This year, the Pfalz regional wine promotion organization, Pfalzwein e.V., introduced a gender-neutral call for candidates for its wine royalty positions, which will now be known as Wine Ambassadors. As a result, the public election for the "Pfalz Wine Ambassador" on October 4, 2024, will feature not only two women but also one man as candidates. It is confirmed that Lara Karr, Manuel Reuther, and Denise Stripf will form the new #teampfalz and serve as brand ambassadors for Pfalz wine for a year. The winner will receive a gold lapel pin, while the other two candidates will each receive a silver one, explains Josef Greilinger, Managing Director of Pfalzwein e.V., in response to an inquiry from the German trade magazine Weinwirtschaft. In other words, the crown has been abolished.
Pfalzwein introduced a gender-neutral call for candidates for its wine royalty positions, which will now be known as Wine Ambassadors.
All three candidates have a strong connection to Pfalz wine. Lara Karr is from Weingut Pfleger-Karr in Weisenheim am Berg, where she also works as a winemaker. She has studied at the Weincampus in Neustadt. Manuel Reuther has worked on “various projects for various wineries” in the region, according to Greilinger, and is well-known among vintners in his hometown of Forst. During the Corona lockdown in 2021, Reuther also organized virtual wine tastings for the town band in Bad Dürkheim. Denise Stripf is currently the Wine Princess of Bad Dürkheim. Denise Stripf is currently the Wine Princess of Bad Dürkheim.
The Golden Pin to Compete for the Crown
Josef Greilinger acknowledges that the transformation of the role—from majesties to ambassadors—is indeed an emotional topic. However, he views it as a crucial step towards the future. "And once in office, our Wine Ambassadors will surely convince any doubters," he asserts confidently.
"And once in office, our Wine Ambassadors will surely convince any doubters,"
In the months leading up to the election, Pfalzwein e.V. states that the "new #teampfalz" will undergo intensive training to effectively meet the diverse demands of their term. This training includes expanding wine knowledge, as well as coaching in presentation, expression, language, and specialized English lessons.
During the election in October, the three candidates must impress the audience with their wine knowledge and communication skills on stage. Alongside a blind tasting, there will also be an in-depth technical interview in front of a large audience. Josef Greilinger confirms that whoever wins the golden pin will also be nominated for the election of the German Wine Queen. The German Wine Institute is fully open to this possibility, even if the candidate is male. Ultimately, it will be up to the Pfalz region to decide whom to send, potentially allowing a man to aspire to a wine crown if the ambassadorial role at the federal level remains royal. VM
