Apple Wine: All About Frankfurt's National Drink

If one drink stands for Frankfurt, it’s apple wine. Called “Ebbelwoi” or “Äppler” in the Hessian dialect, it’s far more than a thirst-quencher — it’s a piece of regional identity, bound up with sociable evenings, long tables and a trinking culture all of its own. Let me explain what makes apple wine special, how it’s produced and served, and how to enjoy it like a true Frankfurter.

What is apple wine?

Apple wine is an alcoholic drink made from fermented apple juice. Unlike sweet cider, Frankfurt apple wine is tart, acidic and refreshing, usually with an alcohol content of around five to seven per cent — similar to beer. Its tart, slightly sour character is a matter of taste: first-timers are often surprised, but many quickly develop a liking for the distinctive aroma.

Traditionally, acidic apple varieties are used for Frankfurt apple wine. Some cider houses add speierling (the fruit of the service tree), a rare, tart fruit that lends the apple wine a special note.

How is apple wine made?

The production is simple at heart: apples are pressed, and the resulting juice (the “sweet”) ferments through yeasts that convert the fruit sugar into alcohol. Over weeks, the sweet must becomes the tart, clear apple wine. In and around Frankfurt there are numerous cider houses — from large traditional operations to small farm presses that still produce their apple wine largely by hand.

The Bembel and the ribbed glass: the drinking culture

Apple wine comes with accessories all its own that shape the drinking culture:

• The Bembel: a rounded jug of grey-blue stoneware, usually with a blue pattern, in which the apple wine is served. The Bembel belongs to every genuine apple-wine evening.
• The Geripptes (“ribbed one”): a special glass with a diamond-shaped cut. The pattern has a practical origin — it gives grip even when hands are a little greasy from eating, and it makes the light sparkle beautifully.

Apple wine is served neat or mixed. Popular is the “Sauergespritztes” (with sparkling water) for a lighter, fizzier drink, and the “Süßgespritztes” (with lemonade) for anyone who finds neat apple wine too tart.

Where do you drink apple wine in Frankfurt?

The heart of the apple-wine culture beats in Sachsenhausen, where the traditional apple-wine taverns are concentrated. In the rustic establishments, locals and visitors sit at long tables, share a Bembel and eat typical Hessian dishes with it. But you’ll also find cosy apple-wine taverns in other districts and in the surrounding area. The atmosphere is usually down-to-earth, sociable and warm — it’s easy to get talking here.

What do you eat with it?

Apple wine tastes best with hearty, regional food. Classic companions are:

• Handkäs mit Musik: a tangy sour-milk cheese, marinated with onions, vinegar and oil.
• Green sauce (Grüne Soße): the famous Frankfurt herb sauce made from seven herbs, often with eggs and potatoes.
• Schnitzel, ribs with sauerkraut or bratwurst: hearty classics that go perfectly with the tart apple wine.

This combination of a tart drink and hearty food is typically Hessian and makes an apple-wine evening a real experience.

Tips for your first apple wine

• Try it neat: taste the apple wine neat first to get to know the true flavour.
• Order it mixed: if it’s too tart for you, a “Sauergespritztes” or “Süßgespritztes” helps.
• Share a Bembel: in a group you order a Bembel and pour for one another — sociable and good value.
• Enjoy it with food: apple wine comes into its own with hearty dishes like Handkäs or green sauce.
• Stop in Sachsenhausen: for the authentic experience, the traditional taverns are the best choice.
• Drink slowly: at around five to seven per cent, apple wine is not to be underestimated — enjoy it at leisure.

Conclusion

Apple wine is Frankfurt’s liquid emblem — a tart, honest drink with a long tradition and a culture all its own of Bembel, ribbed glass and sociable long tables. If you really want to get to know Frankfurt, treat yourself to an evening in an apple-wine tavern, order a Bembel and try Handkäs or green sauce with it. My advice: embrace the tart taste, share the Bembel with friends and enjoy the sociable atmosphere. That way you taste a genuine piece of Frankfurt.