The trail features 12 info stations, showcasing the university’s efforts to find solutions for the future of viticulture. Topics addressed include strategies for water retention, enhancing biodiversity in the vineyard, and the role of agri-photovoltaics, grapevine breeding or historic forms of viticulture in climate-proof landscapes. Information boards, steles, and short videos (accessible via QR code) illustrate the research projects.
Now open to the public, this freely accessible trail is designed for students, winemakers, industry experts, and all those interested in the university’s diverse research initiatives. The university will also organize guided tours, for example as part of the Science Night on September 25, 2026.
For the trail’s official opening, Hochschule Geisenheim University welcomed numerous guests from academia and politics, as well as representatives from the local wine and tourism industry. After some personal greetings from Magnus Milde from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, and Geisenheim’s mayor Christian Aßmann, the group boarded the “Winzerexpress” mini-train which took them to the start of the trail. With the unveiling of an information panel, the trail was officially inaugurated.
Research in Collaboration with the Region
“The new research trail is an important part of our knowledge transfer strategy”, said Prof. Dr. Annette Reineke, Vice-President of Research at Hochschule Geisenheim University. “As a university, our mission is not only to conduct world-class research, but also to share our findings with society, the professional world, and the region. The research trail illustrates how we approach key questions for the future – from sustainable land use and climate adaption to protecting biodiversity – and makes the results available to the public.”
The research trail was created as part of the GeisTreich program for knowledge transfer, jointly run by Hochschule Geisenheim University and the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE). The program is committed to promoting collaboration between researchers, regional stakeholders and the local community regarding the future of viticulture and the cultural landscape in the Rheingau. GeisTreich stands for “Geisenheim Knowledge Transfer Program for Biodiverse and Multifunctional Viticulture” and is co-funded by the German Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and the “Innovative University” initiative by the German Federal Government and the Federal States.
Prof. Dr. Ilona Leyer, scientific head of the project, emphasized the importance of the new trail for the professional world: “The stations showcase practical solutions to the challenges facing viticulture and cultural landscapes, such as making vineyards more resilient to climate change. Research findings shouldn’t just be published in professional journals or shared at conferences, they must provide answers exactly where they are needed: in the vineyards, in collaboration with the stakeholders and across the region.”
Dr. Verena Rossow, project leader at ISOE and responsible for knowledge transfer, highlighted the role of the new trail for an enhanced collaboration between research and society. “The research trail makes research tangible and offers digestible insights into even complex topics. It actively fosters an informed regional dialogue on current developments in viticulture and the collaborative shaping of a sustainable cultural landscape.”
Part of a Comprehensive Transfer Program
Der Forschungspfad ergänzt weitere Transferformate des Programms GeisTreich. Dazu zählen die digitale „Plattform des Wissens“ auf der GeisTreich-Website, der Animationsfilm „Landschaft ist veränderbar“ zu Zukunftsbildern der Kulturlandschaft sowie Bildungsformate für Studierende und Schülerinnen und Schüler. Hinzu kommt das HGU-Forschungsmobil als mobiler Lern- und Ausstellungsraum, das ab 2027 Forschung direkt in die Region bringen und den Dialog mit unterschiedlichen Zielgruppen weiter ausbauen soll. The research trail complements other knowledge transfer initiatives of the GeisTreich program, such as the “Platform for Knowledge” on the GeisTreich website, the animated video “Landscape is Always Evolving”, which visualizes possible future developments for the landscape, as well as educational formats for students. Another standout project is the HGU “Research Van“ – a mobile study and exhibition format scheduled for 2027 – which will make research even more tangible and aim to foster dialogue with different target groups.
More Information
For more information on the research trail, the individual stations and the explanatory videos, please go to: geistreich.hs-geisenheim.de/geistreich-interaktiv/der-forschungspfad or watch the university’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@campusgeisenheim.
