84th Bockenheim Wine Festival

One of the Oldest Wine Festival Traditions in the Palatinate

With 84 editions, the Bockenheim Wine Festival looks back on a long history that dates back to the early 20th century. It has become a fixture in the Palatinate festival calendar and is now considered one of the largest wine festivals in Leiningerland. The combination of wine, a festive parade, and dialect culture shapes its unique character.

Bockenheim Vintners in Focus

The Bockenheim wineries present their current vintages at the wine festival. Bockenheim is located at the northern start of the German Wine Route and offers a wide range of grape varieties, from Riesling to Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder, Spätburgunder, and Dornfelder. At the wine stands, the vintners personally serve their wines and are available to chat with interested visitors.

Festive Parade and Dialect Poet Competition

The traditional festive parade winds through the town center on the main festival day, bringing together Bockenheim's clubs, music bands, and floats. The dialect poet competition is a Bockenheim specialty: Palatinate dialect poets recite their works, and a jury and the audience choose the winners. This cultural component sets the wine festival apart from the usual festivities.

Late Autumn Wine Festival

In October, the grape harvest in the Palatinate is largely complete, and the young wines are ready for tasting. The Bockenheim Wine Festival marks the end of the major Palatinate wine festival season. The cooler temperatures are compensated for by heated festival tents and the warmth of Palatinate specialties. Federweißer (new wine) with onion cake, Bratwurst, Saumagen, and chestnuts are part of the culinary repertoire.