Weinkerwe St. Martin

Sankt Martin and its Wine Culture

Sankt Martin lies at the foot of the Palatinate Forest, nestled between steep slopes, castle ruins, and the Klosterberg. The municipality is one of the most visited wine-growing villages in the Palatinate, combining medieval half-timbered architecture, excellent gastronomy, and renowned wineries. The Weinkerwe is the major summer festival here, jointly organized by local vintners and associations, traditionally held on the last weekend of July.

Opening at the Alte Kellerei

The festival kicks off on Friday evening with the opening ceremony at the Alte Kellerei. With the first glass of wine (Schoppen) and a brief welcome, the four-day festival begins. In the following hours, the courtyards of the wineries fill up, the alleys become a promenade, and bands from the region play on several small stages. The close, historic architecture creates an atmosphere that goes beyond the standard festival tent ambiance.

Palatinate Specialties and Schoppen Culture

Culinary-wise, the Weinkerwe showcases the full spectrum of Palatinate cuisine. Wood-fired Flammkuchen, Saumagen with sauerkraut, Leberknödel, Bratwurst, and Dampfnudeln are just as much a part of it as the vegetarian options like cheese platters, pretzels, and salads. The vintners also serve their own wines: Riesling from slate soils, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Spätburgunder, Dornfelder, and of course, the obligatory Weinschorle, considered the national drink in the Palatinate.

Music and Regional Meeting Point

Cover bands, acoustic duos, and dialect bands provide musical entertainment on all four days. The event is not intended as a pure concert festival but as a convivial village celebration where socializing, tasting, and conversation with the wine-growing families are the focus. Visitors come from all over the Vorderpfalz, Alsace, and the Rhine-Neckar region.