The wein.plus-TV programme in February 2025: Our TV and streaming tips with all series and feature films, documentaries, travel reports and reports on wine, winegrowers and viticulture.
3sat, 2.00 am (in the night from Thursday to Friday)
No one would have thought that Rattey Castle near Woldegk would one day be home to one of the largest vineyards in northern Germany. The foundation stone was laid in 1999 by a group of private winegrowers. They planted 300 vines to later make the first Mecklenburg country wine from the grapes. They admit today that it tasted "... more bad than good". 25 years later, things look very different: Ratteyer wines are winning gold and silver medals at international competitions. In order to get all the grapes from the vines, a full harvesting machine is used. After this year's harvest, the head of the winery, Stefan Schmidt, expects a yield of around 80,000 litres of red and white wine from the Regent, Phoenix, Solaris, Blütenmuskateller and Monarch varieties. The Ratteyer winegrowers have a total of 16 different grape varieties to offer. And they have invested several million euros over the past few years. Among other things, a new winery with huge tanks has been built. An investment that never ceases to amaze visitors.
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3sat, 3.30 pm
Bordeaux is a metropolis in the south-west of France, the capital of wine and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The lively harbour city is known for its good wine and oysters, art and culture. But what can you experience in the city on the Garonne with a limited budget of 300 euros for two people over two days? Tamina Kallert and Uwe Irnsinger want to find out.
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WDR Television, 5.00 pm
The Palatinate lures with flavours and nature - and thus casts a spell over Björn Freitag and Tamina Kallert. The two pleasure travellers set up their base camp for their boundless trip in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Together with colleague Susanne Nett, known as "Die Rezeptsucherin" from SWR, they track down the wine and its history as well as Palatinate specialities. Tamina Kallert is on the trail of two world records in Bad Dürkheim - including the largest wine barrel in the world. Björn Freitag cooks Saumagen in Wachenheim an der Weinstraße with restaurateur and butcher Klaus Hambel, known to many as the "Saumagen Pope". At the winery of sisters Dorothee and Karoline Gaul, Tamina Kallert and Björn Freitag find out what makes the Palatinate the ideal wine-growing region and how fermentation control works.
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hr television, 10.15 a.m.
The Lavaux wine-growing region between Lausanne and Vevey is considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in Switzerland. The mighty rock faces of the Savoy and Vaud Alps protect it from cold winds, and Lake Geneva, which is over three hundred metres deep, provides a mild climate. Even the Romans planted vines on the steep banks of the lake. In the Middle Ages, Cistercian monks began to create terraced vineyards fortified with masonry, thereby increasing the quality and yield of the vines. Despite the use of modern techniques, viticulture in Lavaux is still extremely labour-intensive today due to the steep slopes. To make cultivation easier, dizzying monorails were built to transport people and materials to the upper terraces. The steepest slopes are those of the Dézaley, which were formed by the Rhone glacier. The clay and limestone soil gives the wines - especially the Chasselas, the Gutedel, its typical flavour. Lavaux - mountains, lake, vineyards and settlements form a unique cultural landscape. This is why it was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List in 2007.
rbb television, 12.30 pm
The renovation work on Thomas' winery can finally begin: The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a new, modern cellar takes place. But Georg Plattner is not yet ready to admit defeat and spins new intrigues against Thomas. Georg successfully makes life difficult for Thomas and obstructs his renovation wherever he can: When the work is disrupted, Thomas realises that Georg is behind his problems.
3sat, 1.20 pm
High above the Gulf of Genoa, a chain of forgotten places and fascinating landscapes stretches from the French Riviera to the hills of Tuscany. This is where the Ligurian hiking trail leads. Life in Liguria is characterised by high mountains and proximity to the coast. People always love, live and die "su o sciu", "up or down". The rhythm of the incessant ascent and descent culminates in the work on the narrow wine terraces of the Cinque Terre - an unmistakable cultural landscape that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
Bavarian Television, 3.00 p.m.
The desire for alcohol arises in the mind, but in which everyday situations is the desire particularly strong? In a so-called bar lab at the Central Institute of Mental Health, researchers are trying to answer these and many other questions about the effects of alcohol on our bodies and brains. Another topic in the programme: Anti-ageing through red wine? Does drinking red wine slow down the ageing process?
