Franconian Wine Queen Explained

The Franconian Wine Queen (German: Fränkische Weinkönigin) is the annually-elected representative of the German wine region of Franconia. At the end of her time in office, she is eligible to participate in the competition for the German Wine Queen. Until 1963, the Franconian Wine Queen reigned for two years.

Selection process

The candidates should come from a vintner's family and be at least 18 years old. The Franconian Wine Queen is chosen by a panel of judges. She represents Franconian wine for a period of twelve months, both at home and abroad. The 57th Franconian Wine Queen (2012/13) was nominated in January 2012 as Melanie Dietrich from Fahr.^[1]

After a year in office, the Franconian Wine Queen, together with the other twelve regional wine queens in Germany, takes part in the competition for the German Wine Queen. In 2008, the Franconian Wine Queen, Marlies Dumbsky from Volkach, was chosen as the 60th German Wine Queen for one year (until 2009).

Franconian Wine Queens

(incomplete list)

1950/1951 Tilly Lurz, Randersacker^[2]
1951-1953 Marianne Spenkuch, Wiesenbronn
1953-1955 Doris Bausenwein, Iphofen
1955-1957 Hedwig Raps, Volkach
1957 Karoline Baumgärtner, Rödelsee (German Wine Queen)
1957-1959 Rosemarie Stolzenberger, Klingenberg am Main (German Wine Queen)
1959-1961 Maria Brombierstäudl, Iphofen
1961-1963 Irene Krauss, Obereisenheim
1963/1964 Marita Bäuerlein, Volkach (Deutsche Weinkönigin)
1964/1965 Christa Navratil, Nordheim am Main
1965/1966 Christa Karl, Volkach
1966/1967 Christa Boll, Escherndorf
1967/1968 Brigitte Fleder, Veitshöchheim (German Wine Queen)

1969/1970 Christa Horn, Iphofen
1970/1971 Heide-Marie Greiner-Römmert, Volkach
1971/1972 Marlene Schäffer, Thüngersheim
1972/1973 Christl Finger, Randersacker
1973/1974 Renate Loichinger, Großheubach
1974/1975 Gertraud Schubert, Obereisenheim
1975/1976 Carmen Stumpf, Frickenhausen am Main
- 1976/1977 Irmtraud Zimmermann, Retzstadt 1977/1978 Monika Lindner, Volkach-Escherndorf
1978/1979 Helga Sauer, Obereisenheim
1979/1980 Barbara Schiebel, Untereisenheim
1980/1981 Irmgard Gündert, Sommerach
1981/1982 Anita Krämer-Gerhard, Astheim (German Wine Queen)
1982/1983 Karin Molitor-Hartmann, Sommerach (German Wine Queen 1982/1983)
1983/1984 Andrea Wägerle, Obereisenheim
- 1984/1985 Irene Säger, Zeilitzheim 1985/1986 Monika Kirch, Nordheim am Main
1986/1987 Christl Büttner, Thüngersheim
1987/1988 Petra Ungemach, Nordheim am Main
1988/1989 Doris Paul, Wiesenbronn
1989/1990 Renate Schäfer, Volkach-Astheim (German Wine Queen 1989/1990)
- 1990/1991 Karin Rickel, Großlangheim 1991/1992 Heidrun Kaufmann, Erlenbach bei Marktheidenfeld
1992/1993 Andrea Schröder geb. Hütten, Randersacker
1993/1994 Victoria Hessdörfer, Retzbach
1994/1995 Tanja Elflein, Obereisenheim
1995/1996 Daniela Soth, Erlenbach bei Marktheidenfeld
1996/1997 Claudia Schmachtenberger, Eibelstadt
1997/1998 Martina Reiss, Ipsheim
1998/1999 Michaela Heusinger, Sommerach
1999/2000 Sandra Sauer, Volkach-Escherndorf
2000/2001 Silvia Gaul, Stetten
2001/2002 Iris Stumpf, Erlenbach bei Marktheidenfeld
2002/2003 Julia Stühler, Untereisenheim
2003/2004 Nicole Then, Sommerach (German Wine Queen)
- 2004/2005 Lisa Schmitt, Großlangheim 2005/2006 Eva Steindorf, Volkach-Escherndorf
2006/2007 Jennifer Herbert, Zeilitzheim
2007/2008 Eva Barthelme, Volkach-Gaibach
2008/2009 Marlies Dumbsky, Volkach (German Wine Queen 2008/2009)
2009/2010 Anna Saum, Großlangheim
2010/2011 Melanie Unsleber, Ramsthal (German Wine Princess)
2011/2012 Sabine Ziegler, Güntersleben
2012/2013 Melanie Dietrich, Fahr
2013/2014 Marion Wunderlich, Tauberrettersheim
2014/2015 Christin Ungemach, Nordheim am Main
2015/2016 Kristin Langmann, Bullenheim
2016/2017 Christina Schneider, Nordheim am Main (German Wine Princess 2016/2017)
2017/2018 Silena Werner, Stammheim
2018/2019 Klara Zehnder, Randersacker
2019/2020 Carolin Meyer, Castell-Greuth

Number of winners by place