ORF 2, 5.05 p.m.
Burgenland is known far beyond the borders of Austria and Europe for the extraordinary variety and outstanding quality of its wines. The palette ranges from multi-layered white wines to fruity rosé and long-lasting red wines to the best sweet wines in the world. Where the grapes for these wines grow and how the Pannonian climate, the geological peculiarities and the commitment of the Burgenland winegrowers affect them is the subject of a TV documentary from the ORF Landesstudio Burgenland. On this wine tour through Burgenland, Nicole Aigner and cameraman Michael Ritter show the best vineyards in different seasons and also from a bird's eye view. The foray leads from the Seewinkel to the Leithagebirge and the Ruster Hügelland, the youngest DAC region Rosalia and the Mittelburgenland to the idyllic and rustic wine-growing areas in the Südburgenland, to the Csaterberg and Eisenberg. Where wine grows, a special breed of people is also at home. In the middle of the vineyards, well-known winegrowers talk about their life with nature and their passion for wine.
MDR Television, 9.20 a.m.
An open-air opera festival is held once a year in Butuceni. Anatolie Botnaru, a viticultural engineer, lawyer and entrepreneur, has set up the event. The 52-year-old has lived in the small town for 14 years. He has restored abandoned houses here in the traditional style and has been just as successful with international tourists as with his restaurant. Here, Olesea Cojocaru keeps the kitchen running with the help of the village women. They cook according to tried and tested recipes and press wine from old vines. Once upon a time, the narrow country, which now borders Romania in the west and is otherwise surrounded by Ukraine, was considered the "orchard of the Soviet Union". Moldova's fertile black earth is among the best soils in the world. Sergiu Țurcanu, who has already lived in China and Turkey, knows that. Now he grows herbs, peppers and chilli rarities from all over the world in the middle of the capital Chișinău. Since the beginning of the millennium, about one sixth of the population has left Moldova in search of a better life. People like Anatolie, Olesea, Sergiu and Grigore defy the harsh reality in the poor country and develop new rewarding perspectives back home. Grigore has discovered a future for himself in his parents' vineyard after years abroad. At the same time, he has found a niche for himself in Moldovan viticulture, which relies on mass production.
Swiss Television SRF 1, 4.05 p.m.
On the slopes high above Lake Geneva, vines have been cultivated for generations. The wine terraces of Lavaux in the canton of Vaud with a view of the lake and the Alps are a Unesco World Heritage Site. The winegrower Gilles Wannaz is aware of his responsibility and wants to protect Lake Geneva, the largest freshwater reservoir in Western Europe, from chemical pollution. Instead of artificial fertiliser, his vines are undermined with cow dung. Pesticides are not used. The winery is run biodynamically, i.e. close to nature and sustainable.
tagesschau24, 4.30 pm
For the winegrowers Kilian and Angelina, the support of friends and family is indispensable to enable them to harvest grapes and bottle wine year after year. With a close-knit group of friends, relatives and Eastern European harvest helpers, they climb the steepest vineyards in Europe every autumn - on the Calmont on the Moselle. In the summer of the century in 2018, the vines were full. So full, in fact, that the tanks quickly fill up during the harvest. Soon there is hardly room for all the wine in the cellar. The abundant harvest pushes all the helpers to their limits.
Bavarian Television, 8.15 p.m.
From all Bavarian regions, stories are told about work in the countryside and the people who do it every day with their machines and implements. Arable farming, orchards and vineyards, forests and meadows: Only through the work of the people does it become a cultural landscape that can yield profit, but which above all requires a lot of heart and soul, commitment and optimism. With the necessary depth, a healthy dose of humour, with empathy and objectivity, a documentary view and great pictures: The Bavarian working world, the love of vintage cars, the machinery of large and small farms, organic farming and Agriculture 4.0 are shown.
hr fernsehen, 9.15 a.m.
Bernhard Antony from Alsace is also called the "cheese pope": In his small hometown you can buy the most delicious cheeses, but he also supplies the world of celebrities and star chefs. At the Frankfurt Genussakademie, Antony is a guest together with Paul Fürst from the top-class Fürst winery in Bürgstadt in Franconia. Together they will treat the evening's guests to the finest cheese and wine.