3sat, 14.50 hrs
Lanzarote emerged from the depths of the Atlantic millions of years ago from several volcanic eruption phases - the last one only around 200 years ago. The Ascensión Robayna family cultivate their fields in the flat plain of the La Geria wine-growing region. It is characterised by funnel-shaped pits. The vines grow on fertile lumps of ash, known as lapilli. They originate from the last major eruption in 1730 and only a single vine grows in each funnel. All the work has to be done by hand. It is the perfect symbiosis of man and nature.
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3sat, 1.20 pm
The Azores rise out of the Atlantic Ocean as the peaks of huge underwater volcanoes. The evergreen archipelago in the middle of the ocean attracts visitors with its impressive landscapes and idyllic villages. Whale watching, tours to extinct volcanoes, bathing in hot springs and hiking through forests and vineyards: the Azores offer island hopping to diverse paradises for hikers, nature lovers, geotourists and water sports enthusiasts - far away from mass tourism.
3sat, 4.45 pm
Historical sites and picturesque nature: Croatia offers impressive scenic and cultural diversity in a small area. It is no coincidence that the country is experiencing a tourism boom. While travelling along the Adriatic coast, you will learn more about Croatia's history and meet exciting characters: from the employee of a seawater saltworks to a winegrower from the island of Hvar and teachers at the stonemasonry school in Pučišća.
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3sat, 5.30 pm
The series "Dream Places" takes you to the most beautiful places in the world. This episode takes us to the Loire Valley. It is known for its fairytale castles and excellent wines.
SWR Television, 18.08 hrs
Wawern lies 15 kilometres southwest of Trier. Just under 630 people live in the small village in the Saar valley, surrounded by nature. The community centre is located at the foot of the vineyards in Weinbergstraße. Among other things, the theatre group of the local heritage association rehearses here. However, it is also the stage for projects that deal with topics such as "home" and "roots" as well as the history of the village.
rbb television, 12.30 pm
With the help of master builder Schmalvogel, Georg Thomas' new wine cellar is successfully completed. But once again Gottfried Schnell is on hand to help his protégé and is able to intervene. Hermine tries to mediate between Thomas and the Plattners by contacting her daughter Andrea. Meanwhile, Claudia is forced to let Thomas in on a secret she has kept for years: Paul is actually his son.
ZDFinfo, 11.15 a.m.
Emilia-Romagna - a region rich in history and culture - lies in the centre of northern Italy. It offers culinary delights, interesting traditions and a diverse landscape. The architecture and architecture of the region ranges from ancient monuments to early Christian churches, medieval crusader castles and 19th century opera houses. Wine connoisseurs and Ferrari fans will also get their money's worth. At the transition from the Po Valley to the Apennines, the cities of Emilia-Romagna line up like a string of pearls: Piacenza, Parma, Modena, Bologna, Ravenna and Rimini attract visitors with numerous museums, local specialities, world heritage sites and nature parks. Castles and old villages with picturesque market squares lie between olive groves, vineyards and laurel trees. And from Cervia to Rimini you will find the extensive sandy beaches of the Adriatic Riviera.
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3sat, 1.20 pm
The karst plateau is perforated like a sponge, soaking up everything that can flow. Many farmers actually have their own entrance to the underworld. This is where they press wine, store Karst ham or mature cheese.
arte, 18.35 hrs
The journey leads from Pirna in Saxony to Dessau in Saxony-Anhalt and offers a unique mixture of nature, culture and history. The Saxon Wine Route, one of the smallest and oldest wine-growing regions in Germany, meanders along the banks of the Elbe. The programme is available online from 12 February to 13 May 2025 on arte.tv
NDR television, 2.00 pm
Lars Oliver and Sandra Lüke are still securing and clearing out the Hof Sülten manor house. A house with a vaulted cellar. Good for their vision of winegrowing in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. They have planted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and more. They hope for a rich harvest in autumn.
3sat, 6.05 a.m.
Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes on earth. With an enormous height of over 3300 metres, it dominates Sicily. It is the portrait of one of Europe's most fascinating natural wonders. It erupts almost every year. The dangers for local residents have been limited since the upper part of Mount Etna was declared a national park, which may not be built on. However, if the flanks in lower regions crack open, there is almost nothing that can stop the lava flow. Winemaker Chiara Vigo remembers how, as a child, she had to witness an eruption in the north near Randazzo that destroyed almost all of the family's vineyards: a catastrophe, as there is still no insurance against it on Mount Etna. She will never forget that the lava flow left a remnant of their possessions and "miraculously" suddenly changed direction, as Chiara recounts in the film. Together with her husband Gianluca, she now cultivates "Nerello Mascalese", the typical red grape variety of the few 130 or so winegrowers on Mount Etna. She appreciates the fact that the volcano not only takes, but also gives. The fertile and mineral-rich volcanic soil enables the cultivation of wine, olives, pistachios and many other things that characterise Sicilian cuisine.
