Think of Cologne and you might well think of the city’s kölsch beer. But did you know Cologne was actually the epicentre of the wine trade north of the Alps in medieval times? Now, a young generation of winemakers has taken up the baton, continuing the tradition in their own special way: young, wild, and experimental. Here are six places in Cologne where you’ll find divine wine.
- IMI Winery – urban viniculture in Ehrenfeld
- Die Bredouille – Mediterranean flair in the Belgian Quarter
- Grace & Grape – casual glamour in the Latin Quarter
- Frohnatur Bistro und Bar – natural wines in Ehrenfeld
- Maulvoll – wine and music in the Südstadt district
- L’escalier wine bistro – French cuisine in the Belgian Quarter
1. IMI Winery – urban viniculture in Ehrenfeld
Where street art and organic grapes meet is where you’ll find Cologne’s first urban winery. At IMI Winery in the neighbourhood of Ehrenfeld, Mats Hilger, Jonathan Hollerith and Ole Ullenboom create uncompromising wines from grapes from the Palatinate region – fermented on their premises in Cologne.
The trio make their wines using low-intervention methods with no industrial yeast or sugar added, resulting in an unfiltered product that comes straight from nature. Their winegrowing methods are organic too, something that’s very important to Jonathan. And if you’re wondering what “IMI” stands for – it’s a homage to Jonathan’s father, from whom he inherited both the vineyards and a love of wine.
“Each of our wines is unique and has its own, inspiring story,” Mats Hilger tells us. That uniqueness is reflected in the labels, which are adorned with well-known Cologne street art images in a nod to IMI Winery’s home.
There’s something else that makes IMI Winery one of a kind too. “We’re Cologne’s first Straußwirtschaft,” Mats proudly tells us, using a term that refers to private bars winegrowers are allowed to open for a certain period to sell their own wines and light meals without having to be licensed. The team at the winery have just recently been given permission to open one.
Events at IMI Winery: tastings and live music every Saturday
Equipped with their permit, they’ll be transforming their salesroom with its centrepiece wooden table into a wine bar full of urban flair until the middle of August. “We’ll be opening our Straußwirtschaft every Saturday and serving up IMI wines, live bands and DJ sets,” Mats adds. If you’re feeling peckish, they’ll be Austrian specialities like Bergkäse cheese and air-dried sausage, accompanied by good-quality bread. Definitely worth a visit!
IMI Winery also hosts workshops and events like art show openings. Our tip: take part in a wine tasting, where you can try a selection of the wines they make here.
Address: Körnerstraße 20, 50823 Cologne
Find out more at: www.imi-winery.de
2. Die Bredouille – Mediterranean flair in the Belgian Quarter
Five friends, one vision – a place that combines wine and culture. Die Bredouille is a wine bar, living room and performance space rolled into one. The menu features a wide range of European wines and fine Mediterranean snacks.
Die Bredouille hosts regular events and is also a popular venue for private gatherings. Be it speed dating, art exhibitions, jumble sales or DJ sets – you’ll find Cologne’s crème de la crème rubbing shoulders with inquisitive newcomers here.
And Die Bredouille does it all with style and no airs and graces. The front area is dominated by wood and concrete. Near the window is a good spot if you’re here with a group of friends. The rear area, with its dark blue walls and huge, golden fringe chandeliers, is perfect for special occasions and dinner dates. In the summer, there’s outdoor seating too, where you can watch the hustle and bustle on Venloer Straße over a glass of wine.
This place has a cool wine list with all the current “flavours of the month”. So there’s orange wine (white wine that’s made in the same way as red wine), pet nat (spontaneously fermented sparkling wine), funky wine (unfiltered wine with unconventional flavours) as well as non-alcoholic drinks. Bar snacks are available if you just want a light bite or there are platters if you need something a bit more substantial.
Address: Venloer Straße 22, 50672 Cologne
Find out more at: www.die-bredouille.de
3. Grace & Grape – casual glamour in the Latin Quarter
Grace & Grape blends award-winning bar culture with a laid-back ambience. Stephan Hinz and his team are masters of their trade and you can taste their expertise in every sip. Their wine bar in the Latin Quarter has wine lovers and cocktail fans alike coming back for more. In addition to a range of grape-based cocktails and sophisticated snacks, there are also regular events here, including workshops and tastings.