Bavarian Television, 2.00 p.m.
Albert Thuerauf has "cleaned up" the hopelessly overgrown slope below Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Today, thanks to Thuerauf's efforts, Franconia's southernmost vineyard can be found just below the town, which is the starting point for the European trip of many Asian tourists.
ANIXE, 8.20 a.m.
The well-known TV chef Johann Lafer goes on a journey of discovery with Anixe to his beautiful homeland - Styria. There he travels through "the green heart of Austria" and explores the benefits of the region. The wonderful wine country impresses the chef with its beauty.
ORF III, 1.05 p.m.
Our journey through Styria begins in the Kernothek, in St. Ruprecht an der Raab. In the "Wunderhütte" we learn more about the history of pumpkin seeds and what oil beating looked like in the old days. Then we look over the shoulders of the oil millers and see how the pumpkin seeds get from the field to the bottle. Wine is also an important culinary ambassador in Styria. At present, we specialise in single-vineyard wines and are very close to the origins of wine production at this year's presentation of Riedenwein.
ANIXE, 4.30 pm
The actress Rike Schmid explores the Villany - Siklós wine route on horseback. There she finds interesting stories during a wine tasting and a convivial evening with a Hungarian-German family.
Bavarian Television, 10.20 a.m.
In the first part, we travel from the source of the Main in the deep forests of the Fichtelgebirge past the Haßberge mountains to the vineyards around Würzburg.
Bavarian Television, 10.20 a.m.
The second episode takes you from the vineyards past the Spessart to the outskirts of Frankfurt am Main.
arte, 1.00 p.m.
In the Timanfaya National Park in the south-east of Lanzarote there are many volcanic cones. The fertile black soil on the island provides good conditions for growing grapes. However, this would not have been possible without the help of a hardy working animal from Africa...
SWR Television, 10.00 a.m.
The mood in Rust is tense: The loss of his son and the certainty that Thomas is Paul's father are causing Georg great problems. But in a man-to-man conversation he and Paul assure each other that they will continue to stick together and live a good relationship.
ANIXE, 1 p.m.
In the second episode of the travel show with Richy Müller in Interlaken (Switzerland), things continue in a tradition-conscious way: In Spiez, the actor visits a vineyard and later also tastes the grape juice produced there. At the Spiez Wine Festival, Richy experiences how the grape harvest is celebrated there.
3sat, 1.50 p.m.
The Main is the river of the Franks and was the livelihood of the local people for centuries. The film shows people at work who still live from the river today. For example, the Dittmar family in Schweinfurt. They are among the last Main fishermen ever. Their shop in Schweinfurt is an institution. Gerd Krämer in Obereisenheim is a full-time winegrower and part-time fisherman.
arte, 4.55 p.m.
Champagne is still considered an absolute luxury drink today. Kings and nobility made the sparkling wine famous in the 18th century. Yet monks discovered bubbles in wine more by chance than anything else. Fermentation in the wine barrels had stopped in winter, the second fermentation in spring brought carbonic acid and thus also the bubbles into the wine: the beginning of a success story. In Champagne, presenters Dörthe Eickelberg and Pierre Girard help with the grape harvest. They learn how the winegrowers determine the perfect time for the harvest. The grapes have to be handled as gently as possible, which is why the grapes are only harvested by hand in Champagne. To give the wine its perfect little bubbles, it is shaken for three weeks after the yeast has fermented into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Only then does the remaining yeast settle on the neck of the bottle and can be removed. Pierre and Dörthe are allowed to try out this shaking method themselves, according to an old tradition. Not only harvesting and production, but also opening and serving the champagne are a science in themselves. ARTE shows in which glass the aromas develop optimally and why it is better not to pop the cork. Scientists are also looking into the future of champagne. Climate change is changing the conditions under which the grapes are grown. What happens to the grapes when heat waves and dry periods increase? Will there still be Champagne from Champagne in the future? The programme is also available online from 08/06 to 06/09 on the ARTE internet portal.
