Where the wine queen invites you to a wine tasting
Rhineland-Palatinate has six wine regions. At Grüne Woche, they present their wines not only at the stands, but also at two wine tastings a day, along with lots of background information.
A murmur goes through the small lounge when Anna Zenz greets the guests and introduces herself: “I am the Wine Queen of the Moselle.” No one here had expected that. The 23-year-old isn't even wearing a flashy dress, as you might expect from a wine queen, but a green trouser suit and a very modern crown that could also pass for a hair ornament. But the 15 participants who have gathered for this afternoon's wine tasting are all the more delighted: who better to explain the three wines, their origins and the background to them than the Wine Queen herself?
Rhineland-Palatinate has the largest wine-growing region in Germany. Consequently, the Rhineland-Palatinate stand in Hall 6.2 at Grüne Woche is all about wine from the state's six wine-growing regions. Around a dozen wineries have brought a selection with them. The wine queens and wine kings will be presenting the best wines from their region every day. Anna Zenz and her colleague Levin McKenzie, the Wine King of Rheinhessen, will kick things off. One is on in the morning, the other in the afternoon. Over the course of the week, the product sovereigns of the other four regions Moselle, Palatinate, Ahr and Middle Rhine will take over.
Three rounds of Riesling and lots of knowledge
Anna Zenz has brought three Riesling Kabinett wines to her tasting: one dry, one off-dry and one sweet. All quality wines, Prädikat wines even - the best wines of the year 2023 from the Moselle, which were chosen in a strict selection process. As she goes from table to table pouring the first round of Riesling, she begins to explain what this wine in particular is all about, as well as the general fact that 91% of the wine grown on the Moselle is white and 62% is Riesling.
After three rounds, you have not only enjoyed delicious wine, but also learned a lot about red, blue and gray slate soils and their effects on the grapes. About slopes and steep slopes, sugar content and fermentation methods. The tasting only takes half an hour. Iris Rapoport and Detlef Lußky are highly satisfied. The two Berlin pensioners went to school together many decades ago. “And now we're continuing to learn together,” jokes Detlef Lußky, and Iris Rapoport says: ”It's great that you can pick up so much knowledge here, I didn't expect that at all.” Her father's side of the family had their own vineyards in Rhineland-Palatinate, which is why she really wanted to come here. And the wine itself? “Great,” says Detlef Lußky. “All three - but the first one was a real hit.”
The wine tastings take place daily at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in Hall 6.2 - opposite the food counter. Participation is free of charge.
