Wine culture Oestrich-Winkel is characterized by
winegrowing. The following places are cultivated: • Oestrich: Lenchen, Doosberg, Klosterberg, Pfaffenberg • Mittelheim: Edelmann, St. Nikolaus, Goldberg • Winkel: Dachsberg, Hasensprung, Gutenberg, Jesuitengarten, Bienengarten,
Schloß Vollrads • Hallgarten: Jungfer, Würzgarten, Schönhell, Hendelberg, Mehrhölzchen
Sightseeing The
Oestricher Kran, Oestrich-Winkel's main landmark, is a former wine-loading
crane from the 18th century for loading and unloading ships. Completed in 1745, it was working until 1926. Inside the crane are two
treadmills in each of which two men used their body weight to work a
winch, which could then lift loads onto or off ships. It is the last preserved wine-loading crane on the Rhine's right bank. There were once also such cranes in
Lorch,
Eltville and
Rüdesheim. These cranes can still be found in existence along the Rhine at
Andernach (stone; loaded
tuff,
millstones and wine barrels) and
Bingen (wood, loaded mainly wine barrels). In Mittelheim is found one of Germany's oldest stone churches,
St.-Aegidius-Basilika (“
Saint Giles’s Basilica”). In Winkel stands Germany's oldest stone house, the
Graues Haus (“Grey House”). For a long time it was believed that
Rabanus Maurus lived and in 856 died there.
Schloss Vollrads, outside Winkel, with its ancient
watertower likewise belongs among the noteworthy sights. On the town's northeast limit near
Hattenheim stands Schloss Reichartshausen (founded in the 12th century) with its outbuildings, which about 1900 were remodelled to look like
follies. It nowadays houses the
European Business School. In the middle of the community stands the
Brentanohaus. Here,
Goethe spent some time in 1814 as a guest of the Frankfurt
banking family Brentano. The family's children were
Clemens, Gunda and
Bettina Brentano. Karoline von Günderrode, a poet and one of Bettina's friends, stabbed herself here in Winkel in 1806 on the Rhine's bank out of
lovesickness and life weariness. Since 2003, the barn across from the
Brentanohaus has hosted the cultural and event venue
Brentanoscheune (
Scheune means “barn”). Oestrich-St Martin-02-2021-gje.jpg|
St. Martin, Oestrich Oestrich kran.JPG|Oestrich Crane Mittelheim-Basilika St Aegidius-10-2021-gje.jpg|Saint Giles’s Basilica Winkel-Graues Haus-02-2021-gje.jpg|Grey House Winkel-Hrabanus Maurus-04-2021-gje.jpg|Rabanus Maurus memorial Oestrich-Winkel-Schloss Vollrads-06-2021-gje.jpg|Schloss Vollrads Oestrich-Winkel-Schloss Vollrads-22-Turm-2021-gje.jpg|Schloss Vollrads tower Winkel-St Walburga-20-2021-gje.jpg|Church of St. Walburga
Regular events These include the
Lenchenfest (a wine festival), the
Dippemarkt (a market with a
funfair the Christmas market (
Weihnachtsmarkt) and Jazz Week (
Jazzwoche).
Rheingau Musik Festival The
Rheingau Musik Festival has its office in Oestrich in a former winery, the presshouse (Kelterhalle) converted to a hall for intimitate concerts and events. Festival concerts have taken place in the basilica St. Aegidius, such as a recital of
Elisabeth Scholl. == Economy and infrastructure ==