The Weinstrasse or the Deutsche Weinstrasse is the oldest of Germany’s tourist wine routes. It is located in the Palatinate region of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatina. Gauleiter Josef Bürckel had the idea of establishing a road that connects all vintners’ villages to boost the wine sales. The German Wine Route was officially opened on 19 October 1935. Existing local roads along the route were renamed to incorporate “Weinstraße” into their names and local municipalities were told to add “an der Weinstraße” to their names.