The Ahr valley was a popular destination for hikers and wine lovers – then the tide came. A conversation with winemaker Ute Körtgen about the reconstruction, vacation in the flood area and the harvest this year.
from
Dominik Prantl
Almost three months after the floods, the majority of the tourist infrastructure in the Ahr Valley is still missing. In addition to 70 percent of the hotels and guesthouses and 80 percent of the catering trade, the railway line, connecting roads and parking lots are partly badly damaged. The Ahr Valley also lives from tourism – and tourism from viticulture. Ute Körtgen, board member of Ahrtal Tourism, lives on both of them. At her Winzerhof Körtgen, which she and her husband have been running in the old town of Ahrweiler for more than 30 years, she offers wine sales, a wine bar and several holiday apartments. At least until recently it did.