Palatinate · Sub-regions
Südliche Weinstraße
The Southern Wine Route stretches along the German Wine Route to the French border. Fruity Burgundy varieties and robust Rieslings grow on the region's colourful sandstone soils.
Grape Varieties
Riesling, Grauburgunder
Dornfelder, Gewürztraminer
Most Famous Site
Birkweiler Kastanienbusch
Vineyard Area
8.200 ha
Harvest
October
TERROIR PROFILE · Palatinate
Südliche Weinstraße Pinot stronghold on Muschelkalk
Südliche Weinstraße is Germany's Pinot promise — warmth, Muschelkalk and top producers like Rebholz, Wehrheim, Becker.
SOILS
Muschelkalk limestoneprecise, salty-mineral
Muschelkalk yields a crisp mineral acidity and salty depth.
Limestoneprecise, mineral
Limestone delivers tension, structure and a cooler, more mineral character.
Loessround, fruity, full
Loess stores water and nutrients. Wines tend to be rounder, juicier and fuller.
Loambody-rich, velvety
Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.
Slatemineral, smoky
Slate stores heat and releases it at night — wines show wet stone, smoke and a delicate structure.
Gravel / Sandlight, approachable
Gravel and sand drain heavily — vines struggle for water, wines turn fine, light and elegant.
CLIMATE · Warm · Dry · Sunny
Warmer and more Mediterranean than Mittelhaardt — almost Alsatian conditions with ~1,900 sunshine hours.
TOPOGRAPHY · gentle
Gentle slopes, wide valleys, almond and chestnut landscape.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Typical Flavours of the Region
Riesling
WhiteGewürztraminer
WhiteGrauburgunder
WhiteDornfelder
RedRegion aroma cloud
Palatinate overview
This sub-region is part of Palatinate. The map shows all 5 sub-regions — Südliche Weinstraße is highlighted.
Overview
Typical Varieties
Terroir & Climate
Wine Character
The Southern Wine Route spans 8,200 hectares from Neustadt to the Alsatian border and is known for its diversity of grape varieties and wine styles. On coloured sandstone, Keuper and shell limestone, fruity and accessible wines as well as complex top growths such as Birkweiler Kastanienbusch emerge. The region benefits from a warm, dry climate with a noticeable influence of nearby French wine culture. Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and powerful Dornfelder are the leading varieties. Estates such as Becker, Kranz and Rebholz enjoy supra-regional fame. For tourists, the region is particularly attractive with the Palatinate Forest Biosphere Reserve and numerous seasonal wine taverns.
Soil Type
Coloured sandstone, Keuper, shell limestone, granite
Climate
Warm and dry; Mediterranean influence; sheltered valley sites
Top profiles
108 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list below
Weingut Wehrheim
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Birkweiler
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder
Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Siebeldingen
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder
Ökonomierat Johannes Kleinmann
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Birkweiler
Weingut Naegele
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Weißburgunder
Weingut Joachim Raabe
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Sankt Martin
Landhaus Christmann
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Sankt Martin
Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
All Wineries
308 resultsWeingut Wehrheim
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Birkweiler
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder
Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Siebeldingen
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder
Ökonomierat Johannes Kleinmann
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Birkweiler
Weingut Naegele
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Weißburgunder
Weingut Joachim Raabe
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Sankt Martin
Landhaus Christmann
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Sankt Martin
Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Weingut Alfons Hormuth
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Sankt Martin
Spätburgunder, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon
Weingut Alfons Ziegler
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Sankt Martin
Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Dornfelder
Weingut Sommer
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Riesling, Grauburgunder, Silvaner
Hambacher Schloß Kellerei
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Chardonnay
Weingut Glas
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Weingut Schreieck
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße
Weingut Schäffer
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Merlot
Weingut Siegrist
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Leinsweiler
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Pinot Noir
Weingut Gerd Rudolph
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Spätburgunder, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Weingut Herbert Meßmer
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Burrweiler
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Chardonnay
Weingut Scholler
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Birkweiler
Riesling, Spätburgunder, Chardonnay
Weingut Bergdolt - Klostergut St. Lamprecht
Pfalz · Südliche Weinstraße · Neustadt-Duttweiler
Events in Palatinate
All events in Palatinate →25 Sept – Sun, 4 October 2026
Fest des Federweißen Landau
Wine festival · Landau in der Pfalz
2 Oct – Mon, 12 October 2026
Deutsches Weinlesefest Neustadt
Wine festival · Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Sat, 20 March 2027
Meininger's Finest 100 – Große Rieslingprobe
Tasting · Neustadt an der Weinstraße
20 Mar – Sun, 21 March 2027
Mandelblütenfest Gimmeldingen
Wine festival · Neustadt-Gimmeldingen
25 Apr – Mon, 26 April 2027
VDP.Weinbörse Mainz
Tasting · Mainz
13 Aug – Mon, 23 August 2027
Deidesheimer Weinkerwe
Wine festival · Deidesheim
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes the Südliche Weinstraße from the Mittelhaardt?
The Südliche Weinstraße offers greater variety in grape types – Burgundy varieties and Gewürztraminer play a bigger role than in the Mittelhaardt. Wines are often more accessible and fruit-forward, while the Mittelhaardt focuses on world-class Riesling.
Which wineries are particularly recommended in the Südliche Weinstraße?
Weingut Rebholz (Siebeldingen) for biodynamic top wines, Weingut Kranz for expressive Burgundy varieties and Weingut Becker for reliable quality across the range.
Which grape varieties define Südliche Weinstraße?
The key grape varieties in Südliche Weinstraße are Riesling, Grauburgunder, Dornfelder and Gewürztraminer. The best-known vineyard is Birkweiler Kastanienbusch.
When is the best time to visit Südliche Weinstraße for wine?
The harvest in Südliche Weinstraße takes place October – when vineyards and cellars are busiest. May to July suits tastings without harvest bustle; many estates open their tasting rooms off-season by appointment.
What does the terroir of Südliche Weinstraße taste like?
Soils: Coloured sandstone, Keuper, shell limestone, granite. Climate: Warm and dry; Mediterranean influence; sheltered valley sites. Together they shape structure, acidity and aromatics – see the terroir profile above.
How many wineries are there in Südliche Weinstraße?
Cellarmap lists 308 wineries in Südliche Weinstraße across roughly 8,200 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.
📖 Look up in glossary
All terms →Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.