History of the Alte Rebschule

Vine nursery. Inn. Hotel

In 1927, the Kästenberg Vine Grafting Institute was built with public funding in order to develop methods to combat phylloxera, which was destroying hectare after hectare of productive vineyards. Grafted vines were used against phylloxera, the first biological method to combat a pest. Until it was closed in 1969 . In 1977, the estate became private property. The condition at the time was that a hotel was to be built. This laid the foundation stone for today's feel-good hotel. The former refinement building was transformed into today's Sesel Inn. The feel-good hotel Alte Rebschule emerged from the old farm building. The manager's building was converted into a residential building and offices. Today you can park your car on the site of the old greenhouse. Basically, the phylloxera is to blame for everything, because without it, the Wohlfühlhotel Alte Rebschule would not exist in this form today.

Historical photograph of a building complex with several gabled houses and a long extension, surrounded by a fence and trees.

Two people are standing between the grapevines. One person is standing on a ladder. The other person is holding the ladder steady.

Historic building complex with residential house and farm buildings, surrounded by unpaved paths and fields.

2002 The Hafen family and the Rebschul estate

The Hafen family buys the Alte Rebschule estate.

2004 Opening

The Alte Rebschule wellness hotel opens.

2008 Certification Service Quality Germany

The Wohlfühlhotel Alte Rebchule has been awarded the first level 1 Service Quality Germany certification.

2009 Sesel Inn

The Gasthaus Sesel falls under the management of the hotel.

2011 Extension and innovations

An extension with a swimming pool, fitness room and conference rooms, as well as barrique rooms and wine suites is opened.

2016 Host of the year

The Wohlfühlhotel Alte Rebschule receives the 2016 Host of the Year award in Rhineland-Palatinate.

2019 Certification and start of construction

The hotel receives the first Service Quality Germany Level 2 certification and construction of the new wellness area begins.

2020 SPA Rebenmeer

The new SPA Rebenmeer wellness area is opened.

The Hafen and Schäfer family

Viticulture has been practiced by the Hafen family for three generations. The last harvest at Weingut Schönhof took place in 2003, before the estate was sold in 2006. A few years earlier, there was already a desire to add a hotel to the winery. There was not enough space around the winery in Neustadt-Diedesfeld, so the Hafen family started looking for a suitable location. This led to the purchase of the Alte Rebschule site in 2002 and the opening of the 4-star hotel in 2004. The Hafen family could not have found a more beautiful location in the Palatinate.

In 2008, Sonja Hafen married her husband Bernd Schäfer. He is also a winemaker and so the wine tradition was continued in the Hafen family. Bernd Schäfer runs his winery in Edenkoben and also supplies his wines to the Alte Rebschule feel-good hotel, among others.

Schäfer Winery

The Schäfer winery is located on the southern edge of Edenkoben, directly in the vineyards. The family business has been growing grapes for generations. The wines come from a single source, from environmentally friendly care in the vineyard to ageing in the cellar.

The family business is run by winemaking technician Bernd Schäfer, with the active support of his parents, Martha and Herbert Schäfer.

The vineyards cover 8 hectares. The main grape varieties for white wines are Riesling, Silvaner and Rivaner, and for red wines Pinot Noir, Dornfelder and Portugieser.

What flows from the wine press ferments and matures in the historic vaulted cellar. A long yeast storage period, extremely gentle treatment of the wine and a great deal of care and sensitivity are the guarantee for delicately fruity wines, from dry quality wines to noble sweet Beerenauslese. The sensitive vinification is reflected in the quality of the wines, which is confirmed by numerous awards.

Sonja Schäfer, née Hafen, and Bernd Schäfer have been happily married since February 15, 2008.

The Alte Rebschule wine family

For Sonja Schäfer and her parents Hannelore and Stephan Hafen, wine has been a family affair for many years. They use their knowledge and experience as winegrowers and winery owners in the Wohlfühlhotel Alte Rebschule and, as wine scouts in the Palatinate wine scene, are always on the lookout for the best quality at a good price/performance ratio.

Outstanding wines from selected Palatinate winegrowers are gathered in the wine program of the Alte Rebschule.
Here you can get to know outstanding wines and their producers. Learn more about the products and the people behind them at professionally guided wine tastings and culinary wine events.

Consciously enjoying wine as an individual or shared experience is part of the hotel's feel-good repertoire.

For practical implementation, we recommend studying the wine list and our wine program with the range for purchase. If you take the wines home with you at vintner's prices, this shortens the distances and prolongs the enjoyment in the long term!

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Customer testimonials

What our guests say

We have been to the "Alte Rebschule" several times and it has always been TOP. Starting with breakfast, through the snack to the 4-course menu in the evening, which is always excellent. Here you can find peace and quiet from the stress of everyday life.

The Hotel Alte Rebschule near Rhodt unter Rietburg is beautifully situated in the vineyards and offers a lovely view over the Rhine plain. The room was very nice, especially large and nicely furnished. The staff were friendly and attentive.

The feel-good hotel Alte Rebschule is located on the edge of the forest with a magnificent view over the vineyards. A place to completely switch off. We had a wonderfully light-flooded seminar room. The food, the service and the rooms were excellent. We had a great yoga weekend here.

Excellent hotel with a wonderful view in an absolutely quiet location. Very good cuisine, very nice wellness and pool area. You have to go there again.

Great hotel in the middle of the vineyards with pool and wellness area. Depending on the room, beautiful view over the Rhine Valley. Ideal starting point for hikes. Very good food and friendly staff.