Take a walk on the wine side
“Welcome to our WineWalk ‘In the Shadow of the Cathedral’!” With a glass of Secco, a winning smile, and a warm greeting, Thorsten and Volker Griebel kick off their various themed WineWalks through the old town of Mainz. Equipped with a branded handcart stocked with wine bottles in a cooler, the two passionate wine enthusiasts guide groups of up to 20 people through the historic city center. JAoderWEIN
There are eight themed WineWalks to choose from, including one about the inventor of the printing press, Johannes Gutenberg, a smartphone photo walk, the Winemaker Walk, or a tour focusing on the famous Mainz Carnival. Alongside fascinating stories about the selected topic, guests sample up to four different wines at selected stops during the two-hour WineWalk.
JAoderWEIN history Mainz
Wine lovers on the hunt
“We have around 85 wines in our assortment!” – Volker Griebel has counted. “Mainly from Rheinhessen, but also from surrounding regions like the Rheingau, Nahe, and the Middle Rhine,” adds his husband Thorsten.
Both have always had a passion for wine – for Thorsten, it was his father who appreciated Bordeaux wines and Champagne; for Volker, it was excursions. to the Rheingau wine region. Since 2020, the North Frisian Thorsten and the native Mainzer Volker Griebel have turned their hobby into a business. In 2023, they added their wine shop in the Mainz old town as a “base camp.” The lawyer and the economist are now certified wine experts. “We’re always on the lookout for up-and-coming, still unknown small wineries and often surprise our guests. with insider tips!” – their joy for wine shines through. They often have their eye on wineries that later win prices as the “Discovery of the Year” in wine guides – something they’re proud of.
Easy wine knowledge for everyone
Companies often book the WineWalks – but private groups do too. “Guests appreciate the low-barrier entry – there are no dumb questions. about wine with us!” explains Thorsten. What’s the difference between Prosecco and Secco? What is “Blanc de Noirs” ? The Griebels create a relaxed atmosphere on their. wine tours where asking questions is fun. Wine knowledge is shared playfully and with a lot of charm. Even complex topics like orange wine are explained in a relatable way. For instance, by simply telling the story of their own orange wine project with a winemaker friend. They are clearly gifted communicators.
JAoderWEIN history Mainz
Guided by experts
All the tour guides are highly qualified wine experts. The Griebels place great value on quality – they don’t see themselves as a mobile wine bar, but as representatives of a relaxed, modern wine culture.
Guests come from all over Germany – and for international visitors, the WineWalk offers tours in English. Half of the guests are from Mainz and the surrounding area – discovering their hometown in a new, vinological way.
By the way, the current favorite wine is “SCHAPPLI”, a Sauvignon Blanc from the Nahe wine region by Weingut Schappert in Sponheim.
The Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Award 2025 in the category “Wine Tourism Services” goes to the wine shop JAoderWEIN and its WineWalks in Mainz. The jury recognized their regional wine offerings and the unique blend of city history and wine culture “to go” in the historic city of Mainz.
JAoderWEIN history Mainz
More information
Learn more about JA oder WEIN at its website.
Learn more about WineWalk at its website.
About the blogger
TV- and wine journalist Wolfgang Junglas is responsible for tv broadcasts such as “The Election of the German Wine Queen” in the entertainment editorial department at SWR Television in Mainz. He is also a writer, president of Weinfeder e. V., president of FIJEV and lecturer at Geisenheim University, Geisenheim.
Learn more about Rheinhessen and its wine capital Mainz in their page: Mainz | Rheinhessen