PFALZ
Pfalz vineyards in Germany are increasingly renowned for producing top-quality Riesling and Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder), making it a significant contributor to the country's wine production. Notably, Pfalz also leads in the production of everyday Landwein and Deutscher Wein, surpassing other regions by a considerable margin (refer to German Wine Label Information for details).
Spanning approximately 23,500 hectares (58,000 acres) of vine-planted land, Pfalz ranks as the second-largest among Germany's 13 Anbaugebiete wine regions. Surpassed only by its northern neighbor Rheinhessen in vineyard area, Pfalz boasts around 10,000 vine growers, half of whom operate as contractors. Such is the density of vine planting in the region that vines outnumber inhabitants by a ratio of 600 to one.
The economy of Pfalz benefits significantly from wine tourism, notably through the Deutsche Weinstrasse (German Wine Route), established in 1935. This scenic trail continues to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the region. Among the highlights of Pfalz's wine calendar is the Wurstmarkt in September, hosted in Bad Dürkheim and attracting over 600,000 attendees.
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Geographically, Pfalz encompasses the southernmost quarter of the federal state of Rheinland-Pfalz. Historically, the Rhenish Palatinate (Rheinpfalz) formed part of the Holy Roman Empire until the French Revolution, divided into 45 ecclesiastical and secular territories, some of which were quite small.
Pfalz's vineyards yield both white (60%) and red wines (40%), with Riesling reigning supreme, covering a quarter of its vineyard area in 2013. Pfalz Rieslings are notably richer than those from other top regions like Mosel, Rheingau, and Nahe.
Following Riesling, Dornfelder, a popular red variety, and Müller-Thurgau, Portugieser, and Pinot Noir are prominent. Pfalz shares winemaking similarities with Alsace due to their similar climates and grape varieties, including Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Blanc.
Over the years, Pfalz's wine style has shifted towards drier whites and fuller-bodied, higher-alcohol reds to meet evolving tastes. Pfalz Pinot Noir is gaining national and international acclaim, while even Dornfelder is gaining recognition as a serious wine.
The Haardt Mountains influence Pfalz's climate, creating a warm, dry environment that enhances the concentration and body of its wines, especially Riesling. Top vineyards are situated along the base of these mountains.
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