the wine growing area of Weltachs
When people talk about Germany, the first things that comes in their mind is: Mercedes, BMW, Porsche,
Audi. Few people realize that Germany has a very long wine making tradition.
Audi. Few people realize that Germany has a very long wine making tradition.
Wine making has been brought to Germany by the Romans over 800 years ago and gets constantly
enhanced.
enhanced.
Today, wine lovers recognize the outstanding quality of German white and red wines all over the world.
Being the number one producer for high class dessert wines such as Eiswein (ice wine) and being the
world largest producer of Riesling wines, Germany is back to high international recognition.
Being the number one producer for high class dessert wines such as Eiswein (ice wine) and being the
world largest producer of Riesling wines, Germany is back to high international recognition.
The Pfalz is Germany’s second largest wine growing region with a vineyard area of 23,363 ha.
Bordered by Rheinhessen to the north, the Haardt Mountains to the west, the Rhine River to the
east and the French Alsace region to the south, the Pfalz’s vineyards sweep across this remarkably
pretty, peaceful land for nearly 80 kilometres (50 miles). Its climate is much like that of Alsace and it is
the sunniest and driest of the German wine regions.
45 white and 22 red grape varieties are grown, with approximately 60% of the total area under vine
planted with white wine grapes and 40% with red. The main white varieties are Riesling (21%),
Müller-Thurgau (Rivaner) (10%) and Grauburgunder (Pinot Grigio) (5%). The main red varieties are
Dornfelder (14%), Portugieser (10%) and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) (7%).
The word Pfalz is derived from the Latin word palatium, meaning palace. The English equivalent,
Palatinate, is sometimes used to refer to the Pfalz. Modern technology and viticultural training have made
their mark here in the past four decades. Yet for the visitor driving through the sea of vines along the
German Wine Road, the scene is still very much rural with the tree-covered Haardt mountain range, castle
ruins, fruit trees, and the old walled villages of half-timbered houses.
The Pfalz is since the year 2008 first in acreage planted with the ‘noble’ Riesling grape. Here, it yields
wines of substance and finesse, with a less austere acidity than their Mosel counterparts and aromas of
stone (peach, apricot) rather than green fruit. Pleasant, mild white wines rich in bouquet and full of body
are produced from Müller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder (Pinot Grigio), Silvaner and Scheurebe grapes, while
smooth, fruity red wine is made from the Portugieser grape. In response to the growing demand for red wine,
there are many new plantings of Dornfelder which, depending on the winemaking techniques employed,
produces a deep-coloured and complex wine.
The world-renowned Pinot Noir is one of the most important red varieties grown in the Pfalz region,
particularly in the south.
On the map you find the PFALZ region located about 100 kilometres south of Frankfurt, between the cities
of Mannheim and Kaiserslautern and close to Heidelberg.
WELTACHS is located in the northern part of the PFALZ. Close to the villages of Deidesheim,
Bad Dürkheim, Dirmstein and Bockenheim.
The PFALZ is always worth a visit. If you have been here once you understand why we will never leave it.
Cheers,
PFALZ
Bordered by Rheinhessen to the north, the Haardt Mountains to the west, the Rhine River to the
east and the French Alsace region to the south, the Pfalz’s vineyards sweep across this remarkably
pretty, peaceful land for nearly 80 kilometres (50 miles). Its climate is much like that of Alsace and it is
the sunniest and driest of the German wine regions.
45 white and 22 red grape varieties are grown, with approximately 60% of the total area under vine
planted with white wine grapes and 40% with red. The main white varieties are Riesling (21%),
Müller-Thurgau (Rivaner) (10%) and Grauburgunder (Pinot Grigio) (5%). The main red varieties are
Dornfelder (14%), Portugieser (10%) and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) (7%).
The word Pfalz is derived from the Latin word palatium, meaning palace. The English equivalent,
Palatinate, is sometimes used to refer to the Pfalz. Modern technology and viticultural training have made
their mark here in the past four decades. Yet for the visitor driving through the sea of vines along the
German Wine Road, the scene is still very much rural with the tree-covered Haardt mountain range, castle
ruins, fruit trees, and the old walled villages of half-timbered houses.
The Pfalz is since the year 2008 first in acreage planted with the ‘noble’ Riesling grape. Here, it yields
wines of substance and finesse, with a less austere acidity than their Mosel counterparts and aromas of
stone (peach, apricot) rather than green fruit. Pleasant, mild white wines rich in bouquet and full of body
are produced from Müller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder (Pinot Grigio), Silvaner and Scheurebe grapes, while
smooth, fruity red wine is made from the Portugieser grape. In response to the growing demand for red wine,
there are many new plantings of Dornfelder which, depending on the winemaking techniques employed,
produces a deep-coloured and complex wine.
The world-renowned Pinot Noir is one of the most important red varieties grown in the Pfalz region,
particularly in the south.
On the map you find the PFALZ region located about 100 kilometres south of Frankfurt, between the cities
of Mannheim and Kaiserslautern and close to Heidelberg.
WELTACHS is located in the northern part of the PFALZ. Close to the villages of Deidesheim,
Bad Dürkheim, Dirmstein and Bockenheim.
The PFALZ is always worth a visit. If you have been here once you understand why we will never leave it.
Cheers,
PFALZ