The Pfalz region of Germany has always been capable of producing world-class wines. The best wine makers of the Pfalz tend to make rich, powerful, spicy wines that are more reminiscent of Alsace.
 
Over 2 000 years ago the Romans built a palace in this region and there are many historic sites worthwhile visiting in the area. The German word “Pfalz” is derived from palatium, Latin for “palace”. The English language calls the Pfalz , Palatinate.
 
Rare physical evidence of ancient German wines exists in the Pfalz, at the Wine Museum in Speyer. By the 12th century the Bishop of Speyer owned all the best vineyards in the Pfalz and they remained the property of the Church until they were acquired by Emperor Napoleon who eventually reluctantly left the area.
 
The Pfalz covers 80 kilometres (50 miles) of the sun-blessed vineyards on the crest of the Haardt mountain range (which eventually links into the Vogue mountain range in the Alsace) and the Pfaelzer Wald (Pfalz forest). An area of outstanding beauty with many castles and ideal for hiking and cycling. The area is also often called the ‘German Toscana’ due to its Mediterranean climate. It is difficult to say which season should be favoured, Spring with its glorious almond blossoms, Summer for its guaranteed sunshine, Autumn for its many wine festivals or Winter for its snow and inviting towns and villages.
 
Location:
The second largest German vine growing region stretching from Rheinhessen (Nierstein, Bingen, Worms etc) to Alsace, bounded by the river Rhine on the east and the Haardt mountains and Donnersberg hills on the west. The area is the sunniest and driest wine-producing region in Germany.
 
Aspect and Soil:
Vineyards are sited mainly on flat land or gentle slopes, at an altitude of between 100 and 250 m (330-820 ft).
A great variety of soils, ranging from loam and weathered sandstone to widely dispersed “islands” of limestone, granite, porphyry and clayish slate