Charlotte Weihl from Pfalz has been crowned as the new German Wine Queen. The 25-year-old will represent approximately 15,000 winemakers for the next year, marking the first time since 2014 that the title has gone to a contestant from Pfalz.
Intense competition among Rheinland-Pfalz contestants
In an exciting finale in Neustadt/Weinstraße, Weihl competed against four other candidates, all from Rheinland-Pfalz. The contestants underwent various challenges, including a blind wine tasting and demonstrating quick thinking in wine-related games. Katharina Gräff from Nahe and Julia Lambrich from Mittelrhein were named Wine Princesses by the jury and audience, while Annalena Baum from Rheinhessen and Marie-Sophie Schwarz from Mosel were unsuccessful in their bids.
A changing tradition in German wine culture
The German Wine Queen has been promoting the wine industry since 1949, though the requirements have evolved. Until 1999, candidates had to be single and come from winemaking families. The position holds significant importance in the German wine industry, which exported approximately 115 million hectoliters of wine in 2023, representing about one-eighth of the average wine must harvest. In a historic development, Germany’s 13 wine-growing regions, with Rheinhessen being the largest, recently saw the first male crowned as a local wine representative, who will be eligible to compete in the national finals in 2025.
Future plans and official congratulations
The newly crowned “First Lady of Wine” expressed her emotions, saying it might take days or weeks to fully realize her victory. Weihl plans to promote German wine globally during her reign, emphasizing a team approach: “Together, we want to make the world appreciate German wine.” The Rheinland-Pfalz state government, including Minister President Alexander Schweitzer and Wine Minister Daniela Schmitt, congratulated the winners, expressing confidence in their ability to represent the region’s wine culture worldwide.
