The wein.plus-TV programme in December 2024: Our TV tips with all series and feature films, consumer programmes, documentaries, travel reports and reports on wine, winegrowers and viticulture.
Bavarian Television, 10.25 a.m.
Lawyer Sarah Stein (Johanna Christine Gehlen) has a clear goal for her career: to become a partner in the renowned Frankfurt law firm she works for. However, the latest case her boss entrusts her with seems more like a beginner's job: the foster father of winegrower Peter Jahn has died. As there appears to be no will, his biological son Siggi is the sole heir to the family vineyard. And as Peter has not responded to a letter from a lawyer, Sarah is now supposed to hand him the notice of cancellation in person. But things are not that simple. Peter knows full well that his foster father had intended him to inherit the estate. Apparently, the jealous Siggi has made the will disappear. As a former lawyer, Peter knows his rights: as a single father of three foster sons, no judge would throw him out. But Sarah wants to have the recalcitrant vintner's custody of the boys revoked - without children, he wouldn't stand a chance against an eviction suit.
WDR television, 2.30 pm
The taster invites you to a big mulled wine tasting. What should you look out for when buying mulled wine? What has changed in terms of labelling requirements and can you recognise quality from the ingredients list and nutritional value table? Consumer advocate Katja Tölle explains the pitfalls. Björn Freitag also explores the question of what the label "Winzerglühwein" means. The taster gets an unexpected answer. The taster learns from sommelier and wine taster Christian Frens what characterises the taste of good mulled wine. Red, white, rosé, non-alcoholic, punch - together with the expert, the taster ventures into mulled wine trends and unusual recipes. One highlight: the top chef creates a mulled wine-inspired festive menu. He will be supported by blogger 'Missy' Mirjam von der Mark. She brings an exotic and extravagant mulled wine dessert to the kitchen - will she be able to score points with the down-to-earth Björn Freitag?
SWR television, 5.15 a.m.
Exciting episodes from agriculture in the south-west. Plant protection is on the programme at the Bentele organic farm in Tettnang. The hops are sensitive and urgently need to be sprayed before the next rain comes. Winemaker Shanna Reis from Rheinhessen is eagerly awaiting the grape harvest, which will come sooner than she could have imagined.
hr television, 5.10 a.m.
It's autumn in Rust. Thomas is delivered the new cellar equipment. Everything has to be installed under extreme time pressure before the imminent grape harvest. The family dinner, lovingly organised and cooked by Hermine, takes place without Georg. He doesn't manage to sit down at the table with Thomas on friendly terms. However, Paul and Thomas quickly bond in the cellar of the winery - Paul shows his father his wine treasures and opens a wine of the century to celebrate the day. Andrea continues to put her husband through his paces, and finally Georg asks Paul to apologise and make up before the wine tasting begins. Paul accepts the apology, although it becomes clear that nothing can ever be the same again. Claudia's hopes of impressing Thomas at the wine festival in a new outfit are not fulfilled: both the notary Dr Thaler and Andrea arrive at the event in the same dress.
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3sat, 5.40 a.m.
With 300 days of sunshine a year, Provence is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. The Mediterranean region between the Rhone Valley and Italy epitomises the southern way of life. The Rhône runs through one of the oldest and largest wine-growing regions in France like a spine with vineyards nestling to the left and right. From Lyon to Provence, Rhône wines thrive over a length of 250 kilometres, alternating with the whims of the river and with aromas that are as rich in contrast as its landscapes. Although the finest wines have always been produced here, which even the popes have savoured, the local winegrowers are above all committed to their folk roots. In summer, the blooming lavender fields are a popular photo motif. Picturesque mountain villages invite you to explore. The scent of truffles and Mediterranean herbs wafts through the markets. Travelling through the south-easternmost tip of France is a feast for the senses.
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SWR television, 9.00 p.m.
