German Wine Queen 2012
The German Wine Queen 2012 – An Ambassador for German Wine
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Annika Strebel was crowned 63rd German wine queen on 30 September 2011 in Neustadt/Weinstraße. The 23-year-old student of viticulture from Wintersheim/Rheinhessen triumphed over her competitors from the other 12 German wine-growing regions. The personable vintner’s daughter made a convincing appearance with her excellent knowledge, eloquence and charm. |
She is supported by the German wine princesses Ramona Sturm from the Mosel and Elisabeth Born from Saale-Unstrut.
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For more than 60 years, the German Wine Institute/Mainz and the German wine queen, flanked by two German wine princesses, have been a successful team. The first German wine queen was elected in 1950. |
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Since then, the election process has been as follows: every autumn, the wine queens of each of Germany’s 13 wine-growing regions compete for the national title before an 80-member jury of professionals from the wine industry, politics, and the press. The jury poses questions on complex issues related to wine; the candidates are challenged to respond competently, clearly, and concisely – and to do so with the confidence and charm expected of an ambassador for German wine.
The public perceives German wine queens as professional young women who are dedicated to German wine and capable of competently dealing with nearly every subject related to wine. The wine queens themselves view their position as ambassadors on behalf of German wine, as representatives of a wine culture that is rich in tradition, yet thoroughly contemporary. Their role is not that of a salesperson, but rather that of a communicator, who is able to provide the public with information about the world of wine - from the vine to the glass, as well as address issues, such as the criteria for wine quality or the pros and cons of wine pleasure, to name but a few.
Election guidelines stipulate that all candidates must be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to German wine. This could stem from wine-related professional training, family heritage or ties to local viticulture. This is to ensure that incumbents have the professional knowledge and understanding required for the job. Yet, the term of every German wine queen is unique in that it is marked by the distinctive personality with which she fulfills her official duties.
The German Wine Institute coordinates the schedule of these young female professionals at home and abroad. The German wine queen, for example, is “on the road” some 200 days of her year in office; the German wine princesses are no less active in their many public appearances on behalf of German wine. Monika Reule, Managing Director of the Wine Institute emphasizes: “We take the office of the German wine queen and princesses seriously. As ambassadors of German wine, they are sent around the world for all kinds of events, and they must be capable of making a perfect appearance on the international stage.”