The Winery Schmitt Bergtheim of Pfalz

Discovering the wine region of Pfalz

Pfalz is a key wine producing region in western Germany, located between the Rhein/Rhine river and the low-lying Haardt mountain range (a natural continuation of the Alsatian Vosges). It covers a rectangle of land 45 miles (75km) Long and 15 miles (25km) wide. To the NorthLiesRheinhessen; to the South, the French border and Alsace. In terms of both quality and quantity, Pfalz is one of Germany's most important regions, and one which shows great promise for the future.

An increasing proportion of Germany's finest Riesling and Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) come from Pfalz Vineyards, and the region generates more everyday Landwein and Deutscher Wein than any other region by far (see German Wine Label Information). With roughly 23,500 hectares (58,000 acres) of land planted to grapevines, Pfalz is the second-largest of Germany's 13 Anbaugebeite wine regions. Only its northern neighbor Rheinhessen has more vines. The region is home to some 10,000 vine growers, half of whom work as contractors, and is so densely planted that vines outnumber inhabitants 600 to one.

Pfalz's Vineyards produce both white wines (60 percent) and red (40 percent). The whites have long been the most successful and, as is standard almost everywhere in the Rheinland, Riesling dominates the local vineyards and wines. In 2013 the region had 14,000 acres (5,600 ha) of Riesling vines, accounting for roughly a quarter of its entire vineyard area. Riesling is easily Germany's most successful grape variety, from the perspectives of both quality and quantity.