ORF III, 4.55 p.m.
At the final of the international "Trophee du Cabernet" in Kitzbühel, in which the Australian Frank Kempen, the owner of a worldwide wine empire, Jacques Bellbleu from Bordeaux and Christoph Hohenfels, a wine grower from the Weinviertel, take part, the winner of the competition, Bellbleu, is attacked by poison. When a second finalist becomes the target of an attack shortly afterwards, the Soko is confronted with a complex case of highly topical conflicts among the advocates of traditional and industrial methods of wine production. It is about the most modern industrial cellar techniques, about the approval of fractionated wines, i.e. wines broken down into their taste components and then artificially reassembled, the "hostile takeover" of threatened wineries all over the world - and, of course, about murder.
3sat, 8.15 pm
Alexandra Rieger has found a new home in southern Burgenland. The soprano was guided to Neuhaus am Klausenbach by the internationally renowned opera singer Dietmar Kerschbaum, where she takes care of the fortunes of Tabor Castle. Kerschbaum, who has his roots in this idyllic seclusion in the border triangle of Austria-Hungary-Slovenia, has turned the former estate of the Batthyánys into a venue of high culture - the annual opera festival has long since become a fixture for international opera fans. Alexandra Rieger ensures that everything runs smoothly. She also lends a hand with the harvesting of the grapes on the vineyard at the foot of the castle. The reward for her labour: the notorious Uhudler wine of southern Burgenland.
3sat, 9.45 pm
Committed to nobility - that's what the lords of castles in these regions stand for. Whether as free-spirited winegrowers or as guardians of the world-famous Lipizzaner horses - they have all dedicated themselves to the tradition of their houses and led them into the modern age. Kapfenstein Castle in the Vulkanland has developed into a true temple of pleasure. Here, the ten-member Winkler-Hermaden family of winegrowers and hoteliers creates internationally recognised wine on volcanic soil. Christof Winkler-Hermaden, who looks after the fate of the wine cellar, invites guests to his wedding in style in the picturesque vineyards around the castle. Especially in Western Styria, distinctive wines and castle grounds are inextricably linked. Stainz Castle, the centre of Schilcherland, was once owned by the Styrian reformer Archduke Johann. He pushed the cultivation of the Blaue Wildbacher grape in the region and thus heralded the triumph of the typical West Styrian Schilcher wine, which is still cultivated today in the former experimental vineyard at the foot of the castle. Franz Meran, the great-great-great-great-grandson of the Archduke, is now in charge of the house. As a forester, he is a true nature boy and invites us to contemplate in his forest - the place where he feels most at home.
arte, 1 p.m.
On the north-eastern shore of Lake Geneva, hundreds of hectares of vineyards stretch out in rocky terraces rising from the lake. The first vines were planted here by the Romans; in the Middle Ages, Cistercian monks developed the vineyard further. Lavaux produces a unique wine, the best-known grape variety of which is the Chasselas. But above all, the Vin de Lavaux is a symbol of the willpower of its inhabitants.
SWR Television, 3.15 p.m.
People and traces along a holiday route
arte, 5.20 p.m.
Parma ham, Parmesan cheese, Pavarotti and Ferrari come from the northern Italian region of Emilia. But for centuries, the most precious vinegar in the world, Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale, has also been produced here from the grapes. The programme is also available online from 08/06 to 09/07 on the ARTE internet portal.
hr fernsehen, 10.00 a.m.
Old trams, spectacular views, morbid charm and lots of wine - that's Porto. Of course, Porto is famous for its port wine. But it actually comes from Vila Nova de Gaia, the town across the river, where the port houses have their huge warehouses and tasting rooms. Simin Sadeghi traces the secrets of port wine there and tries her hand at blending different wines in a winemaker's laboratory.
3sat, 4.15 pm
Preserving nature for future generations through sustainability is also what winemaker Caroline Frey has in mind. All nature lovers in the valley agree: the beautiful Rhône Valley is worth protecting!
ZDF, 5.45 p.m.
