The Grevenmacher wine festival, a 75-year-old Luxembourgish tradition that crowns a new 'Wine Queen' each year, will see 20-year-old Jill Wagner ascend to the role after a shortened term as princess.
Jill Wagner's path to the crown has been anything but ordinary. After just one year as a wine princess, she will officially be crowned Luxembourg's 75th Wine Queen on 12 September in Grevenmacher.
Meeting her a month before the ceremony at the chapel in her hometown, a place with special significance for her, Wagner explained why she had always dreamed of becoming wine queen, what the role means today, and how she found herself in the unusual position of being promoted after only a year as princess.
A shortened reign as princess
Traditionally, princesses spend four years before moving up to the crown, but Wagner will do so after just one. She described her journey as a "turbo version". The change came after two princesses stepped down for personal reasons, pushing Wagner and her colleague Anne forward, Wagner said.
Since Wagner was the oldest, and Lynn, who would normally have been next, preferred to remain a princess longer, the crown fell to Wagner. She sees no disadvantage in the shortened time, saying she learned a great deal from current queen Anne-Catherine Schiltz and feels ready for the role after a packed year of festivals.
Last year's celebration
At last year's Grevenmacher wine festival, Schiltz was crowned the 74th Wine Queen. The then 21-year-old, whose mother had also been a queen, called it the fulfilment of a childhood dream. Her coronation was celebrated with a torchlit parade by firefighters, guides and scouts, music groups from across the region, and a grand fireworks display over the Moselle. Schiltz has since spent the past year representing Luxembourg's Moselle wine industry at home and abroad, while also pursuing her studies in midwifery.
Born into tradition
Going back to this year's coronation, Wagner stated that the tradition runs deep. Growing up in Grevenmacher, she said she always looked up to the queens as a child and wished one day to wear the crown herself. This year's festival is particularly significant, marking both the 75th edition of the Grevenmacher wine festival and the 75th coronation.
Ambassador for Moselle wine
Now 20, Wagner views the role as being an "ambassador for Luxembourg's wine". She stressed that the queen represents the entire Moselle region, both at home and abroad. Social media has amplified the role, she noted, with queens today appearing far more widely in public. But she sees this as positive: a useful platform for promoting Luxembourgish wine.
While queens and princesses are always in the public eye, Wagner said she has so far received only positive feedback and has not faced negative experiences either in public or online. She added that she would not allow issues such as bullying or body-shaming to affect her, especially with the support of her fellow princesses Lynn, Anne, and Noémie at public events.
The qualities of a queen
Although she considers herself somewhat shy, Wagner said she enjoys meeting people, which she acknowledges is an essential part of the role. To be a queen or princess, she explained, you must be open, ready to engage with others, and ideally also enjoy wine.
For her coronation speech, Wagner has chosen to write the text herself, determined to speak in her own words and fully stand behind what she says. While she admits that preparations for such a major event bring a little nervousness, the fact that this is the 75th coronation makes it an even greater honour.
Wine brings people together
Beyond its importance to the Moselle economy, Wagner sees wine as a product that brings people together and is meant to be enjoyed. She identified climate change and vine diseases as the biggest challenges for Luxembourgish winegrowers, but expressed confidence that research will develop solutions to help grapes adapt better. Investing in more resistant varieties will also be necessary, she added.
Advice for future queens and princesses
Her advice to those who aspire to follow in her footsteps is simple: always remain open, enjoy the role, and bring enthusiasm to the job, which will make the experience rewarding and fun.
Girls aged 16 and above who dream of becoming a princess or queen can apply through the Grevenmacher festival committee.
Coronation date
The coronation of Jill Wagner as the 75th Wine Queen will take place on Friday, 12 September, at 8pm at the Cultural Centre in Grevenmacher. The 75th Grapes and Wine Festival runs from 12 to 14 September, featuring concerts, a torchlit parade, and fireworks alongside the crowning ceremony.
Wine Queens from 1950 to 2025