The hop harvest is finally starting at the Bentele organic farm in Tettnang. They have been working towards this for a year. At the Reis and Luff winery in Rheinhessen, the wine is already in the barrel and now has to be bottled for sale.
3sat, 1.15 pm
The word "Collio" means "hills" and is the somewhat fuzzy Italian translation of the Friulian term "I Cuei", "the hills". On the Slovenian side, the area is called "Brda", which also means "hills". It is in fact a vast hilly area that opens gently towards the sea and includes the Colli Orientali del Friuli, the Collio Goriziano and the Slovenian Brda. To this day, the Collio is synonymous with great white wines. The Collio hills, which have a manageable size, offer a huge concentration of first-class wineries and fine winegrowers. The wine-growing region is not only rich in special sites and vines, it is also home to the largest number of indigenous wines in Italy. The film is both a journey through a fertile region, its villages, small towns and delicacies, as well as a journey through times and eras long past - because long before the Habsburgs, the Romans and Lombards had already made use of this region.
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3sat, 2.05 pm
Alessandro François' ancestors settled in Tuscany in 1740 out of loyalty to the imperial family. Since the late 19th century, the family has dedicated itself to winegrowing in the Chianti region around the Castello di Querceto castle. Alessandro François guides director Gernot Stadler through his vineyards and talks about the time when his ancestors were loyal servants of the Grand Dukes.
N24, 7.20 pm
Products "Made in Germany" such as cars or cuckoo clocks are known all over the world for their quality. But completely different, less well-known products are also manufactured in Germany. Whether handmade knives from Aschau, wooden barrels made with traditional craftsmanship, which characterise the taste of expensive wine and whisky, or a very special Bavarian gin - all the products shown in this episode are special and "Made in Germany".
3sat, 23.00 hrs
Germans are increasingly shopping online - especially at Amazon. Brick-and-mortar retailers, on the other hand, are in a deep crisis. "ZDFzeit" asks: Where is it better to shop and why? The advantages and disadvantages of the various shopping options are compared from the consumer's perspective. In Focus focuses on price, shopping experience, sustainability and fairness. What strategies are retailers pursuing to win back customers?
hr television, 3.15 pm
La Palma is nicknamed "La Isla Bonita", the beautiful island. Victoria Torres cannot escape this beauty either. After spending many years abroad, she has returned to her roots and is fulfilling a dream here. She is cultivating old vineyards again and harvesting Malvasia grapes. The heavy, honey-sweet white wine was the island's most important export product for a long time. The volcanic soils provide the flavour of the grapes, which is why the wines develop a unique character.
ONE, 4.15 pm
The enraged winegrower Martin Schörger storms into the police station and accuses Kristina Katzer's mother Elli of murder. A short time later, the inspector and her colleague Lukas Hundt are standing in front of Schörger's 'murdered' vineyard: all the vines have been cut down. According to Schörger, Elli, also a winegrower, wanted to harm him as a competitor. Then Inspector Hundt suddenly stumbles across a real corpse, that of the Ukrainian labourer Wassili. The man has obviously been beaten to death. Elli vigorously denies having anything to do with either 'murder'. But she makes a big secret of her alibi. When Katzer finds two broken wine glasses with traces of lipstick in a vine arbour near the crime scene, the question arises as to whether Vasily may have interrupted a secret rendezvous. Was this his undoing? The detectives find out that everything was quite different from what they thought. And that the murder of the vineyard had completely different reasons than that of the labourer.
SWR television, 8.15 pm
Presenter Arndt Reisenbichler visits Sylt in these harsh times: he wants to taste Germany's northernmost wine. But above all, he wants to find out why this island is and remains a place of longing for many - at any time of year and in any weather.
WDR television, 11.55 a.m.
After the grape harvest, winemaker Shanna Reis from Rheinhessen finally has time to take care of other things again. Together with her niece and nephew, she wants to get as much done as possible. But working with children and animals is, as always, a challenge.