With its long history, wine has become a cultural asset that invites us to enjoy it like no other. Father Nikodemus embarks on a journey to discover the secret of good wine. In the vineyard of the Bürgerspital zum Heiligen Geist in Würzburg, the harvest preparations begin in the vineyard and in the cellar: the grape zone must be defoliated and the stainless steel tanks and barrels must be cleaned - in the steep slopes, this often means manual labour. Nicodemus remembers a sentence from the arduous work that he has often spoken as a priest in church services: "You give us the wine, the fruit of the vine and of human labour". In Christianity, wine plays a central role as a symbol of communion. Corpus Christi is a reminder of this. Christians even believe that Christ is present in the changed wine. Holidays are interruptions to everyday life. They create space to pause, to reflect on fundamental things and to broaden one's horizons. Many people normally use the holidays simply for outings. This year, in view of the Corona crisis, that is not possible. Benedictine Father Nikodemus Schnabel is setting out on behalf of the community. His holiday excursions lead him to extraordinary people, into challenging situations or let him look behind the scenes and walls. Where no one else ever looks. Everything can become a Spiegel for life and the soul.
SWR Television (RP), 7.00 p.m.
The Nahewein Road was launched in 1971. It had role models: the German Wine Route, which had already been founded in the Third Reich, and the Baden Wine Route, which was established in 1954. They were and are all projects to promote viticulture and tourism. In contrast to the German Wine Route, the Nahe Wine Route did not really catch on. After euphoric beginnings, the project fizzled out. But the Nahe region is becoming increasingly well-known among wine lovers. Viticulture benefits from a mild climate and extremely diverse soils. The landscape offers spectacular panoramas. Spa towns such as Bad Kreuznach and Bad Sobernheim have long attracted recreation-seekers to the area, who explore the charming landscapes of the Naheland from the healing springs. Along the 130 kilometres of the Nahe Wine Route, we meet unusual people who are connected to this charming region in different ways. The SWR television team visits traditional wineries that are facing the challenges of the present. In the process, it delves deep into the region's Prussian past. A contemporary witness from the founding days of the Nahe Wine Route, a newcomer to Bad Kreuznach, shows the light and shade of the Nahe metropolis. A hotel start-up is presented, as is a mill idyll on the Nahe, where three generations run a leather workshop, and a couple whose passion is hunting and who have founded a large game butchery. The basic idea behind the Nahe Wine Route may no longer be up to date - but it is worth following its course, for the region has surprising things to offer those who love to discover.
tagesschau24, 9.45 pm
Maulburg in Baden-Württemberg is a model case of how a rural community hires a doctor. Everyone pulls together and makes an effort: the health department, the mayor, the landlord - the success has many mothers and fathers. The last doctor in Maulburg died unexpectedly two years ago. Since then, people have had to put up with longer distances and are worried. Dr. Alexander Mittlmeier is their stroke of luck. He studied in Freiburg and loves the wine region Markgräflerland. After all, winemaking is his second profession.
3sat, 0.35 a.m.
The series "Romantic Rivers" presents three different landscapes in the heart of Europe - three rivers that give their respective home regions their very own character and have a lasting influence on the lives of the people living along their banks: Saar, Neckar and Main. It combines photographs of the beautiful landscape, shot on water, on land and in the air, with architectural discoveries and vividly told stories of the river inhabitants. What all the rivers in the series have in common is a touch of romance, always perceptible in the landscape and architecture of the large and small towns on the banks. The Main is the only river in Europe that flows in all four directions. The film introduces a real princess who, after a hard stroke of fate, has taken over the family business on the steepest vineyard on the Main.
3sat, 1.15 a.m.
For centuries, the Neckar has captivated people as the national river of Baden-Württemberg. Between its source at the Schwenninger Moos and its mouth, the film team meets the oldest wine harvesting crew in Stuttgart, who are still clambering around on steep slopes in the middle of the vibrant capital of the Swabians, even at well over 60 years of age.
3sat, 2.00 a.m.
