Paul Koop presents his company and his city in a relaxed and casual manner. Credit: MainzGuide
You see them more often in Mainz: Wearing a cool hoodie with a logo print and holding a wine glass in their hands, young people stroll relaxed through the historic city centre. Paul Koop or his three teammates Simon, Lennard and Björn City guide visitors purposefully to hidden corners. They lead them to wine taverns between the historic half-timbered houses or to wine shops and the New Synagogue in the new town quarter of Mainz.
Wine and finger food are available at all stops along the way. Paul, Simon, Lennard and Björn know their (chosen) home region very well and also vividly convey the Rheinhessen way of life: “Mainz embodies two thousand years of history, from the Romans to Napoleon, Rheinhessen cuisine with ‘Weck, Worscht un Woi’ and open-minded inhabitants who have a flippant saying on their lips at any time of day,” explains Paul.
The young man knows a thing or two about cuisine: He comes from a family of restaurateurs and works as a flight attendant in Lufthansa First Class. In 2020, he founded MainzGuide – city tours with a difference. An original guided tour in Frankfurt inspired him. The cosmopolitan Paul breathed new life into the classic tourist tour. And he brought a breath of fresh air: He presents the lively city with its diversity in a relaxed way. This is how international guests are welcomed.
A guided tour through Mainz offers pleasure for all senses. Credit: Dominik Ketz
Entertaining entrepreneur
In 2022, the enterprising Paul also opened the pop-up bar PAULS Weinbar. The event location complements MainzGuide’s all-round offer and is a starting point on the tour. The wine tours are advertised via social media, especially Instagram.
The WINE HOUSE TOUR in the old town is particularly popular: The most beautiful places there are the Kirschgarten and wine locations such as the legendary Bluhm wine house. The three wines Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Rosé are also on the 2-hour programme: Paul and the other MainzGuides always present these places in an informative and entertaining way.
Old- and New town, summer and winter
With a good glass of wine you can experience the Mainz way of life. Credit: Dominik Ketz
The new town quarter of Mainz also has a lot to offer: Rosé wine is poured for visitors at the New Synagogue. The unique architecture is a reminder of the 2000-year history of the SCHuM city of Mainz and its Jewish inhabitants. Riesling follows during a visit to a wine shop. The tour ends with RAUMLAND sparkling wine from one of Germany’s best sparkling wine producers. Guests get lots of information about a time when Mainz doubled its population.
These tours not only work in summer with a stop at an ice cream parlour – but also in winter. White and red mulled wine then provide welcome warmth.
The colours of the rainbow
MainzGuide is also on the move when it comes to rainbow colours: inspired by Christopher Street Day, Paul Koop offered a wine walk with secco and queer facts from Mainz’s city history as part of the after-work event “Queer und Quirlig”. “The queer MainzGuide tour was very well received, we’ll do it again!” the cosmopolitan Mainz native is convinced.
The casual look is a trademark of MainzGuide Paul Koop. Credit: MainzGuide
When river cruise ships dock in Mainz, Paul and his team are often booked as MainzGuides for an international audience. The crew’s speciality are team events: MainzGuide organises everything to do with team meetings – from coworking spaces and delicious food to visits to vineyards. Included is – of course – also a relaxed tour of the old town in a cool hoodie.
The prize for the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Award 2023 in the “Wine Tourism Service” category goes to “MainzGuide”. The creative approach of redesigning the classic city tour with wine and a modern approach made a lasting impression on the jury.
More information
To learn more about “MainzGuide” visit the website.
About the blogger:
TV- and wine journalist Wolfgang Junglas is responsible for tv broadcasts such as “The Election of the German Wine Queen” in the entertainment editorial department at SWR Television in Mainz. He is also a writer, president of Weinfeder e. V., president of FIJEV and lecturer at Geisenheim University, Geisenheim.
Learn more about Rheinhessen and its wine capital Mainz on their page: Mainz | Rheinhessen