The Palatinate is West Germany’s smallest state, but it’s one of the most important.
The Palatinate is West Germany’s smallest state, but it’s one of the most important. Rheinland-Pfalz (as it is officially called) has a multitude of appellations and vineyards. In fact, it has the most area planted in all of Germany with over 19,000 acres under vine.
Most of those vineyards are in the northern half of the state near France and Luxembourg, where a number of winegrowing regions are located along rivers like the Nahe and Ahr. The southern half consists mostly of forests and hills, which also have their own share of appellations. But even though we’re talking about a relatively small landmass here, there’s more than enough to see if you decide to visit this beautiful part of Germany!
The Palatinate grows some of Germany’s best wines, including Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
This region makes some of Germany’s best wines, and isn’t hard to find. The most famous wine from here is Riesling, which is the grape that makes up most of German’s best white wines. It’s also the main grape in Alsace, so there are a couple of regions within Germany where Rieslings grow better than they do elsewhere. Of course, you can find great Pinot Noir alongside them; it’s what Alsace is known for. And if you’re all about red wine, the Palatinate is home to the grapes used in making some of Germany’s most famous red wines, including Gewürztraminer and Müller-Thurgau.
The area has been growing grapes for hundreds of years.
Imagine yourself in a sun-kissed vineyard, visible fruit heavy on the vines, and enjoying a leisurely glass of wine. The setting is an area called the Palatinate, which has been renowned for its wines for centuries. Indeed, the grape growing tradition in this region goes back to Roman times when Roman legions brought grape varieties from their home areas in Italy to the Rhine River. They planted grape seeds along the Rhine and Moselle rivers and by 100 C.E., their cultivation had spread as far north as Germany’s Palatinate region. The name Palatinate is derived from a Latin term that means “palace.” The region was named after a palace built there during the reign of Charlemagne (742-814), king of what was once known as Francia Occidentalis or Western Francia – an area that roughly corresponded to present day France.
A lot of the grape varieties that are grown in the Palatinate are grown in other parts of Germany as well.
The Palatine is known for its Rieslings, but many other varieties are grown here as well. Other varietals include Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir). The latter two are common in Northern Germany and elsewhere on the Rhine, while Gewürztraminer is a variety with Alsatian roots.
The name comes from a region in Roman times called the “Palatinatae”.
“Palatinate,” or “Pfalz” in German, refers to both a large wine region and the smaller state that claims it. The name comes from a region in Roman times called the “Palatinatae.” The Latin word “palatinus” means “of the palace,” so the name basically just indicates that this was an area where important people lived.
Some famous German brands from the Palatinate include Blauer Hahn and Veltliner.
In the Palatinate are a number of famous German brands such as Blauer Hahn and Veltliner.
Blauer Hahn is a brand name of Riesling, which is mostly grown in the Rhine Valley and on the Moselle River. Blaufränkisch (also known as Bläufranken) is a red grape, grown mainly in the Moselle Valley, although it has been cultivated since ancient times. Its main function was to produce wine for weddings and other celebrations.
Veltliner grapes are traditionally used in white wine making; they first appeared in Germany around 100 years ago and were introduced to Austria by Austrian immigrants who settled there in 1864. They were first planted during World War II when many of their owners fled Germany to escape persecution and oppression by the Nazis.