WDR Television, 2.15 p.m.
Steep slopes and magnificent views, the Moselle is one of Germany's most breathtaking rivers. But working on its banks has never been easy. Nevertheless, young people in particular are once again choosing to live along the Moselle - in France, Luxembourg and Germany. Rebecca Materne and Janina Schmitt belong to a new generation of winemakers who have rediscovered the steep slopes of the terraced Moselle. Rebecca Materne comes from the RUhr region, Janina Schmitt from Hesse. In 2012, the friends leased a vineyard in Winningen near Koblenz - and grow Riesling on the slopes with an inclination of more than 50 degrees - without using machines, without pesticides. The couple's life is characterised by the unpredictability of the weather and hard work: tying the vines in spring, bottling in ssummer grape harvest in autumn. It would not be possible without the help of family and friends. If both want to make a living from winegrowing one day, their business has to grow. But Materne & Schmitt are optimistic.
hr-television, 5.15 p.m.
In the wine-growing regions of Hessen, tradition and modernity are skilfully combined by a new generation of winemakers. Besides the well-known Riesling, other grape varieties are gaining ground, especially reds. They can definitely compete with the French. But Hessen's well-known and popular "Stöffsche" is also good for many a surprise. In addition to single-variety ciders, there are fine blends with quince, elderberry and sloe, as well as spicy sparkling wines made from old apple varieties. Some cider makers are inspired by the "fruit of paradise" to create exquisite creations such as ice wines, brandies and sherry. But also sausage, bread and sweet delicacies are flavoured with cider. The programme invites you on an enjoyable journey through Hessen's wine paradises.
SWR Television, 6.30 p.m.
Celebrating and feasting between the Rhine, fruit and vines Nestled between the Rhine and the Black Forest, the Ortenau is one of Germany's climatically favoured regions. The climate and fertile soils make it a true garden of paradise. Fruit and wine-growing dominate the landscape. People here like to celebrate the fruit blossoms and enjoy their regional specialities. Achern has the most cherry trees in the whole of Baden-Württemberg. At the time of the cherry blossom, the people of Mösbach celebrate a festival where the blossoming cherry orchards are hiked and cherry delicacies are offered - from cherry bratwurst to monster cherry pie. Oberkirch celebrates Germany's largest strawberry festival, where fancy strawberry creations are also created, including strawberry chutneys and strawberry tarte flambée. The renowned Gmeiner confectionery offers a variety of sweet specialities based on strawberries in its café. The Bühler plum is also a celebrity. The festival held in its honour is the largest folk festival in the region. Durbach is home to top wineries such as that of the internationally award-winning Laible winegrowing family. In everyday life, the Durbach winegrowers are competitors. But once a year they sit down together to choose the best Durbach Riesling - the "Jahrgangs-Klingelberger". The Weber family in Ettenheim not only owns one of the largest walnut plantations in South Baden, but has also been running a restaurant specialising in walnut menus on their estate for several years. The idyllic and wild side arms of the Rhine, the Taubergießen, have been the preserve of fishermen for centuries, including the Maurer family. Now in their sixth generation, the Maurers fish for pike, white fish and crayfish and prepare their fresh catches for guests in the family's own fishing tavern.
arte, 6.35 p.m.
Between the source at Schwenninger Moos and the mouth of the river, the filmmakers meet the oldest grape harvesting crew in Stuttgart, who are still clambering around steep slopes in the middle of the pulsating capital of the Swabians, even at well over 60 years of age.
hr-television, 8.15 p.m.
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. Even in the beautiful Rheingau, residents - and especially the winegrowers - have to face new challenges. These include dealing with the clearly noticeable "climate change" as well as the search for modern forms of production and marketing. And of course, the Rheingau and its wine have also become a bit "multicultural" and globalised. The film observes how the wine develops in 2017 right up to the pressing and accompanies the protagonists in their work.
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ARD-alpha, 10.45 p.m.
Many wine lovers think that autumn is the best season for a wine trip. Far from it! The current vintage is often drunk up, the new wine not yet here. In addition, there are lots of tractors roaring through the vineyard, after all, the harvest takes place in autumn. Schmidt Max is smarter: Inspired by Stephan Lehmann, who provides his listeners with wine tips together with BR wine expert Herbert Stiglmaier on "Bayern 1 am Nachmittag", he squats down in his old Opel Kadett and sets off for Tuscany. Pecorino cheese, olive oil, wild boar salami and spring await him in the region south of Florence. And extraordinary red wines from German-speaking winegrowers to go with it. There are Aljoscha and Arianna Gelpke from Switzerland with their organic certified Chiantis, Bettina and Moritz Rogosky from Germany, who only make one very rare drop with an incredible story. Felix and Sabine Eichbauer from Munich try their luck with "Brunello di Montalcino". In addition, Schmidt Max explores where to stay inexpensively at the winery and how to eat well in a former car repair shop.
