Wine Country of Pfalz, Germany

Spring begins with the almond blossom along the German Wine Route. At the end of February, or perhaps the beginning of March, thousands of almond trees are already visible from as far away as the Rhineland Plain as dots of colour along the edge of the vineyards.

In April, the sea of vines between Bockenheim and Schweigen starts to take on a delicate shade of green and the first spring vegetables and asparagus from the Palatinate come to market. The fruit trees and the sweet chestnuts are in bloom. Chestnuts and grapes were introduced to the region by the Romans.

After the vines have blossomed in June, with the fragrance from millions of flowers filling the air, the lush green foliage grows unchecked during the summer, creating the characteristic scenery of the German Wine Route.

As the grape harvest begins in September the wine villages fill with the scent of wine must, which is left to ferment in the cellars or served to accompany "Zwiebelkuchen", a local bacon and onion flan. The autumn countryside is ablaze with every shade of red and gold, the woods are full of chestnuts, mushrooms, nuts and berries, just waiting to be picked. Many autumn fruits are used in local kitchens and restaurants, such as chestnuts to accompany game, mushrooms with pasta and preserved figs for desserts.

The Palatinate is the southernmost wine region in Rhineland-Palatinate. Around 22,200 hectares are under vine in the Mittelhaardt/German Wine Route and Southern Wine Route areas. Müller-Thurgau and Riesling flourish particularly well here, in addition to the red wine varieties of Pinot Noir, Portugieser and Dornfelder. Wachenheim, Forst, Deidesheim and St. Martin are just a few of the many well-known wine villages in this region.

The tradition of viticulture in the Palatinate dates back many centuries. The oldest bottle of wine in the world, reputedly 1,600 years old and kept in the wine museum in Speyer, has its origins in the Palatinate.

Classic grape varieties
Winemakers in this region with around 23,000 hectares under vine are now concentrating on classic grape varieties. Riesling predominates, being grown on about 20 per cent of the area, although pinot varieties are quickly catching up. Red wines are becoming increasingly important, especially Dornfelder, the Palatinate success story that caused a stir a few years ago. Pinot Noir and Regent are also becoming more popular.

The sunny side of Germany - the Palatinate
A picturesque expanse of vineyards with a mild, Mediterranean-style climate, the German Wine Route holiday region is known for its wine-making villages with narrow, winding streets and the many castles and palaces running along the edge of the Haardt hills. The German Wine Route covers an area around five kilometres wide and more than 80 kilometres long, from Bockenheim, home of the German Wine Route events centre, to the French border.

Culture and events in the Palatinate: castles and wine festivals
There are numerous wine festivals in the region, especially along the German Wine Route.

The Bad Dürkheim Wurstmarkt, held every year on two weekends in September, is the biggest wine festival in the world. In addition to a wide range of Palatinate specialities, including Pfälzer Saumagen (stuffed pork belly), Riesling ham, and homemade blood and liver sausage, there are some 150 different wines to taste. At Bad Dürkheim you can also enjoy wine in the biggest wine barrel in the world, actually a tavern and restaurant.

The German Grape Harvest Festival is held every September in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse. The election of the German Wine Queen also takes place in Neustadt. Overlooking the town is Hambach Castle, known as the birthplace of German democracy.