If you imagined that a German wine princess spends her time reclined, coronet on coiffed head and glass in manicured hand, on a gilded throne, think again. According to reigning wine princess Christina Schneider, who hails from Franconia in northern Bavaria, the responsibilities are much more rigorous.
A psychology graduate who took a year off from her master’s degree, Schneider was in Hong Kong to represent her country’s wine industry. She explains that earning the title of wine princess is a serious challenge.
“To become the German wine princess, you have to know a lot about wine in general – and of course about German wines and the 13 wine-growing regions,” she says. “In September every year there’s a competition, with questions about production, grape varieties and marketing, as well as a blind tasting. Also, I had to convince a jury of about 70 to 80 people – I just tried to show myself in the best friendly manner.”
The tradition of electing wine queens and princesses began in Germany’s Palatinate region in the early 1930s, and by the ’50s it had spread to all the country’s wine-producing regions. Now, every year, the winners from each area compete for the national titles of queen and princess, in which capacity the holders travel the country and the world as German wine ambassadors.
“I go to a lot of wine presentations, and wine festivals in big cities like Hamburg, Berlin or Munich and around the world,” says Schneider. “I get to know different cultures and people, and show them the diversity of German wines. It’s almost a full-time activity.”
Schneider says she doesn’t have a favourite style of wine because German wines are so varied. “The spectrum ranges from easy-drinking wines to special wines for special occasions.
“When I meet my friends outside just to have fun and talk, I love uncomplicated wines, such as Müller-Thurgau or light-bodied Riesling. When I have a good dinner, I prefer Silvaner, Riesling or red wine, depending on the dish. If I have birthday, it has to be a noble sweet wine, like an Eiswein.”
Each wine grower has his own style and philosophy, which also accounts for the huge diversity. “I actually love aromatic grape varieties like Scheurebe or Gewürztraminer,” says Schneider. “Even if they’re in a dry style, Scheurebe has a lot of fruitiness while Gewürztraminer has a wonderful floral bouquet.”
So do people sometimes assume German wine queens and princesses are more like beauty queens?
“Most people in Germany know that you have to win a competition with knowledge, not with beauty,” Schneider says, “but for me it’s important to explain this to people who don’t.”
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