Whatever happened to the German summer? It certainly ended suddenly this year. At least we can take comfort in a couple things. Despite the cold and rain of the past few days, the weather often picks up towards the end of September, and the season of the wine festival kicks into full swing. Bad Dürkheim's Wurstmarkt figured into many of our past weekend travel plans, and those who missed it this weekend, or didn’t get quite enough, have next weekend to attend as well. And the Rhine and Mosel regions will be hosting yet more celebrations of the grape both large and intimate.

Every year I make a mental note to myself to take steps to maximize enjoyment of these wine fests. Some I act upon, while at other times I miss the mark. But either way, it always ends up a fantastic day out. Here’s my to-do list for responsible attendance:

First off, if taking the train or bus, check schedules on-line to find not only the best ride in, but a means of coming home after the party (a detail that in my exuberance to arrive I have once or twice overlooked). When there are one or several connections involved, this becomes particularly important. Ask anyone who's ever been stranded in Erpolzheim in the wee hours of the night.

Secondly, consider packing a picnic. At Wiesbaden's wine fest years ago, a colleague arrived laden with crusty bread, cheese, sausages, cheese- and a knife and cutting board. While there's no need to forego festival treats such as Flammküchen and Backfish, extra munchies won't hurt in sopping up any excess liquid consumption. A bottle or two of mineral water may go into my backpack as well... much cheaper at Aldi than at one of the festival booths!

While you’re filling up the backpack, why not toss in ibuprofen, aspirin, antacid tablets… our fest tent neighbor happened to have these items at hand when they were called for.

Bring euros, and plenty of them. Hit the ATM machine on base or in your home town so you don’t have to search one out in unfamiliar territory, wait in a long line and wrestle to recall that PIN after a glass or two.

Do a bit of homework about the wines of the region. While I can't complain about any of the wines I tried last time out, none struck me as particular standouts. Next time I plan to be on the lookout for the names of some of the more highly rated vineyards. The Wine Lover's Page has some useful information about Pfalz wines in a Riesling report.

While Bad Dürkheim's big do is a highlight on many of our calendars, there are plenty more wine-related events to come. Check out the upcoming fests on Stripes’ European wine festivals calendar 2008, or search by date by going to the calendar (Veranstaltingstipps) of the German Wine Institute. Don't discount events listed as something other than fests; a day of open doors, for example, can prove a delight. Last year's “Tage der offenen Winzerhöfe und Weinkeller” in the of village of Nierstein, along the Rhine, featured tastings of freshly picked grapes, lots of onion cake and Federweisser, or new wine, and live jazz in several of the restaurants. Rain or shine, warm or cold, that's a recipe for a memorable fall weekend outing.