Pfalz Wine Region: How to Plan an Epic Wine-Sipping Adventure

Pfalz Wine Region: How to Plan an Epic Wine-Sipping Adventure

Imagine sipping a glass of exquisite wine while admiring breathtaking scenery: castle ruins, historic walled villages, and rolling hills dotted with vineyards. 

Sounds good, right?

Welcome to the Pfalz wine region, the second-largest wine-growing area in Germany! 

Bordered by two famous wine zones, the French Alsace to the south and the German Rheinhessen to the north, Pfalz produces more wines and international varieties than any other German wine region. 

Fun fact: If you’re currently sipping wine in Germany (go you!), there’s a 33% chance that it comes from Pfalz. This 58,000-acre region produces ⅓ of all wines bought in Germany.

Since we’ve heard it’s not healthy to keep things bottled up, we’re ready to uncork all our Pfalz wine secrets 🤫

Keep reading to explore must-try wines, unique wine experiences, and where to stay in this unforgettable wine landscape. 

Your deep-dive into Pfalz wines 

Quick question: are you a white wine enthusiast? Or more of a red wine connoisseur? 

Either way, you’re in luck: the Pfalz wine region is famous for both its whites and reds.

Pfalz’s dry, warm climate (one of the warmest in all of Germany!) and deep soil mean many varieties of grapes thrive here. 

White wines

If you like dry white wines, then Pfalz will really cask a spell on you ✨

White wines from Pfalz are known to be dry and fruit-forward with slightly higher acidity. 

The undisputed star of the Pfalz wine region is Riesling: it accounts for nearly 25% of all wine production.

You’ve got to try the earthy, slightly spicy Riesling while you’re here. Bonus points to anyone who can taste the orchard fruit accents!

Must-try Pfalz whites:

•     Riesling
•     Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)
•     Müller-Thurgau
•     Weiβburgender (Pinot Blanc)
•     Chardonnay
•     Gewürztraminer

Fun fact: Gewürztraminer may be out to fool you. Despite its very German name, it originated in Pfalz’s neighboring wine region: the French Alsace. This wine is actually quite rare as its yields are pretty small, so make sure you try a glass if given the chance.

Red wines

If you love red wine, then it’s time to travel down to the south of the Pfalz wine region. 

Why, you ask? Well, it just so happens that the south of Pfalz produces the most red wines in all of Germany!

Pfalz red wines are characterized by spicy, earthy flavors with notes of wild berries.

The Pfalz wine region‘s standout red is Dornfelder. This complex, dry red wine may only be 70 years old, but it’s already risen through the ranks to be Germany’s 2nd most popular red.

Psst…the most popular red is Spätburgunder, which you also have to grab a glass of when you’re in the area. Pfalz’s unique climate makes this wine particularly tasty here. Cheers!

Must-try Pfalz reds:

• Dornfelder
• Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
• Portugieser

Fun fact: With our second-confusing wine name of the article, Portugieser didn’t originate in Portugal, but in Austria! Feel free to sip this medium-bodied, fruity red wine while you contemplate that.

Weinschorle 

Rumor has it, that this widely popular bubbly glass of joy originated in the Pfalz wine region. 

A weinschorle is essentially a wine spritzer, made by mixing wine with sparkling water. Trust us, it’s basically mandatory to order at least one while you’re in Pfalz.

The Pfalz wine region even has a special glass for serving weinschorle: the Dubbeglas. It’s a rather large glass (500ml) with protruding “dubbe” a.k.a. dimples or dots.

Fun fact: Legend has it that the Dubbeglas was crafted by butchers from Bad Dürkheim because typical, smooth glasses would slip out of their greasy hands at the slaughterhouse. 

What to do in the Pfalz wine region

Normal-sized wine barrels? Those are so last season. At least, according to the Pfalz wine region, they are, as it’s home to…

1. The World’s Largest Wine Barrel: the Heidelberg Tun. Located in the cellars of Heidelberg Castle, it is about 23 feet tall and can carry 220,000 liters of wine.

Bucket list alert: This massive wine barrel has a staircase leading up to the top which holds (you’ll never guess what it is)…a dance floor! So climb atop for something you never knew you needed: a quick shimmy on the world’s largest wine barrel.

2. The Giant Wine Barrel of Bad Dürkheim: gigantic wine barrel turned restaurant? Count us in. This barrel would hold 1.7 million liters of wine if it didn’t house a restaurant, the Dürkeimer Fass, instead!

Fun fact: While this bad boy exceeds the size of the Heidelberg Tun, it’s never held a drop of wine, so it doesn’t count. This proves our theory that everything is better with wine.

