Kölner Weinmuseum
Wine and oenology museum in Cologne with a walkable rooftop vineyard — over 40 grape varieties across 720 vines.
since 2010
The Kölner Weinmuseum is dedicated to wine and oenology — the science of wine. Its most striking feature is a fully accessible vineyard planted on the building's rooftop.
At a Glance
- Type
- Wine and oenology museum
- Operator
- Weinmuseum Köln e.V. (registered association)
- Location
- Neustadt/Nord, on the northern edge of the city centre, near the Zoobrücke
- Founded
- 2010
- Rooftop vineyard
- accessible planting with over 40 grape varieties across 720 vines
- Distinction
- the only museum of its kind in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Opening hours
- Wednesday to Friday, March through November; closed in winter
On the museum's rooftop, 720 grapevines from over 40 different varieties are growing – and the vineyard was planted as early as 2003, a full seven years before the museum itself opened in 2010.
Things to do here
- Explore the rooftop vineyard and marvel at over 40 grape varieties on 720 vines
- Spot the differences between grape varieties in leaf, cluster and growth
- Compare different vine-training methods – stake and pergola
- View historic wine bottles, barrels and tools in the exhibition
- Learn about viticulture, cellar techniques and terroir
- Dive into the history of Cologne's wine growing and trade
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
The Rooftop Vineyard
The vineyard was planted in 2003 and comprises 720 vines from over 40 grape varieties, arranged on a sloped surface. When the grapes are ripe, visitors can taste them. Guests can spot differences between varieties in growth habit, leaf shape, and bunch formation, and compare different training systems — including the classic German Stockerziehung (single-stake method) and the Pergola style common in South Tyrol.
Themes and Collection
The interior covers several themes: viticulture, cellar technology and wine maturation, terroir, and general wine knowledge. A dedicated section traces the history of wine growing and trade in Cologne. The collection includes wine bottles, barrels, and tools from earlier centuries.
History
The Wittling family, still the business owners today, originally opened a delicatessen and grocery store in 1928. From the 1970s onwards the business shifted its focus to wine retail, and in 2010 the family founded the museum as a registered association. It is housed in the premises of the Kölner Wein Depot, where the family also runs a specialist wine shop. The chairperson is Markus Wittling, a graduate engineer in viticulture and oenology.
Timeline
- 1928Wittling family opens a delicatessen and grocery store
- 1970sBusiness specialises in wine trade
- 2003Vineyard planted on the roof (720 vines, 40+ varieties)
- 2010Cologne Wine Museum founded as a registered association
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
Address
Amsterdamer Str. 1
50668 Köln
Contact
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Sources & links
- Official website
- Official website (retrieved 2026-06-25)
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-06-23)
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-06-23, rev 251835507)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-26
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