Bopparder Hamm, Vineyard and river bend in Boppard, Germany

The Bopparder Hamm is the largest loop of the Rhine, between Boppard and Spay, about twelve kilometres south of Koblenz. The name comes from the Latin hamus, meaning hook, referring to the S-shape of the river bend. The left-bank slopes form the largest contiguous vineyard area of the Middle Rhine, about 75 hectares, with Riesling, Rivaner and Spätburgunder.

Wine cultivation began here in Roman times when soldiers brought grape varieties and established the first growing methods along these slopes. Over centuries, these initial efforts developed into the large continuous vineyard area that exists today.

Wine growing shapes how locals view their landscape and connects them to generations of family tradition. You see this identity reflected in the terraced slopes and small estates that dot the hillsides throughout the area.

The best time to visit is during the growing season when the vines are leafy and the landscape is most active. Wear sturdy shoes because the paths between the vineyards are steep and sometimes uneven.

The name Hamm probably comes from the Latin hamus, meaning hook, referring to the S-shape of the river loop. Below the left-bank slopes lay the village of Peternach, which was destroyed in the Thirty Years' War and never rebuilt, leaving a deserted settlement.