Bavarian Television, 3.15 pm
This time "Zsammg'spuit" is in the music city par excellence: Vienna. Presenter Susanne Wiesner enjoys atmospheric musical contributions as well as other specialities of the city: culinary delights, handicrafts and wine. Susanne Wiesner visits a winery on the edge of the Vienna Woods.
WDR television, 6.15 pm
The taster invites you to a big mulled wine tasting. What can you look out for when buying mulled wine? What has changed in terms of labelling requirements and can you recognise quality from the list of ingredients and nutritional value table? Consumer advocate Katja Tölle explains the pitfalls. Björn Freitag also explores the question of what the label "Winzerglühwein" means. The taster gets an unexpected answer. The taster learns from sommelier and wine taster Christian Frens what characterises the taste of good mulled wine. Red, white, rosé, non-alcoholic, punch - together with the expert, the taster ventures into mulled wine trends and unusual recipes. One highlight: the top chef creates a mulled wine-inspired festive menu. He will be supported by blogger 'Missy' Mirjam von der Mark. She brings an exotic and extravagant mulled wine dessert to the kitchen - will she be able to score points with the down-to-earth Björn Freitag?
SWR television, 5.15 a.m.
At the Reis and Luff winery in Rheinhessen, the wine is already in the barrel and now needs to be bottled for sale.
NDR television, 3.15 pm
In Rheinhessen, winegrower Shanna prepares a hike in the vineyard for the afternoon. The whole family has to lend a hand. While Shanna and her father Wolfgang set up seats in the courtyard, mum Sigrun is in the kitchen preparing the food for the guests.
3sat, 11.45 a.m.
"At the table in..." takes us to the regions of Europe and shows how traditional dishes are prepared. The culinary culture of European landscapes reveals its richness and awakens understanding for a perhaps foreign way of life. For 25 years, Rose-Marie Bernard rented out rooms to holiday guests on her old Provençal vineyard. Then she got tired of it, but didn't want to be alone either. So she divided the farm into five flats and sold four of them to young people from the area. She now celebrates Christmas twice, once with her family and once with her new household. Manuel Bernard, Rose-Marie's son, brings his three children and his own wine. Manuel is a winemaker at the "La Martine" winery. Christmas time is anything but tranquil for him. Around Christmas, he prunes the vines and prepares the young wine in the fermentation tanks for the cuvée. Only this combination of different varieties ultimately produces a harmonious Côtes du Rhône.
SWR television, 9.00 pm
In Rheinhessen, the grape harvest begins at night in Shanna Reis' vineyards with the harvester.
3sat, 1.10 pm
Mallorca is often referred to as the "Pearl of the Mediterranean". The interplay of wild nature, hidden oases and vibrant life attracts more and more tourists from all over Europe. Even organic gardener Karl Ploberger cannot escape the magic of this island. He wanders between fragrant pine trees, orange groves and beautiful vines in the hinterland and discovers impressive dream gardens, most of which remain hidden from tourists.
3sat, 17.00 hrs
The journey heads east on the "Linha do Douro". The railway line was originally built to transport wine from the Douro Valley to the port wine cellars. Today, the line is famous for its breathtaking views of the river. And on the slopes of the Douro, which meanders from the mountains to the sea, not only grapes for the famous port wines ripen, but also little gems. Jorge Tenreiro has fulfilled a dream with his winery "Quinta do Cume". The heart surgeon grew up on a vineyard. When he was 18, his father sold the estate. But Jorge couldn't let go of his childhood memories. That's why he and his wife Claudia invested in a few hectares of land in the heart of the green Douro Valley. The whole family comes to harvest the grapes every September.