Our favorite Pfalz wineries

1. Weingut Schloss Janson
   • Nestled among the middle-aged remnants of Emichsburg Castle, this historic winery has been run by the Janson family for over 6 generations. Schloss Janson is steeped in tradition and prides itself on sustainable practices, an impressive collection of wines, and reasonable prices. 

Castles + wine? Now that’s what we call a true European adventure. 

2. Schlossgut Lüll
   • Built in the 14th century, Schlossgut Lüll has been in the family since 1889. Spread across 2.3 hectares, the estate encompasses the castle, a historic park, and several heritage-listed buildings. Schlossgut Lüll offers wines from their fifth-generation family vineyard. What makes their wine special? It embodies the spirit of Rheinhessen, Wachenheim, and the Zellertal, narrating tales from pruning to fermentation. It craves companionship, festivity, beautiful moments, and shared experiences. Giving it a try is worth the experience!
     
3. Vier Jahreszeiten Winzer eG
   • Among the charming scenic beauty, Vier Jahreszeiten Winery is located in Bad Dürkheim, within the Pfalz wine region. The rich-quality wines of the estate are well-known worldwide and have won many awards, competing against Germany’s other wineries. Every September, the estate celebrates a 600-year-old wine festival, the largest globally, Wurstmarkt, attended by international wine lovers.
     

Pfalz wine experiences along the Weinstraße

No trip to the Pfalz wine region would be complete without a few stops along Germany’s oldest wine road: the Deutsche Weinstraße. Established in 1935, it stretches 85 kilometers through 130 charming wine-producing towns. 

👉In the mood for guided hikes through vineyards and almond-themed culinary events?

Then kick off Germany’s wine festival season with the Mandelblütenfest (Almond Blossom Festival) along the Weinstraße. It usually occurs in late March or early April, right when the almond trees are in full bloom. 

👉Dreaming of open-air wine bars and long, peaceful walks through wine villages?

Plan a trip during the last Sunday in August, when the Weinstraße is closed to vehicle traffic so hikers, bikers, walkers, and in-line skaters can travel the road in peace.

Pfalz wine festivals you can’t miss

1. Admire the beautiful fall foliage along the Weinstraße as you head to the 100-year-old Deutsches Weinlesefest in Neustadt. Held in late September/early October, stop by this Pfalz wine festival to sample hundreds of local wines and see the crowning of the German National Wine Queen 👑

Hot tip: Make sure to try a glass of Germany’s young fall wine: Federweiße. This fresh wine is made out of white grapes that ripen early and is sold just as soon as it begins to ferment. It’s cloudy, slightly sweet, almost sparkling, and is only available for a few short weeks each year!

2. If you love wine festivals, you just have to stop by Bad Dürkheim for its (over 600th) annual Wurstmarkt (Sausage Market) in September. Despite what the name might suggest, this is actually the world’s biggest wine festival! And remember that wine-cask-turned-restaurant we mentioned earlier? This festival is held right outside of it. 

Foodie alert: While in the Pfalz wine region, try a local specialty called Zwiebelkuchen. It’s a spongy onion pie that pairs perfectly with a slightly sweeter wine (like Federweiße).

Keep an eye out for more Really Grape wine events in the Pfalz region below!

Ready to visit Pfalz? Here’s how to make it happen

How to travel to and around the Pfalz wine region

The closest major airport to the Pfalz wine region is Frankfurt International Airport. 

You can also fly into Stuttgart International Airport or Strasbourg Airport in France. The latter is pretty small but lets you start your European wine tour in Alsace before exploring Pfalz.

Once you land, you can travel by…

• Train: Germany’s extensive train system makes getting to the Pfalz wine region by rail a piece of cake! Deutsche Bahn trains connect charming Pfalz towns to nearby cities such as Mainz, Wiesbaden, and Frankfurt. Catching a train to Neustadt from Frankfurt will only take you about an hour and a half. A one-way ticket will cost you anywhere from €20 to €40, depending on availability, time of booking, type of train, and travel class.
• Car: Traveling by car will be the easiest way to explore the Pfalz wine region and allow you to reach lots of unique wine experiences. Hop in and travel the entire length of the Deutsche Weinstraße (just not during that last Sunday in August, when cars aren’t allowed).

Pfalz, you’re the wine we want 💗

If you are looking to un-wine from your hectic everyday life, Pfalz is the definitive wine getaway you’ve been searching for. After all, when the vines outnumber the people 600 to 1, you know you’re in a Really Grape spot!

Looking for more suggestions of where to go and what to sip? Unlike your typical wine glass, the Really Grape website is filled to the brim with immersive wine experiences ripe for booking. 

Next, be sure to check out our Ultimate Wine to the German Wine Regions here!

Happy wine touring! Prost from your cru at Really Grape 🍷✨

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