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3sat, 3.30 pm
The Loire Valley is known for its fairytale castles and excellent wines. But the World Heritage region also has a lot to offer off the beaten track.
3sat, 5.30 pm
After surviving cancer, Nel Innes is happy to finally be able to resume her work in the New York restaurant she runs with her husband Marc. But the joy of returning to her old life doesn't last long: Marc, to whom she has been married for almost 20 years, is having an affair with patissier Melissa and seems to have only stayed with her because of Nel's illness. Head over heels, she packs her things and flees to her father Gerald's family vineyard. There she gets another surprise: Gerald wants to sell the estate, which has been in the family for generations, and enjoy the last years of his life with his late love Margret. A buyer has already been found: Jake Carlyle, owner of the large Brandovino company, which fills the supermarket shelves of the East Coast with cheaply produced mass-produced wines. Nel decides to buy the winery. However, she has to admit to herself that her physical strength has not yet fully returned. She is also afraid of another outbreak of the disease. However, competitor Jake, of all people, makes Nel feel carefree and attractive for the first time in a long time. But Marc doesn't want to throw away the years they spent together. He offers Nel the chance to sell the restaurant so that the two of them can make a fresh start at the winery. Surprisingly for everyone, Nel gives up the winery and returns to Marc in New York. Will they manage to save their marriage there? Or will Nel have to let Marc go in order to be free herself for a new start in the years she has been given?
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3sat, 6.15 a.m.
Historical sites and picturesque nature: Croatia offers impressive scenic and cultural diversity in a small area. It is no coincidence that the country is experiencing a tourism boom. During the journey along the Adriatic coast, you will learn more about Croatia's history and meet exciting characters: from the employee of a seawater saltworks to a winegrower from the island of Hvar and teachers at the stonemasonry school in Pučišća.
rbb television, 12.30 pm
Claudia and Thomas decide to tell Paul and Anna that they are half-siblings. Paul and Anna are very upset and hurt by this fact. Paul in particular reproaches his mother Claudia. Anna goes to the lido at night and lies down in a boat attached to the jetty to think and write Paul a letter, but she falls asleep exhausted. Meanwhile, Paul ponders over a bottle of schnapps in Plattner's boathouse. When Anna wakes up, she and the boat are on the open sea and a storm is brewing. Fortunately, Paul notices the distress signals that Anna is sending out. Meanwhile, Claudia and Thomas are feverishly searching for their children. Claudia finally alerts Georg, who is asked to organise an early morning search. But in the morning, Paul and Anna turn up unharmed. Paul was able to rescue his half-sister and they spent the night together on an island of reeds. As Georg cannot hide the fact that something must have happened that also affects him, his divorced wife reveals the truth to him: he is not Paul's father. But the fact that Thomas of all people is supposed to be the real father fills Georg with deep hatred.
3sat, 2.00 pm
Travelling by train through the winter wonderland of Switzerland: to the most remote valleys, up the highest mountains, through impressive landscapes, past people and their stories. On the journey through Valais, you follow in the footsteps of hotel king Caesar Ritz, the inventor of the international luxury hotel industry, and can marvel at the highest vineyard north of the main Alpine ridge.
NDR television, 3.15 pm
Shanna Reis, the 29-year-old fourth-generation winegrower, is carrying on another family tradition: hunting.
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ARD-alpha, 8.15 pm
Green oases on the Black Sea, mountain ranges on the coast and a dazzling metropolis, Tbilisi. Georgia is unmistakable. The country has only 3.7 million inhabitants. But they cultivate unique traditions and customs that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The oldest wine varieties in the world grow in the Javakheti Mountains.
WDR Television, 21.00 hrs
Off to Turin! Embraced by the majestic peaks of the Alps, the metropolis in the north-west of Italy is a delight from the moment you set eyes on it. Top chef Björn Freitag and travel expert Tamina Kallert discover the best specialities here - and quickly realise: nothing is easier than that! Because they land right in the epicentre of Italian food culture! From Turin, it's off to southern Piedmont, the heart of the global Slow Food movement. The rolling hills of the Langhe have a special charm. It is the region of great wines such as Barolo, the best truffles from Alba and even the hazelnuts, the "Tonda Gentile", are famous worldwide. So there is plenty to taste, cook and admire for the two pleasure travellers Björn and Tamina. And what could be better than rounding off the day with a Piedmontese meal after a hike along the vineyards and hazelnut groves?