WDR Television, 0.45 a.m.
With: Harald Juhnke, Dieter Hallervorden, Hans Werner Olm, Insterburg & Co., Maren Kroymann, Kurt Krömer, Gabi Decker, Herricht & Preil, Olaf Schubert and many more.
hr-television, 11.35 a.m.
The popular holiday region of South Tyrol is nestled between the Eastern Alps and the Dolomites, where rugged mountains meet lovely wine-growing landscapes, where the sun shines 300 days a year and where Tyrolean down-to-earthness and Italian lightness go hand in hand. By bike, you can explore the picturesque wine villages along the South Tyrolean Wine Road all the way to Lake Kaltern. And if you're on the road by bike, you can taste one or two good wines with a clear conscience.
arte, 6.35 p.m.
The Saar is not even 250 kilometres long. Hardly any other river in Europe combines such different motifs and landscapes on its banks over such a short distance. This is also the home of winemaker Christian Ebert. Industrial use and ecological viticulture may seem like a contradiction in terms 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.
SWR Television, 5.20 a.m.
The vinotheque is the calling card of a winery, sometimes even of an entire wine-growing region. A self-confident new generation of winegrowers is setting its own accents. These winemakers have travelled the world and have a much broader horizon than previous generations. A vinotheque is a statement - the personality of the winegrowers as well as that of the wines should be expressed. The architectural solutions are correspondingly individual. Some are new creations, others make strong reference to traditions or existing buildings. All the vinotheques in this filmic compilation have won awards in recent years. In "Known in the Land" we talk to winegrowers and also to the architects. What were the ideas behind them? What were the specifications? How were they realised? What makes them unique? The vinotheques selected by author Utz Kastenholz for the film are located on the Moselle (Regnery and Pauly), on the Nahe (Emmerich - Koebernik and Poss), in Rheinhessen (J. Neus) and in the Palatinate (Kreutzenberger and Par Terre). Drinking wine has an aesthetic component - especially when the good drops are presented and tasted in these modernly designed temples of pleasure.
NDR Television, 9.00 p.m.
Over a glass of tea punch on the island of Föhr, Christian Roeloffs had the idea: why not grow wine in the protected Föhr location? The dairy farmer from Süderende changed his career and planted vines on his farmland. That's how Christian became a winegrower, although he never drank wine himself. For four years now, grapes have been pressed and fermented on Föhr. And now even a Beerenauslese is to be pressed for the first time. The high art of winegrowing, in the middle of the mudflats.
arte, 3.50 p.m.
The wine history of the Corbières region began when the first vines were planted by the Romans in 125 BC. The Via Aquitania led through what are now the vineyards of Château Coulon and Château Veredus. Even then, wine was transported between Narbonne and Toulouse in large amphorae. Even today, shards of earthen wine jugs can be seen.
3sat, 10.40 a.m.
Styrian-born and multi-award-winning feature and documentary film director Curt Faudon portrays life in the southern Styrian hill country all the way to the Istrian coast. The scenically grandiose region was once the wine, grain and fish "chamber" of the imperial and royal monarchy. Heavy thunderstorms and storms affect the lives of winegrowers and fishermen just as much as periods of drought - a constant battle with nature. Traditional festivals determine life several times a year: Then people celebrate and give thanks for wine and fish.
SWR Television, 11.45 a.m.
ORF III, 3.00 p.m.
Let yourself be rocked in historic carriages from the "wine to the forest". The Reblaus Express winds its way uphill through the vineyards of Retz in Lower Austria and rolls leisurely from the Weinviertel to the Waldviertel. An old line, actually long since disused, in a sparsely populated area. Vines, fields and forests alternate, a paradise for cyclists, and they enjoy using the Reblaus Express, which is run by an association. Wine also grows around Lake Neusiedl and the railway runs right in the middle of it. Here in Burgenland, the main lines to Hungary intersect with various branch lines. Here, where the two countries border on each other in the heart of Europe, you can still enjoy K&K flair. A region between nostalgia and modernity.
SWR Television, 5.30 p.m.
Some districts of Vienna also belong to the Wienerwald, and they are known for one thing above all: winegrowing and the continuation of the tradition of the Wiener Gemischter Satz. Winemaker Fritz Wieninger explains to Simin Sadeghi what this is all about. The vineyards continue through the Vienna Woods towards the south. On the first two weekends in September, the winegrowers invite visitors to their vineyards for tastings - then wine lovers from Vienna and the Vienna Woods walk from stand to stand for about 15 kilometres. Simin Sadeghi hikes along. One of her insights: People know how to live here - then and now!
