If a deity of wine exists, then he has certainly showered his grace on the vast lands of Germany. The very existence of Deutsche Weinstraße stands as a testament to this statement. It is the oldest wine route of this wine nation. Deutsche Weinstraße officially came into being in the year 1935 due to the efforts of two Nazi politicians.
Gauleiter and Josef Bürckel were the minds behind the inception of this route. The big idea behind the establishment Deutsche Weinstraße was to sew together the villages inclined towards the production and trading of wine.
This route didn’t fade after surviving the catastrophic climate of the Second World War. However, it received some modifications to wash away any Nazi influence it contained. This brief remodeling procedure was brief and was quickly wrapped up, but not all that was built during Nazi Germany was erased during this brief renewal. The monumental gate erected during their time still stands today.
This path of the wine god begins from the Wissembourg located in France and finishes its run at Bockenheim an der Weinstraße where the House of the German Wine Route resides. During its stroll, this wine stretch passes through a few towns and crosses through the Palatinate wine region which lies in Palatinate, that is located in Southwest Germany. The towns Deutsche Weinstraße passes through are Bad Bergzabern, Edenkoben, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Deidesheim, Bad Dürkheim and finally Grünstadt. Overall, this wine dedicated route currently stretches around 85 km or close to 53 miles.
Deutsche Weinstraße dwells in a rather sunbathed region, with it being in one of the warmest areas in all of Germany. Deutsche Weinstraße dwells in a rather sunbathed region, with it being in one of the warmest areas in all of Germany. An estimation states that this area of Germany is blessed by the Sun for over 1800 hours a year. Hence the yellowish-green hue of the land. Now, this wine lane is a humble host to crops such as Figs, Kiwifruits, and Lemons. These fine specimens are a rarity in other parts of Germany due to inadequate sunlight. But that’s not all that the magnificent Deutsche Weinstraße has in its basket. The German Wine Route is also famous for almonds. It is one of the sought-after zones when the ideas of almonds strike the German minds. Its overall Geographical texture sits well with the growth of certain crops that are a rarity in other parts of Germany. Deutsche Weinstraße flaunts its near-paradise design by being a humble host to these certain colorful plants. Needless to say, the spread of our beloved vine is the one that captivates the sights of all. It’s a wine road after all. The overall climatic architecture of the wine route is quite soothing to the growth of the vine. Also known as the Common Grape Vine, this species of Vitis (Grapevine) requires a warm and sunny atmosphere to grow to its full glory. It is important to note that this fruit has been an active participant in the domain of medicine during the early ages. In the early eras, Grape Vine was utilized by many herbalists to craft some handy herbs for various ailments. However, its prime use was mostly motivated towards forging wine. It seems like its destiny was stitched with the wine concept. So, it’s vine for wine. The earliest existence of Vitis can be traced back to 6000 B.C. in the Southeastern region of the Republic of Georgia. So, it has evolved with the natural cycle of the world. It didn’t take long for the Homo Sapiens of those times to reap the benefits of Grapevine. As it was apparently discovered in the region of Eurasia, it’s farming and cultivation widely spread across the parts of the Old World, which comprised of Africa, Asia, and Europe. The first-ever written record of the fated fusion of vine and wine was elaborated in the Epic of Gilgamesh, a relic of Sumer from the 3rd millennium BC. The documents revealing utilization of Vine can also be found in the various artifacts originating from the land of Pharaohs, i.e. Egypt. In the centuries that followed, Vine gained prominence for its alcoholic nature.
In various accounts flowing from Rome, one can clearly see that how much the Romans loved wine. Etruscans became seasoned craftsmen of wine and developed various techniques to improve winemaking tactics. Their efforts also sailed towards smoothing the trade flow of wine. Later, the Roman Empire acquired the wine wisdom from the Etruscans and further improved upon it. However, the viticulture saw a considerable decline in the 3rd and 4th century in the vast lands of Rome. During this phase, the Romans were witnessing a near-catastrophic instability that reduced the scope and operation of wine forging in Rome. Another significant decline was witnessed in the 7th century when the Islamic nations were at the pinnacle of their strength. Their widespread influence in the Middle-East region caused the viticulture to slump in the sections that were tightly held by the Islamic regime. However, the phenomenon of wine didn’t wane despite being shunned. In the Renaissance era, the eminence of viticulture was restored to its initial glory and in the coming centuries, this notion only mushroomed further.
Now, it is time we started with the fun part, the wine festivities that have a frequent occurring on this road. These revelries commence right from the beginning of March and are celebrated till October. During these times of wine, several other celebrations are also enjoyed like the German Wine Harvesting Festival which is held in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. This festival involves the selection of the German Wine Queen, during the days of October every year. On the last Sunday of August, this route is officially closed for motor traffic. During this time, the real bash begins as the wine serving begins in full force. Many of the lucky folks who stumble across this festival enjoy the bars serving some classic alcohol.
These celebrations are no less than a boon for wine-lovers. The folks here enjoy the stimulating flavor of liquor during this feast. The lively and soothing ambiance of Deutsche Weinstraße is like an icing on the cake. The calming air, a magnificent scenery, and a glass of splendid wine, what more can one ask for?