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arte, 5.00 a.m.
Sustainability - a big issue in small Luxembourg. The densely populated country is attracting more and more people, so the economy and nature conservation need to be reconciled. In the vineyards of the Moselle region, winemaker Corinne Kox is also experimenting with methods to make viticulture more sustainable. The programme is available online from 11 February to 28 February 2025 on arte.tv.
3sat, 11.55 a.m.
The good "Stöffche" is becoming more and more popular: at the Frankfurt Cider Fair you can see with amazement how many varieties of cider there are now - from rustic and hearty to noble and fine. However, cider is not just for the glass, but also for the plate. In "Hessen à la carte", cider professionals cook in their kitchens at home - a film about kitchens and cellars, apple orchards and cider connoisseurs. The "Freiheit" in Laudenau serves strawberries flavoured with apple cider vinegar. Host and apple cider vinegar maker Jürgen Katzenmeier won a first prize in Austria for one of his vinegars. In Reichelsheim, Armin Treusch invites you to a special apple wine tasting - and he prepares delicious apple pancakes with apple wine foam.
3sat, 11.45 a.m.
This time, the team from "Mit Herz am Herd" is a guest in Perl. Above the vineyards, Cliff Hämmerle prepares a classic dish with his trainee chefs Verena and Michael: coq au vin rouge.
3sat, 11.55 a.m.
No other Austrian province can boast such a wide variety of culinary specialities as Styria. Seed oil, horseradish, scarlet runner beans, Styrian cheese, Murbodner beef, Vulcano ham, wine, fine brandies, apples - the list of specialities that have become trademarks of Styrian regions is long.
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ARD-alpha, 8.15 pm
In the far west, the Pyrenees end at the Atlantic Ocean. In the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a winegrower anchors his wine barrels to the seabed and leaves them to the changing tides.
arte, 10.25 a.m.
Mendoza, situated at the foot of the Andes, is Argentina's most important wine region and boasts a breathtaking backdrop. The Malbec grape, from which the famous red wine is made, grows here. This wine has always been produced mainly by men. However, a group of dedicated women are now fulfilling their dream of producing their own wine: they call it "Apasionadas", "passionate", as they themselves are. It has been a rocky road, but in this strong community, the dream has become a reality. Single mother Federica Agüero once had the idea of bringing together 22 women with different, often tragic life stories. They all own a small vineyard, inherited from their ancestors or divorced husbands. But only as a group was it possible for the women to finally produce their own wine and bring it to market. Producing wine in the desert region of Mendoza is not easy. It requires major investment, a sophisticated water system and the extreme weather also places high demands on grape cultivation. In Mendoza, their wine is sold in restaurants and wine shops, and it has already reached Buenos Aires. But the dream of interest from abroad remains - for this to happen, however, wine production must become more stable. A well-known Argentinian advertising designer has created the label for "Apasionadas". It symbolises what the women want to represent: Passion, strength and the indestructible love for the vineyards. The programme is available online from 14 February to 22 May 2025 on arte.tv.
SWR Television, 21.00 hrs
Enjoy "Weck, Worscht und Woi" at one of the most beautiful weekly markets in Germany, cruise along the Rhine on an electric cruiser or explore the secrets of Mainz's underworld: Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, combines historical highlights, culinary delights and socialising. The Mainz market breakfast is an institution in the city. To promote regional products and wines, Mainz winegrowers have joined forces and created the market breakfast as one of the most popular meeting places for Mainz residents and tourists.
Link to the programme
3sat, 16.00 hrs
After surviving cancer, Nel Innes is happy to finally be able to return to work in the New York restaurant she runs with her husband Marc. But the joy of returning to her old life doesn't last long: Marc, to whom she has been married for almost 20 years, is having an affair with patissière Melissa and seems to have stayed with her only because of Nel's illness. Head over heels, she packs her things and flees to her father Gerald's family vineyard. There she gets another surprise: Gerald wants to sell the estate, which has been in the family for generations, and enjoy the last years of his life with his late love Margret. A buyer has already been found: Jake Carlyle, owner of the large Brandovino company, which fills the supermarket shelves of the East Coast with cheaply produced mass-produced wines. Nel decides to buy the winery. However, she has to admit to herself that her physical strength has not yet fully returned. She is also afraid of another outbreak of the disease. However, competitor Jake, of all people, makes Nel feel carefree and attractive for the first time in a long time. But Marc doesn't want to throw away the years they spent together. He offers Nel the chance to sell the restaurant so that the two of them can make a fresh start at the winery. Surprisingly for everyone, Nel gives up the winery and returns to Marc in New York. Will they manage to save their marriage there? Or will Nel have to let Marc go in order to be free herself for a new start in her given years?
