The Evolution of Germany’s Wine Royalty: From Beauty Queens to Wine Ambassadors
MÜNCHEN – It’s a long-standing tradition in Germany that dates back to 1931: The election of the “German Wine Queen” (Deutsche Weinkönigin). The 75th German Wine Queen was crowned on September 29th. However, to be the ambassador of “made in Germany” wine, candidates must be more than just visually appealing; they need to be experts in the field. Out of the 12 finalists, each had to competently and precisely answer questions about winemaking, wine marketing, and technical aspects in both German and English. Only five contenders remained, and one of them has now secured the title. Last year, in 2022, Katrin Lang won the title, alongside “princesses” Luise Böhme and Juliane Schäfer.
The tradition of the “Wine Queen” hails from the Palatinate region in the 1930s. By the 1950s, the tradition was institutionalized, extending to other German wine regions, and eventually to the entire country post the fall of the Berlin Wall. Every year, various wine regions in Germany select their local queens, out of which one is crowned as the national Wine Queen. Since the 1990s, this position has evolved from being a role for young vineyard owners or those linked to wine commerce, to a stepping stone in political, marketing, and gastronomical careers.
Today, the selection is less about beauty and more about profound knowledge in oenology. Promptness, eloquence, mastery in foreign languages, and understanding of exports are prerequisites for the title. It’s noteworthy that the three victors of 2023 attended over 300 events domestically and internationally, all promoted by the “German Wine Institute.”
Further spotlighting the 2023 competition, 24-year-old Eva Brockmann from Franken was crowned the 75th German Wine Queen, succeeding the likes of Katrin Lang. Her extensive knowledge of wines, combined with her charismatic stage presence, made her the unanimous choice of both the jury and the audience. The role of the German Wine Queen has, over the decades, modernized, with the latest winners, including Jessica Himmelsbach and Lea Baßler, showcasing how the tradition has professionally evolved while retaining its core values.
