We had a fabulous 2 day break here last week. Very quiet village in a pretty, unspoilt and beautiful area of south-west Germany close to Alsace and Switzerland. Our room was immaculate; simply but elegantly furnished, stunning bathroom with power shower and a nice touch of mineral water and fruit. The bedroom backed-on to the vinyards which are everywhere in this region, so we took the opportunity to walk through them on a warm and sunny day, it was so quiet and relaxing. The hotel is also home to one of Germany's top gastronomic enterprises; the owners the Keller family run one of the best wineries in the country and their restaurant holds a Michelin 1 star. Host Fritz is such an amiable chap, and is more than willing to take you on a tour through his underground cellars which are chiseled out of the rocks and run 2kms underground.
The restaurant itself takes you back to the good old days of good food, fine wine and impeccable service by staff dressed-up in elegant, stylish uniforms, although it has such a "homely" atmosphere that it is not at all stuffy like many fine dining establishments in this part of the world. We had lunch on the open terrace on day 1; simple sea-bass in white sauce and home made pasta with local mushrooms, followed by local raspberry and chocolate tart (the area is one of the warmest in Germany and fruit orchards are everywhere), the raspberries were the best we'd ever had. In the evening we dined in the main restaurant, both having the 5 course set menu for 68 Euros each---it was a gastronomic delight, beautifully cooked and presented with superb service from an army of waiters. The winelist is astonishing; 2200 wines from all over the world, but mainly from the Keller's winery and France, including 200 half bottles. Never in my life of traveling the world had I seen such variety in any hotel! We wanted to stick with the local theme, so we left the choice of wines up to the excellent sommelier Melanie. She chose 3 half bottles from their winery to match the first 4 courses, and then a superb sweet wine from another German region to finish the meal off. Total bill for the night came to 195 Euros, not cheap, but it was a special night for our 20th wedding anniversary!. My wife and I both agreed it was one of those nights that would remain in our minds (and stomachs) forever. We had a nice end to the evening when Mr. and Mrs. Keller invited us to join them for a glass of champagne, local of course, to end a beautiful evening---or was it an invitation to leave as by this time it was 1am!
This place is a real gem. The quality of the accomodation, the standard of food and wine, the service and hospitality plus the location are just ideal for a complete getaway from the pressures of daily life. WARNING: No dvd's, no hifi, no room service, no bed turndowns, no ashtrays for sale, no pool or gym---just relax, enjoy the walks, fresh air and let the time slip slowly by.....................

I went to the Schwarzer Adler this week and must say this is one of the rare places these days where hospitality is still celebrated. This is a family run business where the owners are very much present and look after their guests. Food and wine (they produce their own wine) are excellent. All staff are extremely friendly. If you are in the region this is a "must go" even just for lunch or dinner.