rbb television, 12.30 pm
The mood at Rust is tense: The loss of his son and the certainty that Thomas is Paul's father is causing Georg great problems. But in a man-to-man conversation, he and Paul reassure each other that they want to stay together and have a good relationship. There is also a lot of excitement at Hermine's inn, Stickler, because waitress Elisabeth has neither her desired divorce nor her debts under control. Pastor Knopf, Hermine and Thomas look for ways to help her out of her misery. Georg's jealousy of Thomas becomes furious when he is forced to observe a "family idyll" in the Rieden, centred around his adversary Paul. He reacts with a lawsuit: he demands 250,000 euros from Thomas as repayment of the maintenance payments for Paul over 20 years. Thomas feels his livelihood is once again jeopardised by this demand. Paul is devastated. He makes it clear to Georg that he wants nothing more to do with him under these circumstances.
3sat, 3.30 pm
Rushing waterfalls, crystal-clear lakes and wild rivers: Bosnia and Herzegovina is the "blue heart" of Europe, characterised entirely by water. The most important white wine varieties are Bena, Krkošija and Žilavka, the most important red wine varieties are Blatina, Cabernet Sauvignon, Kadarka, Merlot, Plavac Mali and Syrah. This will be followed at 4.15 pm by the programme "Bosnia and Herzegovina (2/2) - The Rough South".
3sat, 5.00 pm
The film-makers plunge into the wine country of Montenegro and meet people who show them their homeland. Montenegro owes its name to the black mountains. The smallest of the former republics of ex-Yugoslavia has an incredible amount to offer besides wine growing.
3sat, 5.45 pm
In the far north-west of Croatia, in upper Međimurje, there are rolling golden hills on which vineyards, fruit trees and rural estates are lined up like bubbles. Vines were already planted here by the ancient Romans. The centre of this wine paradise is Štrigova. The speciality is the autochthonous grape variety "Pušipel", which is called "Moslavac" in the rest of Croatia, "Mosler" in Austria, "Šipon" in Slovenia and "Furmint" in Hungary. In the last twenty years, the entire village has experienced a major economic boom. The winegrowers have founded the Hortus Croatia association and significantly improved the quality of their products so that they can compete with the internationally renowned winegrowing regions. Part of Štrigova is the Međimurje Wine Route. It combines natural landscapes, cultural and historical monuments, wineries and manor houses and the corresponding gastronomic and tourist infrastructure. Restaurants offer traditional food and drink, and cycling and hiking trails make the area accessible to sporty guests. The high wine quality cannot be maintained without technological progress. However, some of the winegrowers combine new technologies with the old, traditional winemaking methods.
3sat, 21.45 hrs
The famous "Madeira" is a special liqueur wine with a protected designation of origin and one of the longest-lasting wines in the world. It is enriched with brandy and has an alcohol content of 16 to 22 per cent. The Madeira vines grow mainly in the south of the island around the towns of Camara de Lobos and Calheta. Many wine merchants and producers built splendid houses called "quintas", or fifths. This was because the tenants of the wine estates had to pay this much to the owning class. Many of these villas - such as the "Quinta Casa Branca" in the west of Funchal - are now used as hotels.
It is a dizzying to-do list that the island farmers from Martinen Farm on Amrum have set themselves within a year. A former holiday boarding house is to be converted into a home for islanders, and 140 hectares of farmland have to be cultivated and harvested. At the same time as the last family moves in, the island farmers' wine is also harvested. This has never happened on Amrum before.
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The winegrowers of the famous Bordeaux wine-growing region can no longer get rid of their red wine. Some winegrowers now want to uproot their vines and switch to other crops. Will this mean the loss of a French cultural asset?
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Too little water on the slopes of the Rhine: in Oberwesel on the Middle Rhine, young winegrowers Maximilian Lambrich and his sister Julia are struggling with the consequences of the extreme drought. To save their grape harvest, they water the young vines and even prune them so that the remaining vines survive. The winegrowing family wonders what will happen to the vines if drought years become more frequent due to climate change. However, the vine quickly slows down its growth during droughts and sometimes sacrifices some of its leaves, which turn yellow and die. The conversion of sugar in the leaves as part of photosynthesis is also impaired if the intensity and duration of the water shortage increases.
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