Tuesday 2/8/16

Docking into Cochem we were greeted with a rainy day.  We had been so lucky the previous days with glorious sunshine. The options for Tours today were:

1. Walking Tour with Cochem Castle and a visit to a unique wine-making exhibits at Schlagkamp Winery and Wine Museum.
2. Guided Bicycle Tour

As it was raining heavily it was decided it was a bit too dangerous to do the bicycle tour.

We had chosen the Castle and again decided to go in the slow group. We  had all been advised that to get to the castle it was a very steep walk along cobblestones. The slow group was to go in a mini bus.  The large buses can only go so far.  As it was raining, our wonderful Tour Director had organized mini buses and several groups.  Some would do the winery first then the castle or the other way round. Our group was to do the Winery first, Castle second.  All i could think of was   a couple of drinks and I will be tumbling down those wet slippery cobblestones right down into the Mosele River.  I wonder if my sisters were thinking the same.

The Winery was fascinating with the walls covered in old machinery that dated back 100’s of years of Wine making. This winery has been making wine for over 400 years.  Andreas Schlagkamp, representing the 11th generation of his family to run the estate, has made it his personal mission to both protect the region’s unparalleled  steep vineyards and revive historically important grape varieties.

The wine was  titillating on the taste buds, and Paula and I purchased a bottle each of the Rotor Weinbergpfirisich Likor to bring home.

Cochem is a beautiful quaint town on the Moselle river. Before and after the wine tasting  we all had a walk through Cochem.  So pretty and another place that one day I will go back to.