Spring is in the air! A sure sign that nature is waking up is the arrival of pink and white almond blossom along the German Wine Road (Deutsche Weinstrasse). From now through the end of April, these annual “Rosa Wochen” (pink weeks) along the Weinstrasse offer a handful of villages where you can watch these beautiful trees bloom.
The entire region joins in with festivals and culinary delicacies for the almond season. Vintners open their doors and invite guests to sample the newest vintage. Restaurants, bars and hotels also offer a multitude of specialties using almonds. So, if you are looking to take a Sunday drive and walk among the pink blossoms, this is the perfect time to kick-start your Spring.
Local Wine 
We took a leisurely drive this past weekend to a couple of festivals along the Weinstrasse. We stopped first in Edenkoben to try their local wine made with almond blossom and took a walk in the vineyards. As with most of the festivals in small German villages, there were several vendors selling wine, food and crafts.
Pink Lights
As the afternoon turns to evening and daylight begins to fade, many fortresses, castles, churches and city gates along the Wine Route are lit up in pink lights (Rosa Leuchten). We decided to have a late day drive from the Edenkoben Almond Mile and ended at the Dionysius Chapel in Gleiszellen for their festival.
Events
Scenic and delicious events await along the entire wine route throughout this season. Make sure to check our Event Calendar so you don’t miss any festivities in the region. Two of our favorites are weekly culinary Wine Walks and the Almond Blossom Fest from April 27 to 28.
Pfälzer Mandelpfad Route 
If you have several hours (or possibly the opportunity to make it a weekend trip), there is a route called the “Pfälzer Mandelpfad” that you can follow. It runs for about 50 miles, stretching between Bad Dürkheim all the way down to Bad Bergzabern, right on the French border. Almond trees have been cultivated in this area for centuries, and to date, you can find all sorts of treats made with almonds from sweets to liqueurs to pralines.
Other Villages on the Wine Route 
Some of the wine route’s most picturesque villages and good bets for blossom-spotting include Deidesheim, Neustadt, Maikammer, St. Martin, Kirrweiler, Edenkoben and Bad Bergzabern. There are also numerous tours during the days and evenings along the Palatinate Almond Trail. This very special hiking trail runs through the land of almond blossom across 77 kilometers.
Rosa Leuchten Tours
During Rosa Leuchten, there are many different tour options available, including 4 day and 8 day tours, bike tours and walking tours. You can even plant your own almond tree! Visit Mandelblüte in der Pfalz or German Wine Route for more information on events, tours and directions.
How to Get There 
The German Wine Route (Deutsche Weinstrasse) is the oldest Germany’s tourist wine routes. Established in 1935, it is located in the Palatinate region of the state Rhineland-Palatinate.
Though running through several villages, here is a starting point on the Wine Route. The Wine Route is less thank 1 hour east of Kaiserslautern, just over 1 hour south of Wiesbaden and 1 hour and 40 minutes northwest of Stuttgart.
To visit one of the towns mentioned above on the Wine Route, click on DB Bahn for more information.
Author’s Profile: Cheryl Koller is a native of Georgia. She is a DOD spouse, mom of 4 daughters (2 adults, 2 teens), thrill-seeker, avid traveler, and lover of food and wine. She is a self-proclaimed Freedom-Preneur and Blogger currently living in Ramstein with her family.
