New German wine queen: Anna Zenz elected in historic Pfalz final

Anna Zenz, 24, from the Mosel vineyard, was elected the 77th German Weinkönigin on Friday night in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. The selection took place during the final of the Wahl der Deutschen Weinmajestät, with in-person and online public participation. The event brought together representatives from 13 wine regions, including the first male finalist since 1949.

Alongside Zenz, Weinprinzessinnen Emma Meinhardt, 25, from Saale-Unstrut, and Katja Simon, also 25, from Hessische Bergstraße, were appointed to promote national wines. The trio will serve for one year, representing around 15,000 producers at domestic and international events.

Zenz’s victory highlights Mosel’s tradition, known for its rivers and steep slopes producing light white wines. The title requires expertise in tasting and communication, skills Zenz, a business administration graduate, already practiced as a local queen.

Historic change in the competition

The election marked the debut of male candidates, with Levin McKenzie from Rheinhessen in the final. This inclusion led to renaming the event Weinmajestät, adapting the format after 76 female-only editions.

Candidates faced tests like blind tastings and thematic speeches. The final decision came from a public vote, combining live audience and broadcast viewers.

This change reflects discussions on inclusion in Germany’s wine sector, which exports over €1 billion annually.

Tests that defined the winner

The final required precision in varied tasks. Participants identified grapes in blind tests and tackled group challenges.

Zenz stood out in communication, explaining origins of regions like Mosel, with its 8,500 hectares of vines.

Other stages included agility games and personal presentations, evaluated by an expert jury.

Profile of the new German wine queen

Anna Zenz grew up at Weingut Zenz in Ediger-Eller, helping with the family business after her father’s passing. She works as an insurance consultant and studies business administration.

Her election as Mosel-Weinkönigin in September 2024 prepared her for the national stage. Zenz plans visits to trade fairs like ProWein to boost exports.

The role involves 200 annual engagements, from tastings to lectures, focusing on sustainability.

• Identifying vintages in blind tests;
• Speeches on wine traditions;
• Interaction at public events.

Mosel’s legacy in the title

The Mosel region, one of Germany’s oldest, has crowned Weinköniginnen in past editions. Zenz follows names like Marie-Sophie Schwarz, who competed in 2024.

Local producers celebrated the win with events in Leiwen, where Zenz was regionally elected. The area accounts for 40% of Germany’s white wine production, like Riesling.

This victory boosts Mosel’s visibility, with slate soils defining mineral flavors in its wines.

The Zenz family runs a vineyard with a restaurant and distillery, integrating tourism. Zenz cites the motto “adjust the sails to the wind” as a personal guide.

Background of the national election

The competition began in 1949 to promote wine post-war. Initially limited to single women from wine families, it evolved to focus on knowledge.

In 2025, 12 candidates from 12 regions competed, excluding Sachsen. The preliminary round on September 20 selected the finalists.

The SWR broadcast reached thousands, with online voting influencing the outcome.

Future activities of the majesties

The trio will attend international fairs, like in Düsseldorf. Zenz will visit markets in Asia and the US to drive sales.

They coordinate with the Deutsches Weininstitut, targeting young consumers. Terms include travel and enology training.

• Promotion at 200 events;
• Focus on exports;
• Collaborations with producers.

The previous Weinkönigin, Charlotte Weihl from Pfalz, passed the crown in an emotional ceremony.