The long-standing tradition of electing the German Wine Queen is undergoing significant changes after nearly 80 years. The German Wine Institute, based in Bodenheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, has announced that the annual competition will now be called the Election of the Wine Monarch. This change signals a major shift: for the first time, men are eligible to compete in the contest.
On September 26, two male candidates will take part in the contest held in Neustadt, a town located in Germany’s renowned wine-growing region. If a man wins, he will be crowned the German Wine King, a historic distinction, and will receive a chain of office instead of the traditional crown worn by the Wine Queen.
Since its inception in 1949, the German Wine Queen has been selected from representatives of Germany’s 13 wine-growing regions. These candidates compete in a rigorous final event, held in the Palatinate region, where they demonstrate their wine knowledge, including blind tastings of grape varieties. The winner of the contest serves as an ambassador for Germany’s wine industry, representing the country’s 14,000 winegrowers for one year.
The current German Wine Queen, Charlotte Weihl, 25, hails from the Palatinate region and is the 76th person to hold the title. This year, male candidates Levin McKenzie from Rhine Hesse and Felix Grün from Middle Rhine will compete for the top honor.
The winner will be determined through a combination of jury evaluations and public voting, marking a new era for the prestigious competition.
You Might Be Interested In:
