The wein.plus television programme for you in August 2023: Our TV tips with all films and series, consumer programmes, documentaries, travel reports and reports on wine, winegrowers and viticulture.
arte, 5.05 pm
For Christian Müller-Schick, oak wood from the Palatinate Forest is the most important raw material. He is the only stave maker in Germany and uses it to make longitudinal timbers that are used to build barrels. Frank John is one of the winegrowers who prefer to age their wine in Palatinate oak. He practises biodynamic viticulture and is one of the pioneers of natural farming in the Palatinate.
3sat, 5.15 pm
Preserving nature for future generations through sustainability is also what winemaker Caroline Frey wants. All nature lovers in the valley agree: the marvellous Rhone Valley is worth protecting!
3sat, 14.00 hrs
Film author Monika Birk discovers the friendly Baden way of life in Freiburg and the surrounding area. The Kaiserstuhl with its idyllic wine-growing villages is right on the doorstep.
NDR television, 6.15 pm
Luis Correia De Pinho imports wine from his native Portugal. But his small wine bar is about more than wine, it's about the Portuguese soul, says Luis. And what expresses this better than fado? Katharina Brass learnt this special type of singing in her home town of Lisbon.
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ORF III, 21.05 hrs
A summer in the Seewinkel region of Burgenland - the sun high in the sky, a light, loamy breeze that carries the scent of Pannonia. If you travel eastwards from Lake Neusiedl, you enter a world of its own where, despite all the modernisation, much still looks the same as it did in the old days. Farmers and winegrowers tend their fields and vines, guests are catered for. If you take a closer look, you will recognise the old village structures in which people still live. Karin Schiller has documented life in Seewinkel for this production and portrays Austria's favourite region.
ARD-alpha, 21.45 hrs
The climate zones for winegrowing are moving northwards, while winegrowers in southern Europe have to fear for their existence. Anne Engrav in Sweden is hoping for the first harvest. Climate change is still an advantage for most winegrowers. The hot summers of recent years have produced great vintages. Nevertheless, Spanish and German winegrowers also have to face the challenges of global warming with ideas and passion. Researchers at the Geisenheim University of Viticulture have long been warning of negative consequences: Late frost in spring and heavy rain in summer.
3sat, 7.05 a.m.
This time, "Erlebnisreisen" invites you on a tour by bike to tourist attractions around Lake Neusiedl, which is known for its good wines and cosy wine taverns.
3sat, 11.45 a.m.
Galicia is more unspoilt than almost any other part of Spain. The region, which offers many culinary and literary treasures, is located in the north-west corner of the country. Lojze Wieser explores the rustic cuisine of Galicia and tastes the fine wines that have delighted the palates of many pilgrims on the Way of St James since the year 1100. 80 types of seafood, vegetables and fruit, small livestock, pigs, cattle, cheese, wine and their own brandy - these are the ingredients for the dishes of the people who tell their story between the mountains and the sea.
hr television, 9.00 pm
It has long been said in France that Bordeaux is a serious rival to Paris. Bordeaux produced the philosophers Michel de Montaigne and Montesquieu, its architecture is a prime example of classicism, and Bordeaux is the world capital of wine. A visit to the "Cité du Vin" wine museum is a must. Film author Christine Seemann turns her back on the coast and drives eastwards into the heart of the Bordelais to Saint Émilion. The gently undulating wine-growing region was the first to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Saint Émilion is a total work of art, nestled in the landscape, full of enchanted corners and architectural treasures. And wine is the elixir of life around which everything revolves.
rbb television, 2.30 pm
At the Schlieben vineyard, Annette Engel and her "mature" youth brigade have managed to revive the centuries-old tradition of winegrowing.
NDR television, 4.45 pm
Sometimes everything seems like a dream to her: Juliane Eller from Alsheim is something of a shooting star among German winegrowers. At the age of just 23, she took over her parents' winery and radically reorganised the business despite the financial risk. That was six years ago. She favours quality over quantity. The winemaker's daughter works according to organic guidelines with hand-picking. She has created her own wine line with her "Juwel" wines. But nothing works without the family. Juliane is glad that her parents Thomas and Ingrid are still involved. And grandmother Katharina takes care of the catering at the winery. Juliane Eller has used social media for her wine marketing from the very beginning - after all, she belongs to the Instagram generation. She also wants to get younger people excited about German wine. The young winemaker from Rheinhessen managed to interest presenter Joko Winterscheidt. And he in turn persuaded his friend, actor Matthias Schweighöfer, to join in. The three of them are now successfully marketing their joint "3 Freunde" wine. But success comes at a price. In addition to her work in the vineyard, Juliane Eller is constantly travelling, sometimes too much. This leaves little time for private life. That's why Juliane and her father Thomas are looking for competent support. An employee for the outdoor area who fits in and shares their philosophy. It has to work out by the summer at the latest. But that's easier said than done.
arte, 6.30 pm
Once a year it gets loud in Butuceni. The village lies in the east of Moldova, between rocks and vineyards. In this godforsaken area, lawyer Anatolie Botnaru organises an open-air opera festival with international guests. Many Moldovans have left the country in search of a better life. Botnaru has preferred to uncover the buried values of his homeland. Abandoned houses are being converted into traditionally designed hostels, food is prepared according to old recipes and wine is pressed in the village. This attracts tourists and has brought hope to the valley. The narrow country, which today borders Romania to the west and is otherwise surrounded by Ukraine, was once considered the "orchard of the Soviet Union". Moldova's fertile black soil is one of the best in the world. Sergiu Turcanu, who has lived in China and Turkey, knows this too. Today, he grows herbs, peppers and chilli rarities from all over the world in the heart of the capital Chisinau. And after years abroad, Grigore has discovered a future for himself in his parents' vineyard. At the same time, by focussing on old grape varieties, he has found a niche in the Moldovan winegrowing industry, which relies on mass production.
Bavarian Television, 2.30 pm
Despite all opposition, the decision is made to remodel Bergham Castle. Mayor Plattner is now on a vendetta: he threatens to sell the Grubmüller family the land for the golf course, makes sure that Thomas doesn't get a deferral on his loan, and he doesn't even stop at Andrea, who has to close her pharmacy. Despite all the turbulence, Claudia and Thomas find their way back to each other.
hr television, 2.45 pm
It has long been said in France that Bordeaux is a serious rival to Paris. Bordeaux produced the philosophers Michel de Montaigne and Montesquieu, its architecture is a prime example of classicism, and Bordeaux is the world capital of wine. A visit to the "Cité du Vin" wine museum is a must. Film author Christine Seemann turns her back on the coast and drives eastwards into the heart of the Bordelais to Saint Émilion. The gently undulating wine-growing region was the first to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Saint Émilion is a total work of art. And wine is the elixir of life around which everything revolves.
SWR Television, 4.00 pm
Slowing down on his e-bike, Arndt Reisenbichler discovers different sides of the Rhine, literally: sometimes left, sometimes right, the cycle path runs from Mainz to Koblenz, changing sides of the river at Bingen. Sometimes it dips down, sometimes it climbs up, past large vineyards, on towpaths, through riverside forests, pretty villages and past many castles. A great tour through the Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage Site.
ZDFinfo, 18.00 hrs
For many centuries, wine was an integral part of a sophisticated table. At Eberbach Monastery in the Rheingau region, Christian Rach learns what it meant to pick the grapes by hand and press them in wooden presses. An effort that was gladly accepted. Because the consumption of wine and beer used to be higher than it is today due to the often poor water quality.
SWR Television, 6.45 pm
Castles tower over picturesque wine villages and the Moselle meanders through one of the most beautiful river valleys in Germany. Whether hiking or cycling, nature or culture - there is so much to discover between Trier and Koblenz. Take your motorhome to the majestic Eltz Castle, romantic wine villages with huge vaulted cellars or a leisure park on and around the water. Then take a detour into the hinterland to see precious stones and the ancient Celts. There are plenty of beautiful camping sites to discover along the Moselle.
ZDF, 7.30 pm
Around 30 billion litres of wine are produced worldwide, with a turnover of around 350 billion euros. Although present in every supermarket, the origin and history of wine are little known. Wine accompanied the emergence of the first advanced civilisations. In Ancient Egypt, it was reserved for the elite and part of religious cults. The god of wine is Osiris. His fate is cruel. His brother Seth dismembers him. But his wife Isis, who is also his sister, brings him back to life and conceives a son with him. In terms of cultural history, it is interesting to note that the motif of resurrection can be found in the Greek god Dionysus and also in Jesus Christ. And both have a symbolic connection to wine.
The programme is available in the ZDFmediathek from 10.00 am.
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3sat, 14.00 hrs
When travelling to South Africa, you can't avoid Cape Town - for many it is the most beautiful city in the world and also the starting point of this journey. The breathtaking landscape, the mix of cultures and the relaxed lifestyle make up the special atmosphere of the city on Table Mountain. In the east of Cape Town, world-famous wines grow against a breathtaking backdrop. A visit to the winegrowers and their farms is well worthwhile.
arte, 16.00 Online available from 07/08 to 05/11
Spain's Mediterranean coast between Cadaqués and Torrevieja is surprisingly diverse. The hinterland of the east coast also has a lot to offer. Wine has been growing on the steep slopes of Priorat for centuries. Winemaker Sara Pérez lets it mature in amphorae.
Bavarian Television, 10.45 pm
What was once a stately seat of nobility is now a wedding backdrop or regional museum - the magnificent buildings from Styria to Slovenia have retained their splendour. This cinematic journey takes us from the cradle of Styria to the wine-growing regions around the northern Slovenian city of Maribor and traces life in magnificent spiritual centres and inconspicuous country castles.
SWR Television, 4.05 pm
This programme is aimed at viewers who are planning to spend their next holiday in their own country. The south-west of Germany offers many opportunities to relax from everyday life and experience something new. The Rheingau and its wine have often been sung about - and filmed almost as often. But despite all the idylls and clichés, time has not stood still in this region either.
3sat, 21.45 hrs
Wine culture, hiking, an exciting history and a lively everyday culture: the Siebengebirge has a lot to offer. The film takes you from Drachenfels to Mannberg: the members of the Belz family have been growing wine as organic winegrowers on the steep slopes of Mannberg near Unkel am Rhein since the 1990s. The small town also serves as a starting point for hiking tours and is also home to the Willy Brandt Forum. Here, visitors can view an exhibition about the former German Chancellor, who lived in Unkel in the last years of his life. Other stops on the journey through the Siebengebirge include the wine-growing town of Bad Honnef-Rhöndorf, the residence of former Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and a picturesque attraction for day trippers, as well as the Drachenfels.
ARD-alpha, 8.15 pm
Oregon was the dream of American pioneers in the 19th century, the fertile, green paradise at the end of the 2,000-mile-long "Oregon Trail". Among others, German winegrowers in Missouri are presented.
hr television, 10.35 a.m.
Tuscany's famous tourist centres, which are visited by holidaymakers from all over the world, tend to be in the north: Florence, Pisa, the beaches of Forte dei Marmi and the wine-growing regions of Chianti. The south of Tuscany has remained something of an insider tip. Here, much is still authentic and wild, the people are headstrong.
WDR Television, 6.15 pm
Off to Turin! Embraced by the majestic peaks of the Alps, the metropolis in the north-west of Italy is a delight from the very first sight. Top chef Björn Freitag and travel expert Tamina Kallert discover the best specialities here - and quickly realise that nothing is easier than that! Because they land right in the epicentre of Italian food culture! From Turin, they head to southern Piedmont, the heart of the global Slow Food movement. The gentle hilly landscape of the Langhe has 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 ending the day with a Piedmontese meal after a hike along the vineyards and hazelnut groves?
SWR Television, 8.15 pm
What can you experience in Strasbourg when you don't have much time? SWR presenter Anna Lena Dörr has tips for a great weekend with a few surprises. An old baths, a new planetarium and a water tower full of African ghosts are on her way. She descends into a cellar with the oldest cask wine in the world and climbs the tower of the world-famous cathedral.
WELT, 9.05 p.m.
The Coastal Pacific travels through the picturesque New Zealand countryside on a rebuilt line that was once completely destroyed by an earthquake. The tour starts in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island, and runs through the green Canterbury Plain. It then continues along the coast, between steep slopes and the Pacific Ocean, to Kaikoura. From here, the train travels to Blenheim in the country's famous wine-growing region. A varied journey through the idyll of New Zealand.
tagesschau24, 21.00 hrs
"It's time for a "vine revolution", says winemaker Eva Vollmer militantly and is building on "wines of the future" from resistant, resource-saving grape varieties. Climate change is changing viticulture: with earlier and earlier harvests, high altitudes instead of basin locations, vines from southern regions such as Merlot and Syrah instead of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, which can no longer be grown in the hot locations of the Kaiserstuhl. "Our traditional wine, Pinot Noir, is burning up in the southern vineyards," says organic winegrower Matthias Höfflin from Bötzingen in the Kaiserstuhl, the warmest wine-growing region in Germany. That's why he now has to grow his base wines at higher altitudes, planting grape varieties from southern regions in his "hot kettle sites": Merlot and Syrah. Heat stress, drought, torrential rainfall and pests are causing ever greater problems for many vineyards. At the same time, viticulture produces greenhouse gases and consumes many resources.
3sat, 3.45 pm
The film follows the Tagliamento, Europe's last untamed river, along its 172 kilometres from the mountains of Veneto through Carnia to its mouth in the Adriatic Sea. Following the "King of Alpine Rivers" is a journey of contrasts. It rises at the "Passo della Mauria", flows through Carnia, picks up the Fella from the Canal Valley and flows out of the mountains at Gemona into the plains of Friuli. Further downstream, the winegrower Emilio Bulfon has found the best conditions for cultivating old, indigenous grape varieties on the hills and terraces along the river.
hr television, 4.45 pm
If you haven't travelled to the Rheingau when the weather is nice, you've missed out. Wine-growing regions are always good for body and soul, and the people there are particularly friendly. Nina Thomas is guided to the best places by a local and enjoys wine, savoury delicacies and wonderful cakes - all with the most beautiful views of vineyards and the Rhine.
Bavarian Television, 2.30 pm
Thomas is in a quandary: he could get rid of his debts by selling the inn, but he can't bring himself to do it. Georg Plattner comes under pressure from the local council because of his unilateral action. The family is busy with wedding preparations, as mother Hermine wants to get married. Last but not least, Thomas receives a tempting offer: he is to take over the management of a company in Bulgaria.
rbb television, 10.10 pm
Detective Mike Shepherd imagined life in the idyllic wine-growing region to be more peaceful. In his second case, he and his colleague Sims must solve the death of influential wine critic Paul Winterson.
3sat, 6.15 a.m.
From Avignon it is only a Katzensprung to the famous wine-growing region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhône valley. The village of Les Baux de Provence is dominated by a mighty castle ruin and is considered the most beautiful village in France. The popular ski resort of Isola in the French Maritime Alps lies at an altitude of 2,000 metres - that's Provence too.
ZDFinfo, 12.45 pm
Sebastian Lege reveals the secrets behind savoury dishes, full-bodied and crispy snacks. Some clever industry tricks are even good for the environment. When vegetables are bombarded with laser beams and vanilla flavouring is produced from wood waste, it sounds scary. But when manufacturers do without glutamate, we are happy. Where is mistrust really appropriate, and where can we still eat without hesitation?
SWR Television, 21.00 hrs
Frank Fröhlich's vision is to transform a vineyard near Bühl into a self-sufficient paradise. The winemaker's son did not want to continue conventional vine cultivation for ecological reasons and wants to revitalise the depleted soil with permaculture. The aim is to create a natural garden that provides food and shelter for people and animals. The hobby gardener has given up his job as a school social worker to devote all his energy to the 6,000 square metre site.
ZDF, 4.10 pm
Wine merchant Maximilian Kreuzeder is found beaten to death in his wine cellar. But it's not just the dead man who poses a mystery, but also a missing bottle of wine from 1876, which is allegedly worth several tens of thousands of euros. A theft in which Kreuzeder got in the way of the perpetrator? An initial suspicion falls on the competitor Paul Wetterstein, who also runs a wine shop and from whom Kreuzeder has snatched away more and more customers. However, Ferdl Kreuzeder, the dead man's nephew, who lives up to his reputation as a bon vivant, is also suspected. Did he not want to wait for his inheritance to fall into his lap and help out? There is much to suggest that he did, as he has apparently already spoken to a construction company about his intentions to sell his uncle's estate. A lucrative business for Valerie Dobler's building firm, but is that why she killed Kreuzeder, who would never have agreed to this plan? Finally, the missing wine bottle is found in Paul Wetterstein's wine cellar, of all places.
arte, 19.40 Available online from 08.09.23 to 14.08.24
In France, thanks to the work of agronomist Christian Dupraz, a great deal is already known about agroforestry. On his trial field, the farmer is now reaping better harvests than on comparable fields without trees. In Languedoc, the largest wine-growing region in France, a winegrower is now also planting trees between the vines so that the grapes do not ripen in August. In Germany, too, more and more farmers are recognising the advantages - even if for some it almost feels like a step backwards to plant hedges in the fields as they used to. After all, they had been cleared in order to be able to work more effectively with large agricultural machinery. A group of Swabian farmers travelled to France for a site visit. Together with their landlord, they want to plan the conversion of their fields into resilient agroforestry systems. How can the long-neglected old orchards be incorporated? With the new knowledge in their luggage, they set out to combine the advantages of trees with the requirements of modern agriculture in order to at least be better equipped against the dramatic consequences of climate change - heat, drought, crop failures. And by the way, agriculture and nature conservation are reconciled.
ZDF, 1.10 a.m. (in the night from Wednesday to Thursday)
Drought in Europe is not just a buzzword, it is scientifically proven: Not only southern Europe is threatened, even Germany and France are already experiencing extreme drought. Forest fires are increasing dramatically and fields are becoming deserts of dust. Meteorologists speak of an underestimated danger and point to the state of European groundwater reservoirs - there is a water shortage throughout Europe. German, French, Spanish and Romanian experts explain the results of their research in the documentary. Examples of the causes are shown - for example the spruce monocultures in German forests or the "Mar del Plástico", the plastic sea of greenhouses that stretches over 350 square kilometres in Spain. This is where the fruit and vegetables for our supermarkets are cultivated.
ZDF, 1.55 a.m. (in the night from Wednesday to Thursday)
Cracked soils, low water levels in rivers and lakes, dwindling groundwater - and not just in summer. Science journalist Kai Kupferschmidt asks: Are we running out of water? Germany is a country rich in water. Nevertheless, water shortages are becoming increasingly noticeable here too. Soil moisture is once again reaching alarming levels in some regions.
hr television, 9.45 pm
Even though many winegrowers are enjoying great vintages, climate change with its weather extremes such as heat, drought, heavy rain and increased risk of late frost is presenting winegrowing with new challenges. Plant stress and the increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere also demand new approaches from winegrowers: different grape varieties, different cultivation methods, different timing.
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arte, 3.10 am (in the night from Thursday to Friday) Available online from 10.08.2023 to 16.10.2023
Burgundy, with its chalky soils on which the grape varieties thrive, is home to the best wines in the world. The beautiful landscapes of the south of France Along the Garonne river stretches the beautiful hinterland of Bordeaux with its hills and valleys used for wine growing. When Régine Deforges discovered this region with its generous landscapes, countless vineyards and stony paths, she was immediately captivated. Her novel "The Blue Bicycle" is the first volume in a successful series of novels and a declaration of love to the region.
hr television, 8.15 pm
At the southernmost tip of Europe lies one of Spain's most fascinating provinces: Andalusia. Sights such as the Plaza de España in Seville and the Alhambra fortress in Granada as well as sherry and Spanish cured ham make the region so popular with visitors.
arte, 11.15 a.m.
The train journey begins in Keszthely, very close to Lake Balaton, on the northern railway line along Lake Balaton. It passes through the Badacsony wine region and stops at the Balaton Riviera in Balatonfüred. This is where Budapest's haute volée used to take the waters in the 19th century.
Bavarian Television, 2.30 pm
Thomas Stickler left his home town of Rust in Burgenland at an early age to pursue a career abroad. He has been working as a production director in a Frankfurt-based high-tech company for years. When it is decided at a meeting to outsource the company's production facilities to Hungary, he falls out with the management and throws in the towel. Thomas comes home earlier than usual that day: he promptly catches his wife Johanna in flagrante delicto with his friend and colleague Thorsten Schmidt. Thomas has finally had enough: he realises that he needs to rethink his life and his future and returns to his birthplace Rust and his childhood home, the Stickler inn. The joy of reuniting with his parents Edi and Hermine, his sister Andrea and her husband Georg and Claudia, his former lover, is abruptly shattered by the sudden death of his father. Edi is laid to rest in the presence of Thomas' family and with the sympathy of the whole village.
arte, 9.50 a.m.
Spain's Mediterranean coast between Cadaqués and Torrevieja is surprisingly diverse. In the north, the Costa Brava, the "wild coast", fascinates with bizarre rock formations and secluded bays. The hinterland also has a lot to offer: Wine has been growing on the steep slopes of the Priorat for centuries.
arte, 10.45 a.m.
Not far from the salt flats are the fertile plains of the Rioja region around the river Ebro. The wine of the same name, one of the most important in Europe, also comes from here.
arte, 7.15 a.m.
France, the land of wine: hills full of vines characterise the landscape in many regions, and the product is just as diverse. However, cultivation methods have often exhausted the vineyards, and time and again even traditional growing areas have to be cleared. Some winegrowers are therefore breaking new ground, they want to reorganise their production in order to counter the decline of wine culture - with unusual ideas, a sense of tradition and, above all, in harmony with nature.
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Bavarian Television, 2.30 pm
Thomas Stickler left his hometown of Rust in Burgenland at an early age to pursue a career abroad. He has been working as a production director in a Frankfurt-based high-tech company for years. When it is decided at a meeting to outsource the company's production facilities to Hungary, he falls out with the management and quits his job. Thomas comes home earlier than usual that day: he promptly catches his wife Johanna in flagrante delicto with his friend and colleague Thorsten Schmidt. Thomas has finally had enough: he realises that he needs to rethink his life and his future and returns to his birthplace Rust and his childhood home, the Stickler inn. The joy of reuniting with his parents Edi and Hermine, his sister Andrea and her husband Georg and Claudia, his former lover, is abruptly shattered by the sudden death of his father. Edi is laid to rest in the presence of Thomas' family and the entire village.
arte, 6.30 a.m.
France, the land of wine: hills full of vines characterise the landscape in many regions, and the product is just as varied. However, cultivation methods have often exhausted the vineyards, and time and again even traditional growing areas have to be cleared. Some winegrowers are therefore breaking new ground, they want to reorganise their production in order to counter the decline of wine culture - with unusual ideas, with an awareness of tradition and, above all, in harmony with nature.