The best wines from Palatinate in Germany

The Palatinate is one of the largest wine regions in Germany. It is a long strip in the middle of the country, from Bockenheim to the French Alsace. You will find mainly beautiful white wines from the Riesling and, by German standards, many red wines from the Dornfelder and the Spätburgunder. The winemakers of the Palatinate are innovative and like to experiment. A very contemporary wine region.

Check out our four wines from Palatinate

Cypresses, figs, citrus trees, Riesling and Dornfelder. You will find it in the Palatinate, in the western centre of Germany, also known as the Deutsche Weinstrasse. A pleasant region for both those few tourists and for vines due to the almost Mediterranean climate.

The 23,400 hectares of vineyards are located in a strip from Bockenheim to Alsace. The shelter of the Haardt Mountains protects the vines from the weather and wind from the west. This makes the Palatinate particularly mild and sunny.

The ratio of white to red is more balanced here than in other parts of Germany. Almost 40% of the vineyards are intended for blue grape varieties. Riesling is still the big favourite. But in second place is the Dornfelder for fresh red wines. Followed by grape varieties that are not entirely surprising: Müller-thurgau, Grauer Burgunder, Weissburgunder, Auxerrois, Regent, Spätburgunder and Portugieser. But the winegrowers in the south of the Palatinate like to experiment with unusual varieties for these regions such as Sangiovese, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Merlot.

With these other newfangled gimmicks in the wine cellar and on the label, the Südliche Weinstrasse is shedding the image that it only makes simple wines. But top quality Riesling remains reserved for the north, the Mittelhaardt. Especially in the vineyards near Forst, Deidesheim and Wachenheim. The subsoil, with sandstone, lighter clay types and a pinch of marl, provides more finesse and body in the wine. Due to loam, lime and loess, the soil in the south is heavier and more fertile. You will find here mainly the ‘burgunders’ that give fresher, softer wines.

This diversity in the Pfalz makes it an interesting region. Moreover, enough is produced. So there is no shortage of wine. We currently have four wines from Palatinate in our range. You can view all our wines from Palatinate here.