Palatinate wine

The history of viticulture in the Palatinate dates back to Roman times, when the Romans introduced viticulture to the region. In the Middle Ages, viticulture was continued by monasteries and the nobility, and the region experienced a boom in the 19th century. In recent decades, the wine industry in the Palatinate has continued to develop and modernize, resulting in higher quality wines. The Palatinate has undergone a strong development in recent times, both in terms of the quantity of wine produced and the quality achieved. It has become one of the most important German wine regions and more and more awards and ratings are being won by renowned wine critics and experts for Palatinate wines.

The warm climate in the Palatinate is characterized by Atlantic influences and has mild winters and warm summer temperatures, with many hours of sunshine. The soil consists of sand, loess, loamy earth and limestone, which in combination provide good drainage and nutrients for the vines. These soil and climate conditions make it possible to grow a wide range of grape varieties.

The wine-growing region, which lies to the south of Rheinhessen, is known for its sunny locations and mild climate. In fact, the Palatinate receives an average of 1800 hours of sunshine a year, so according to advertising claims, it has an almost Mediterranean climate.

The Palatinate wines are known for their fruitiness and elegance. Red wines such as Pinot Noir and Dornfelder are generally very fruity, with few tannins and low acidity. White wines such as Riesling and Pinot Gris usually have a characteristically high acidity and a pronounced mineral note.

In the Palatinate, a total of 78 white and 53 red grape varieties are cultivated by around 3,600 wineries - mainly Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Muscat and Scheurebe. At the Lingenfelder winery you can even find the rare Morio-Muskat, a natural cross between Muscat and Silvaner. Georg Lingenfelder produces one of the best Morio-Muskat wines in the region. The Palatinate is basically cultivated in 25 large vineyards and 325 individual vineyards.

The Palatinate Riesling is characterized by yellow-fruity notes and a lively acidity. In the south of the Palatinate, the Southern Wine Route, the strength in winegrowing lies in Burgundy. Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and also Pinot Gris thrive particularly well in this part of the Palatinate on the deep, nutrient-rich loam and loess soils.

Pfalz wines are generally fruity and elegant, with a good balance between acidity and tannins. Red wines such as Pinot Noir and Dornfelder are generally very fruity, with few tannins and low acidity. White wines such as Riesling and Pinot Gris usually have a characteristically high acidity and a pronounced mineral note. Palatinate wines are known for their fruitiness and elegance.

The Palatinate is the second largest wine-growing region with around 228 km² and one of the largest and most productive wine regions in Germany. The region produces around 3.5 million hectoliters of wine every year. In terms of ratings, the wines from the Palatinate have recently received more and more awards and ratings from renowned wine critics, which has established the region and its wines as one of the best German wine regions.