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NDR Television, 6.45 a.m.
Wine, the Wachau's lifeblood, has been cultivated since Celtic times. The vines grow on terraces that were cut into the primary rock in sweaty toil. And there are many legends and stories about the Wachau landscape, a little paradise away from the hustle and bustle.
hr-television, 3.45 p.m.
Tuscany can also be tasted. This is true for Chianti with its famous wines and for the Maremma and its good cheese. Tuscan cuisine thrives above all on good ingredients and thus on the wealth of small farms and wineries, which you must visit on a trip through Tuscany.
3sat, 5.05 pm
Croatia has experienced a real boom in recent years: secluded bays, vineyards, large forests, lakes and culturally and historically valuable buildings are responsible for this.
Bavarian Television, 21.00
The district of Lindau also includes Nonnenhorn on the outer border of Bavaria with Baden-Württemberg. The Hornstein winegrowing family has their vines right on the shore of Lake Constance: the soil was once a beach, is full of gravel and makes the wine special.
arte, 5.50 p.m.
Between its source at Schwenninger Moos and its mouth, the filmmakers meet the oldest wine harvesting crew in Stuttgart, who are still clambering around steep slopes in the middle of the vibrant capital of the Swabians, even at well over 60 years of age.
3sat, 6.05 a.m.
Merano is called "the pearl of South Tyrol"; a Mediterranean attitude to life combines with the tradition of a noble health resort. Empress Sisi once made Merano famous with her stays. Today, the town between glaciers and palm trees is more beautiful than ever. Above Bolzano the sky clears, in Merano you have finally arrived in the south. With 300 days of sunshine and a South Tyrolean attitude to life, the city spoils its residents and guests. Franz Graf Pfeil, for example, a passionate winemaker, combines wine and art on his old estate.
N24 DOKU, 4.05 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, 8.15 p.m.
The whole world is talking about climate change: melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, droughts and hunger in the world. But how is climate change affecting southwest Germany? On animals and plants, on the landscape - and on people? Who will benefit and who will be the losers? Axel Wagner, SWR reporter and biologist, goes on a climate tour through the southwest, to the places where climate change is noticeable or will soon show its effects. He visits winegrowers in the Palatinate, fruit growers on Lake Constance and ski lift operators in the Black Forest who are already affected by climate change.
hr-television, 6.00 p.m.
Half-timbered houses and big cities, natural and cultural landscapes: you can find it all on the Hessian river kilometres along the Main and Rhine. Seligenstadt with its charming old town, Hanau with its imposing castle, Offenbach with its long leather tradition, the Main metropolis Frankfurt with its high-rise buildings, Hochheim amid vineyards and finally the place where the Main - opposite Mainz - flows into the Rhine. Along the Rhine in the south of Hesse, nature reserves spread out, making the heart of every nature lover beat faster. The tour then passes Wiesbaden, the capital of Hesse, through the wine-rich Rheingau region with its venerable St. Hildegard Monastery, the tourist magnet of Rüdesheim and on to the state border at Lorchhausen - an adventure tour for all the senses.
ZDFinfo, 7.30 p.m.
Salmon, champagne and sushi: luxury is also available at discounters. But can it be good? What sounds noble can even be particularly cheap. Food technician Sebastian Lege shows how to turn the cheapest wine from the Tetra Pak into a bizarrely noble drop. In the end, it is sold as a melodious Secco Rosato - another trick of the food industry.
hr-television, 8.15 p.m.
In France, it has long been rumoured 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 wine museum "Cité du Vin" is a must. Film author Christine Seemann explores the city the French way in a restored 2CV lady with a Charleston look. Her owner Martine Marcheras charmingly guides her through the city on the Garonne. She turns her back on the coast and drives eastwards into the heart of the Bordelais to Saint Émilion. The gently rolling wine-growing region was the first to be put on UNESCO's World Heritage List. For Saint Émilion is a synthesis of the arts, as it nestles picturesquely into the landscape, full of enchanted corners and architectural treasures. And wine is the elixir of life around which everything revolves. In September, the Jurade, the wine fraternity, gives permission for the grape harvest - a reason to celebrate. An emotional spectacle that enchants not only wine lovers.
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ZDFinfo, 8.15 p.m.
In slices or in one piece, mild or spicy: cheese is one of the Germans' favourite foods. Nelson Müller shows what's in Gouda & Co. and what to look out for when buying.
ZDFinfo, 9.00 p.m.
Sebastian Lege uncovers the secrets behind hearty dishes, full-bodied wines and crunchy snacks. Some clever industry tricks even protect the environment. Competition on the supermarket shelf rages mercilessly. In the battle for customers, food manufacturers will use any legal means. The result is more and more new high-tech products and production processes. Traditionally produced, high-quality food can still be bought, but not at the low price of the mass-produced goods with which the industry lures its customers. A barrique wine for four euros or bourbon vanilla cream for pennies? Impossible, really.