With its mix of cool industrial aesthetic and warm wooden hues, the interior design exudes a special charm. But the terrace is wonderful too! Choose from a range of over 20 wines by the glass – including specialities like sparkling pear or apple wine – and innovative cocktails like Apple Margarita or Raspberry Pisco with pollen.
Address: Kyffhäuserstraße 17, 50674 Cologne
Find out more at: www.graceundgrape.de
4. Frohnatur Bistro & Bar – natural wines in former red-light bars
Hints of a red-light past, a young gastro collective and natural wines from across Europe – that’s the innovative concoction you get a double serving of at Frohnatur Bistrooo and Bar Bar Bar on Friesenplatz square. The concept is the brainchild of restaurateurs and wine enthusiasts Johannes Ipfelkofer and Pauline Schmeling, who’ve converted two former red-light hangouts into cool wine bars.
Frohnatur Bistro is the place for an impromptu glass of good wine and something light to eat. All of the wines come with the Demeter certified biodynamic label and are free of chemicals and artificial yeast. There’s also an assortment of hand-picked food and snacks, all at affordable prices.
The bright interior, with its exposed walls and blue tables, is a lovely place to while away the hours but the spacious terrace outside is even lovelier. Our tip: when summer comes, chill outside over a portion of oysters and champagne.
If you want a night out on the town, move one door on to kick the evening off at Frohnatur Bar. They do light alcoholic beverages and good wine, accompanied by the occasional DJ set. “No reservations, just fun” is the slogan here.
Address: Frohnatur Bistrooo, Friesenwall 84, 50672 Cologne
Find out more at: www.frohnatur.wine
5. Maulvoll – wine and music in the Südstadt district
Owner Achim Rudolph has a fine selection of wines on offer, including orange wines. Never heard of them? Allow us to explain… They’re white wines that are produced in the same way as red wines. The grape skins stay in the fermenting juice longer, which adds colour, structure and character. They tend to have a tangy taste – very different to the fruity white wine people are used to.
They host intimate gigs here every Wednesday, providing a musical accompaniment to their wine offering. With everything from indie to jazz and pop, electro and psychedelic rock, the Maulvoll wine bar is the perfect meeting place for wine connoisseurs of all ages.
The range of wines is extensive – the amount of space limited. Maulvoll used to be a little wine shop so it can get a little full. At the counter, you’ll quickly find yourself chatting to other guests. If you’re here for the music, your best bet is to sit in the rear section so you’re close to the stage.
In the summer, the terrace is a particular highlight. If you’re not already a fan, pull up one of the mix-and-match chairs here, grab a spot in the sunshine and you’ll soon understand why this place is so popular.
Address: Im Ferkulum 30, 50678 Cologne
Find out more at: www.instagram.com/maulvoll
6. L’escalier wine bistro – French cuisine in the Belgian Quarter
Visitors to L’escalier can enjoy Paris bistro flair paired with Cologne’s typical style of plain-speaking. Its “no-bullshit cuisine for wine lovers and belt-looseners” is based on quality and flavour, promising “disco for the taste buds, not poetry for the palate”. Ready to feel your taste buds dancing?
“We’re huge Paris fans and love France’s bistro culture – fabulous food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere. We wanted to bring that to Cologne,” says Daniel Lengsfeld, who runs L’escalier with his wife, Stephanie.
For Daniel and Stephanie, it’s important the chefs and barkeepers don’t use any industrial products. Everything’s made by hand or sourced from carefully selected producers and a lot of the products are organic. Be it the hand-cut fries served with the steak au poivre or the house-fermented kombucha.
The wine range here is ginormous. The list includes far more than 100 wines from all over Europe, from Germany’s winegrowing regions to Slovenia to Hungary. But there’s plenty for mindful drinkers too – house-made infusions, kombucha or the house lemonade made from Amalfi lemons, to name but a few options.
“We actually consider ourselves a restaurant more than a bar,” says Daniel. His recommendation is to “try a selection of dishes or order the daily surprise menu with perfectly matched wines.”
Address: Brüsseler Straße 11, 50674 Cologne
Find out more at: www.weinbistrolescalier.de
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