WDR television, 6.15 pm
Gianluca (34) and Christina (34) are real pioneers. The first vines are now growing where potatoes used to grow. Winegrowing has also been permitted here since 2016. Gianluca is planting a new vineyard on a piece of land belonging to pig farmer Johannes von Betteray. He finds Gianluca's project so exciting that he leases a special field to him: a hectare of former grain field with a 10 per cent gradient - a rarity on the flat Lower Rhine! To plant the vineyard, a contractor from Franconia comes especially to plant the vines and canes. The risk is high - just like the investment. Gianluca had to take out a loan for a quarter of a million euros for the equipment, wine cellar and plants. And he still earns nothing with his own wine!
3sat, 9.45 a.m.
Emilia-Romagna lies in the centre of northern Italy - a region rich in history and culture. It offers culinary delights, 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.
arte, 18.40 hrs
As the self-proclaimed Christmas capital, Strasbourg is transformed into a colourfully decorated sea of lights every December. Around the cathedral, mulled wine and chestnuts are steaming at the traditional Christkindelsmärik.
3sat, 2.30 pm
Birgitta Westin comes to the Christmas market every year. She sells a typical Swedish Christmas speciality, glögg. The Swedish mulled wine is brewed without alcohol, using only water, berries and spices. Birgitta Westin's glögg is one of the best in the country and has won several awards. In her glögg kitchen, she shows us what it takes to make a real Swedish mulled wine.
hr television, 3.45 pm
Find relaxation, come to rest - retreat days in a monastery are among the most popular short holidays. Simply get away from it all. People are looking for retreats in beautiful places in Germany and all over the world. There are monasteries of many orders in Hesse, such as St Angela's in Königstein, which offer more contemplative days. At others, such as the Protestant community in Gnadenthal, guests can actively help out - in the garden, on the farm or, for example, at St Hildegard's Abbey in Eibingen with the grape harvest.
hr television, 12.10 pm
The one day in the Advent season that becomes an unforgettable experience, the day with twinkling lights, the scent of baked apples and aniseed: they give their all for such a day in the Advent season - the Christmas makers all over Hesse, in the Taunus, the Rheingau, the Wetterau, Hanau, Fulda, Schlitzerland, Kassel, Frankfurt and the Reinhardswald. A team of seven video journalists accompanied very different Christmas makers in their work during Advent, such as the winegrower who organises a small Christmas market in the Rheingau with his wife.
3sat, 7.30 pm
Avignon, the "City of Popes", has an eventful history - and a bridge that became famous worldwide thanks to a children's song. From here it is only a Katzensprung to the famous wine-growing region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhone Valley.
Das Erste (ARD), 3.30 pm
Dianne follows her unsuspecting husband Heiko to Verona and meets the likeable and mysterious Anton Brück on the night train - but the next morning he has disappeared without a trace. When she arrives in Verona, Dianne discovers that Heiko is not only cheating on her, but that his lover Viktoria is also pretending to be his wife. With plenty of red wine and a packet of sleeping pills, the deeply hurt Dianne tries to forget her grief. Then her chance acquaintance Anton suddenly appears before her. He takes great care of the ailing Dianne and, not wanting to leave her alone in her condition, even takes her to an important business dinner with the renowned wine producer Berlinghieri and his wife Isabella the next day. What Anton doesn't realise is that his biggest rival for the upcoming deal is Heiko of all people. As a result, Anton and Dianne suddenly find themselves sitting opposite Heiko and his "wife" Viktoria at the meeting with the Berlinghieris. In this delicate situation, the cunning Anton sees no other way out than to introduce Dianne as his wife without further ado. Of course, Heiko can't reveal the masquerade either, so as not to jeopardise the hoped-for business deal with the conservative Berlinghieris. When the two "married couples" are invited to the Berlinghieris' vineyard a little later, events come thick and fast: While Anton, who is harbouring a dark secret, and Heiko do everything they can to outdo the other, Dianne tries to make her unfaithful husband jealous with all kinds of tricks and finesse - the beginning of a turbulent game of love, wine and infidelities. The video is available in the ARD media library until 14 January 2025.
It's a dizzying to-do list that the island farmers from Hof Martinen 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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