- Compromise in the dispute over wine queen - election date is in sight
Despite the recent controversy surrounding the tradition of the Palatine Wine Queen, the upcoming election in October is now clear to proceed. The Pfalzwein association in Neustadt an der Weinstraße announced this following discussions with the city. After the election on October 4th, a long-term concept will be developed. According to Pfalzwein, the election should be expanded to have a broader base.
Recently, a heated debate had erupted over the title of Germany's oldest wine monarch, which is also the second-largest wine-growing region in the country. The Pfalzwein association, responsible for regional wine promotion, had announced that the title would henceforth be PfalzWeinBotschafterin or PfalzWeinBotschafter, instead of a crown, there would be badges in the competition which is now open to men as well. This move faced criticism, including from the mayor of Neustadt, Marc Weigel, who argued that this would devalue the brand.
For now, either a crown or a badge
The compromise reached states that at the election on October 4th in the Saalbau in Neustadt, either a queen will be crowned who will also wear a crown, or, in the case of a male winner, a wine ambassador who will receive a golden badge. Depending on the outcome of the election, there will also be princesses with crowns or a wine ambassador with a silver badge, as explained by Pfalzwein.
Boris Kranz, chairman of the Pfalzwein association, stated that the focus should be on the well-being of the candidates who had applied for an existing position this year. The public discussion showed that the wine queens represent more than just winemakers and the Palatinate wine region, they have a deeper meaning for many people in the region.
Expanding the social base
Given this, Pfalzwein proposes that the role of the current Palatine Wine Queen should not only be the responsibility of the association but also supported by other interest groups. Pfalzwein suggests the establishment of an interest group "Palatine Wine Queens" immediately after the October election. The composition of this group still needs to be determined. The aim is to give the role a broader social base and to find a future-oriented solution by the end of this year.
The incorporation of various interest groups into the "Palatine Wine Queens" interest group aims to expand its social base, as proposed by Pfalzwein. Regardless of whether a queen is crowned with a crown or a male winner receives a golden badge, the upcoming election will maintain its mixed nature, ensuring that both genders have a chance to represent the region.