The canalisation of the Saar in the 19th and 20th centuries has changed the landscape, and some of the deepest locks in Germany can now be found in its lower reaches. This is also the home of winegrower Christian Ebert. Industrial use and ecological viticulture may seem like a contradiction in many places, but not so on the Saar. Even steep slope expert Ebert has nothing against the cargo ships chugging along in front of his vineyards, on the contrary: the development into a major shipping route ensures an evenly wide expanse of water. This moderates the temperatures in winter. Less susceptible to frost and with a more pleasant acidity of their wines, the canalisation of the Saar was a blessing for the winegrowers here.
N24 DOKU, 9.40 a.m.
Fine champagne from France, full-bodied red wine from Italy or strong Rioja from Spain. But German quality wines are nowhere to be found? Not at all! Nowadays, top drops of the finest grapes also come from German wineries and sparkling wine cellars that have won awards all over the world. The report meets top winemakers in their breathtaking vineyards, presents an East German sparkling wine success story and shows who is way ahead in this country when it comes to soils, vines and grapes.
WDR Television, 2.25 p.m.
Toronto is only about two hours away from Niagara Falls. A trip to this gigantic natural wonder is well worth it. 3,160 tonnes of water plunge into the depths here in just one second. 20 kilometres north of Niagara Falls, where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario, lies the Niagara wine region with the small historic village of Niagara-on-the-Lake. This region is famous for Canada's famous ice wine.
SWR Television, 10.00 a.m.
Thomas' wine cellar is in the final stages of construction. This means that his future as a winegrower is taking on a very concrete shape.
hr television, 4.45 p.m.
Nina Thomas takes a trip to the other side of the Rhine - to the "ebsch Seit", as it used to be called. That is long gone, and the Hessians on both sides enjoy visiting each other. Rheinhessen has excellent wines and many creative chefs. On a trip through the rolling hills of the vineyards, Nina Thomas visits a vintner, looks into the pots in country inns and restaurants, climbs into an old, winding wine cellar and experiences a vintner's vesper with Weck, Worscht and Woi on the red slope.
hr fernsehen, 8.15 p.m.
Hessen's northernmost vineyard, the Böddiger Berg, is certainly a speciality. And the wine is something to be proud of, at least that's what wine queen Karina Hilgenberg and Klaus Stiegel claim.
SWR Television, 6.15 p.m.
Patrick Siben's life is a continuous dance on the razor's edge. He is always on the verge of bankruptcy with his large historic house, into which he has put all his savings. Added to this are private difficulties: A separation from his long-term partner has left its mark, and Patrick is now completely on his own with his historic villa. Yet a far less stressful path through life would have been open to him. Patrick comes from a renowned winegrowing dynasty with a flourishing winery. His brother took over the family business and lives successfully and securely. A path that would also have been open to Patrick. But his passion was always music. For that, he was willing to risk everything and choose his own, albeit more uncertain, path.
ANIXE, 8.05 a.m.
In the second part of this episode Richy Müller visits a sheep farm in South Australia and the oldest German village in the Southern Hemisphere, Hahndorf. After a traditional German meal he explores the wine region there and does a wine tasting.
3sat, 11.50 a.m.
They love wine, football and good food. And they know how to celebrate. For the "Weinelf", the national football team of German winegrowers, there was plenty of opportunity to do so in May 2016. Six European wine nations competed for the title at the European Championship of Winegrowers' Teams, which was held in the Rheingau and Rheinhessen in 2016. The German wine team entered the tournament as defending champions. But it is about more than sport. At least as important is the "third half": the evening celebrations where the teams bring their culinary specialities to the table and where the wines brought along are tasted.
Bavarian Television, 2.00 p.m.
The Fugger town of Sterzing and the artists' town of Klausen, Brixen - the oldest town in Tyrol - and Bozen, the provincial capital, are popular starting points for numerous discovery tours and hikes. The paths lead through orchards, chestnut groves and vineyards to art and nature monuments, churches, castles and ruins, noble residences and wine farms.
WELT, 2.05 p.m.
Fine champagne from France, full-bodied red wine from Italy or strong Rioja from Spain. But German quality wines are nowhere to be found? Not at all! Nowadays, top drops of the finest grapes also come from German wineries and sparkling wine cellars that have won awards all over the world. The report meets top winemakers in their breathtaking vineyards, presents an East German sparkling wine success story and shows who is way ahead in this country when it comes to soils, vines and grapes.
SWR Television, 2.15 p.m.
The Reblaus Express winds its way uphill through the vineyards of Retz - it travels leisurely from the Weinviertel to the Waldviertel. An old route, actually long since disused, in a sparsely populated area. Vines, fields and forests alternate, a paradise for cyclists, and they love to use the Reblaus Express, which is run by an association. In the past, mainly wood and grain were transported here, but now they are even thinking about resuming freight traffic. At least on weekends, the idyllic railway is experiencing a renaissance, just like the Waldviertel narrow-gauge railway, which is once again attracting guests with steam trains. Here, too, the saying goes: there's life in the old dog yet. Railway romance let itself be rocked in historic carriages by the "Wine in the Forest".
ANIXE, 4.30 p.m.
Falk-Willy Wild can see for himself during his journey that the Cypriot wines are of quite outstanding quality. No wonder, because wine has been cultivated in Cyprus for thousands of years. An art that is also cultivated in the island's monasteries.
Bavarian Television, 2.00 p.m.
In South Tyrol, the city of Bolzano is framed by mountains at the intersection of ancient traffic routes. Bolzano's rise from wine village to provincial capital began as early as the 11th century.
3sat, 9.45 pm
It erupts almost every year. Since the upper part of Mount Etna has been declared a national park, the dangers for local residents are limited. But if the flanks of the lower regions burst open, there is almost nothing that can stop the flow of lava. Winegrower Chiara Vigo remembers how, as a child, she had to witness an eruption in the north near Randazzo that destroyed almost all of her family's vineyards: a catastrophe, because to this day there is no insurance against it on Etna. She will never forget that the lava flow left a remnant of their belongings and "miraculously" suddenly changed direction, as Chiara recounts in the film.
3sat, 9.45 pm
The film presents wine culture in the Siebengebirge. The members of the Belz family, for example, have been growing their wine as organic winegrowers on the steep slope of the Mannberg near Unkel since the 1990s. The small town of Unkel on the Rhine serves as a starting point for hiking tours. It is also home to the Willy Brandt Forum, an exhibition about the former German Chancellor Willy Brandt, who lived in Unkel in the last years of his life. Other stops include the wine-growing town of Bad Honnef-Rhöndorf, residence of former Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and a picturesque attraction for day-trippers, and the Drachenfels.
SWR Television, 10.00 a.m.
It's autumn in Rust: school starts for Anna and Thomas' first grape harvest is coming up.
hr fernsehen, 4.45 p.m.
A beautiful summer evening with friends, good conversation and original mixed drinks. But where to get them and how to prepare them? Film author Reinhard Schall accompanies three people who are totally committed to enjoyment and will ensure that the summer evening is a success and, if possible, does not end with a grumpy head. Severin Simon in Spessart is a successful and award-winning master distiller and winemaker, his wife Simone is a trained sommelier. In the fifth generation, the noblest distillates for rum and gin are produced in his own small winery and distillery. No automation, no chemistry, just good raw materials and the art of distilling. For ecological reasons, Severin Simon has the molasses for his rum transported in the traditional way by sailing ship. The third member of the group is Tim Wegge. In his "Genusserie" in Bad Vilbel, the bartender and self-confessed rum lover conjures up the most delicious summer drinks from 380 rums, including rum and gin from the Spessart. In his bar and also at the many tastings, he "rums" his guests - that's what he calls it himself.
hr television, 2.45 p.m.
Twenty kilometres north of Niagara Falls, where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario, lies the Niagara wine region with the small historic village of Niagara-on-the-Lake. There it seems as if time stands still. It is a region known for Canada's famous ice wine. The Iniskillin Winery in the province of Ontario has won many awards for its top wines.
SWR Television, 10.30 p.m.
It has long been disproved that humour is in a bad way in the land of poets and thinkers. There is a long list of great comedians and jokers who have dealt excellently with human weaknesses, vanities and the shallows of everyday life in their sketches, parodies and solo acts. This time, "Echt witzig" is all about wine drinkers, allotment gardeners and sprightly pensioners. Good entertainment.
3sat, 1.55 p.m.
In the face of the economic and financial crisis, more and more young Portuenese are becoming creative and giving the traditional Port city a new face with their original ideas. The documentary paints a multi-faceted picture of the city.
3sat, 5.00 p.m.
The Mediterranean metropolis of Barcelona is developing rapidly. In the midst of a cultural, international melting pot, the film team meets winemaker Jabier Marquínez. His winery is located in the Spanish province of La Rioja. Together with Jabier, the film team discovers a piece of old Barcelona, the Jewish quarter on the Ramblas. There Jabier meets special customers: Members of the Jewish community for whom he produces kosher wine. A speciality that enjoys the highest recognition among international wine connoisseurs. Thanks to strict religious regulations and controls, he produces what is probably the purest organic wine in the world. The current vintage is personally inspected by the rabbi. With winemaker Jabier, we set off on a journey to the northwest, by train towards Rioja. The tour leads through almost all climatic zones of Spain: barren steppes, rocky desert landscapes, fertile wine and vegetable regions and, before the Atlantic, through a mountain range reminiscent of Switzerland. Haro, the wine capital of Rioja, lies on a picturesque hill surrounded by bodegas. They are located around the railway station, because the train line from Barcelona to Bilbao was once the distribution route for the wines from here. Today that is done by truck. But the train brings the seasonal workers for the harvest, tourists and the winemaker Jabier Marquinez back from Barcelona. He has finally arrived after a long drive through half of north-eastern Spain. By jeep, he heads up into the mountains of the Rioja Alta, the high Rioja. Around the Castillo de Sajazarra lies the Bodega Sajazarra. Here Jabier produces noble and partly kosher wines with a passion that almost borders on obsession. Wine is his life. Ever since he watched the American series "Falcon Crest" as a little boy, he dreamed of the life he leads now.
MDR Television, 11.05 p.m.
Life in the idyllic wine-growing region was imagined to be more peaceful by Detective Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea). As newly appointed police chief, he and his new colleague Sims (Fern Sutherland) must solve the death of influential wine critic Paul Winterson (Alistair Browning). The morning after the prestigious Brokenwood wine competition, the body of the famous jury member is found in a silo belonging to winemaker Amanda James (Josephine Davison). The fact that the former serial winner came away empty-handed this time and turns out to be an exceedingly bad loser immediately makes Amanda the prime suspect. In addition, Shepherd learns that there was a secret private connection between her and the victim, which Amanda does not like to be talked about. Despite this circumstantial evidence, Shepherd approaches his investigation with an open mind and follows all leads. With the support of his wine-savvy neighbour Jared (Pana Hema-Taylor), the inspector finds out that there was something fishy going on at the competition. Now he sets his sights on the winners, the well-known radio presenter and amateur winemaker Julian Bright (Peter Elliott) and his right-hand man Rob (Jeff Szusterman) at the winery. When Shepherd gets on the trail of an elaborate swindle, he enlists the help of the previous prime suspect Amanda, of all people, to investigate evidence. In the wine lies the truth. Neill Rea aka Detective Mike Shepherd has to learn a lot about wine to find out who drowned a famous critic in a fermentation silo. The unconventional investigator, who drives a vintage car and loves country music, is assisted by Fern Sutherland as Detective Sims and Pana Hema-Taylor in the role of his neighbour, who has the expert "nose" of a sommelier. "Bitter Wine" combines a thrilling crime story with an insight into a growing industry on the "Emerald Isle" that is undergoing change.
Bavarian Television, 10.20 a.m.
In the vineyards around the village of Castell, a wild tulip parade enchants the landscape.
arte, 11.20 a.m.
