromas that still dominate young crus have faded, a cru reveals its true character.

Friday after Easter: the ‘Wäimoart’ in Grevenmacher

The quasi-official start to the wine tasting season takes place on 10 April in Grevenmacher with the “Wäimoart”, or wine market. The event takes place every year on the first Friday after Easter and is being held for the 94th time this year. Formerly a genuine wine market where the wines of the ‘new vintage’ were traded, the event has developed over the years into a major public attraction.

For the second time, the Machera Cultural Centre is hosting the ‘Wäimoart’ in Grevenmacher, as usual on the Friday after Easter (10 April this year) © Photo credit: Claude François

Like last year, the “Wäimoart”, in which practically all Luxembourg wine producers take part, is being hosted in the Machera Cultural Centre and is opening from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 21:00. Admission costs €10 and includes a wine glass and a bread roll.

Cooperative winegrowers’ tasting day on 1 May

The Domaines Vinsmoselle cooperative on 1 May invites visitors to their “Proufdag” (tasting day) at the Caves du Sud, their winery in Remerschen.

The event this year marks the 60th anniversary of Domaines Vinsmoselle. For the occasion, the cooperative has collaborated with the artist Jacques Schneider to design an anniversary label that will adorn two cuvées: a Pinot Gris from the 2025 vintage and a Crémant Rosé Brut. Essentially, Luxembourg’s largest wine producer will be showcasing its entire range on this occasion.

The ‘Proufdag’ begins at 10:00 on the 1 May public holiday and ends at 19:00. Admission (€20) can be paid on the day or in advance via sightseeing.lu.

Premiere for ‘Privatwënzer Uncorked’ on 8 May

A brand-new addition to the events calendar is being organised by Luxembourg’s private winegrowers: “Privatwënzer Uncorked” is set to take place every year on 8 May starting this year.

The date is well-chosen as 9 May is a public holiday in Luxembourg, known as Europe Day.

For the premiere of “Privatwënzer Uncorked”, the Moselle boat M.S. Marie Astrid has been chartered; it will first dock at the quay in Ehnen. From 11:00 to 16:00, around 20 private winegrowers will invite visitors to a tasting of selected products. This is the second event organised by the private winegrowers following “Wäikues im Norden”, the now traditional event in Ettelbrück that kicked off the tasting season at the end of March. Admission to the tasting on the M.S. Marie-Astrid costs €15 and includes a tasting glass.

From 17:00, the ship will be transformed into a restaurant. Chefs from five establishments will serve a festive menu, accompanied by very special vintages from the independent winegrowers, some of which will be served from magnum bottles. Taking part are Restaurant de Pefferkär, Restaurant Mathes, Auberge du Lac, the M.S. Marie-Astrid team and Michelin-starred chef Archibald de Prince.

During dinner, the ship will sail to Stadtbredimus and Machtum before docking again in Ehnen. Anyone wishing to take part in the ‘Gastronomic Walking Dinner’ must book their ticket (€180 per person, wine included) in advance via www.privatwenzer.lu. The relevant page with further information about the event will be available shortly.

Wine tasting on the Sûre on Europe Day

On Europe Day, 9 May, the municipality of Rosport-Mompach hosts the “Rousperter Wäifest”, which has quickly blossomed into a successful event. It is organised by the “Syndicat d’Initiative et de Tourisme” in collaboration with local producers.

For wine and nature lovers, the wines from the Hoelt vineyard in Rosport are of particular interest. Here on the Sûre, viticulture is just as old as it is on the Moselle. The vines are planted on steep slopes with terraced cultivation using dry stone walls. The vineyard lies amidst calcareous grasslands where orchids grow and is part of a Natura 2000 nature protection site. The Rosport Wine Festival begins at 14:30 on the square by the town hall (9 Rue Henri Tudor).

Pentecost tradition along the Moselle

The Wine Taste Enjoy programme, initiated by Visit Moselle, has become a firm staple of the Pentecost weekend calendar. Winegrowers, wineries and distilleries open their doors on Whit Sunday and Whit Monday (24 and 25 May) and invite visitors to enjoy tastings on terraces and in gardens, often accompanied by culinary specialities.

Wine Taste Enjoy on Whit Sunday and Whit Monday: throughout the Moselle region, wineries, distilleries and restaurants are inviting visitors to come and taste their produce © Photo credit: Visit Moselle 

In addition, musical performances, art exhibitions and walks through the vineyards are sometimes offered. A shuttle bus service connects the villages along the Moselle participating in Wine Taste Enjoy. Further details on the programme can be found at www.visitmoselle.lu.

Organic Wine Festival in Canach on 28 June

And at the end of June, organic wine takes centre stage at the “Kanecher Biowäifest” in Lenningen on 28 June. This event is particularly close to my heart, as I personally initiated it and was able to win over the municipal authorities as well as the Luxembourg organic winegrowers with my idea.

In Canach, the second edition of the “Kanecher Biowäifest” will take place on Sunday 28 June in the village square. The programme includes a walk through the Wéngertsbierg, the birthplace of organic winegrowing in Luxembourg © Photo credit: Romain Welter

Virtually all organic wine producers from the country will be there again, serving a selection of their products on the village square in Canach from 11 am until late afternoon. A walk through the Wéngertsbierg in Canach is also back on the programme.

I’m naturally hoping for good weather, but it really doesn’t need to be as warm as it was at the premiere in 2025, when it reached 32°C…