The history of Pompeii and the region around Mount Vesuvius does not end with its terrible sinking. The documentary tells for the first time how things continued after the devastating volcanic eruption: it is a story of how the natural disaster was dealt with, of the determined intervention of the Roman Emperor Titus and of the economic recovery of the destroyed region. What problems did people have to deal with back then, how were they solved? And what can we learn today from the way the disaster was handled 2,000 years ago? The crisis management, the first relief measures of the Roman administration as well as the subsequent "support programmes" seem impressively modern in their sober sense of reality - even though the entire reconstruction took decades. And it was then the excellent wine from volcanic soil that finally brought new prosperity to the region.
3sat, 11.50 a.m.
On his foray through Europe, Lojze Wieser and Martin Traxl explore south-eastern Styria, where they find a unique wealth of natural and cultural landscapes. The fertile volcanic soil offers optimal conditions for viticulture, elderberry plantations and the almost forgotten orchard meadows where old apple varieties are cultivated.
hr television, 10.30 a.m.
The Mekong, Asia's lifeline, rises in the mountains of Tibet and flows through seven countries before reaching the South China Sea. Farmers along the Mekong live on maize, wheat and potatoes, but wine also grows along the river. The oldest vines are in Cizhong, a small Tibetan-Christian village where the church has survived the turmoil of history almost unscathed.
SWR Television, 10.00 a.m.
The grape harvest is just around the corner. Thomas' new cellar is ready for operation and is licensed by the building authorities. Georg, in his function as mayor of Rust, cannot help but congratulate his opponent Thomas. In doing so, he notices that the most important thing, the wine press, is not yet there.
3sat, 6.15 a.m.
Natalie Steger and her team introduce the oriental "land of dreams". They follow in the footsteps of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in "Casablanca" and show wine growing in a Muslim country.
NDR Television, 11.45 p.m.
Life in the idyllic wine-growing region was imagined to be more peaceful by Detective Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea). As newly appointed police chief, he and his new colleague Sims (Fern Sutherland) must solve the death of influential wine critic Paul Winterson (Alistair Browning). The morning after the prestigious Brokenwood wine competition, the body of the famous jury member is found in a silo belonging to winemaker Amanda James (Josephine Davison). The fact that the former serial winner came away empty-handed this time and turns out to be an exceedingly bad loser immediately makes Amanda the prime suspect. In addition, Shepherd learns that there was a secret private connection between her and the victim, which Amanda does not like to be talked about. Despite this circumstantial evidence, Shepherd approaches his investigation with an open mind and follows all leads. With the support of his wine-savvy neighbour Jared (Pana Hema-Taylor), the inspector finds out that there was something fishy going on at the competition. Now he sets his sights on the winners, the well-known radio presenter and amateur winemaker Julian Bright (Peter Elliott) and his right-hand man Rob (Jeff Szusterman) at the winery. When Shepherd gets on the trail of an elaborate swindle, he enlists the help of the previous prime suspect Amanda, of all people, to investigate evidence. In the wine lies the truth. Neill Rea aka Detective Mike Shepherd has to learn a lot about wine to find out who drowned a famous critic in a fermentation silo. The unconventional investigator, who drives a vintage car and loves country music, is assisted by Fern Sutherland as Detective Sims and Pana Hema-Taylor in the role of his neighbour, who has the expert "nose" of a sommelier. "Bitter Wine" combines a gripping crime story with an insight into a growing industry on the Emerald Isle that is undergoing change.
3sat, 1.15 pm
The castles and gardens along the Loire are major attractions for holidaymakers. These include the gardens of the Château de Villandry or those of the Château de la Bourdaisière near Tours. There you can marvel at over 600 different types of tomatoes. Along the Loire, famous wine regions such as Sancerre also attract visitors. 400 kilometres further north, things look quite different: Metre-high chalk cliffs tower over turquoise-green seas.
3sat, 5.00 p.m.
Mallorca is best experienced outside the summer high season. The temperatures are pleasant, the beaches are not crowded and the hotel prices are often cheaper. September is the month of the grape harvest and perfect for tasting the delicious local wines, for example during a ride on the "Wine Express", a wooden train on wheels that takes visitors to a tasting in the middle of the vineyard.