SWR Television, 11.45 a.m.
hr-fernsehen, 3.00 p.m.
In France, it has long been rumoured 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 wine museum "Cité du Vin" is a must. Film author Christine Seemann explores the city the French way in a restored 2CV lady with a Charleston look. Her owner Martine Marcheras charmingly guides her through the city on the Garonne. She turns her back on the coast and drives eastwards into the heart of the Bordelais to Saint Émilion. The gently rolling wine-growing region was the first to be put on UNESCO's World Heritage List. For Saint Émilion is a synthesis of the arts, as it nestles picturesquely into the landscape, full of enchanted corners and architectural treasures. And wine is the elixir of life around which everything revolves. In September, the Jurade, the wine fraternity, gives permission for the grape harvest - a cause for celebration. An emotional spectacle that enchants not only wine lovers.
SWR Television, 4.30 p.m.
The countrywomen set off for dinner near Mainz. Christine Huff, a 29-year-old from Rheinhessen, spoils her guests with regional delicacies at her winery. Christine Huff runs a winery with her parents and husband Jeremy near Mainz. There is a lot for the family to do in the steep slopes along the Rhine. The graduate winemaker focuses on independent, high-quality wines and appreciates the variety that the small winery offers her. Christine's husband Jeremy keeps a flock of sheep, as he is a sheep farmer and comes from New Zealand.
tagesschau24, 8.15 p.m.
How the Chinese are buying up French wineries French fine wines from Bordeaux are becoming increasingly popular in China. Thanks to the purchasing power from the Far East, the prices for the traditional Bordeaux wine have risen significantly. China is the most important export market. Nevertheless, many French people are observing this development with mixed feelings, because some rich Chinese are not satisfied with just buying bottles of wine: they are buying entire wineries in the Bordeaux region. There are already over 70 of them. People there fear for their cultural heritage. Cathy and Sandrine Héraud, seventh-generation winemakers in the Médoc, are also worried. In 2013, their neighbour sold his 300-year-old Château Loudenne vineyard to a major Chinese investor. The price: over 20 million euros. The two women cannot imagine ever selling their Château St. Christoly to the Chinese. Cathy and Sandrine are successful, their wines have won several awards. Nevertheless: The work in the vines is hard and the dependence on nature is great. Several bad harvests can drive a winegrower to ruin. Time and again, wineries have to be abandoned and there is a lack of successors. The Chinese millions are a lifeline for some. The Bordeaux region has always been open to foreign investors. The English, the Irish, the Americans, the Germans - they have all acquired vineyards. Also the German Stephan Paeffgen, a neighbour of Cathy and Sandrine Héraud. He now owns three châteaux and feels well accepted in the Médoc with his family. As a rule, however, the Chinese investors do not live on their newly acquired wine estates. They have them managed by employees. In China, the new preference for Bordeaux wines goes so far that wine is already being successfully cultivated in various regions of the country - with international help. Entire châteaux from Bordeaux are being replicated down to the last detail. The film observes the Chinese Bordeaux boom in France and in China. It also accompanies Cathy and Sandrine Héraud and Stefan Paeffgen for almost a year. After a poor harvest the year before, the young winemakers now look to the future with confidence. But the summer turns out to be too wet. Then another hailstorm threatens the grape harvest.
arte, 5.10 p.m.
Landscape architect Jean-Philippe Teyssier guides us through the most beautiful gardens in the world. The documentary series invites you to discover the art of horticulture - and to get to know the people who maintain, explore and design these gardens. In the north of Portugal, near the Douro Valley, the Mateus Palace is located in the middle of the vineyards. The lands and manor house have belonged to the family of the Count of Albuquerque for over three centuries. The estate was constantly enlarged thanks to flourishing grain and wine cultivation and surrounded by magnificent gardens. Through the unique interplay of architecture, parks, vineyards and orchards, the visitor discovers a gem of Portuguese and European garden art history. Available online from 15/05 to 14/07
hr-television, 11.25 a.m.
In France, it has long been rumoured 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 wine museum "Cité du Vin" is a must. Film author Christine Seemann explores the city the French way in a restored 2CV lady with a Charleston look. Her owner Martine Marcheras charmingly guides her through the city on the Garonne. She turns her back on the coast and drives eastwards into the heart of the Bordelais to Saint Émilion. The gently rolling wine-growing region was the first to be put on UNESCO's World Heritage List. For Saint Émilion is a synthesis of the arts, as it nestles picturesquely into the landscape, full of enchanted corners and architectural treasures. And wine is the elixir of life around which everything revolves. In September, the Jurade, the wine fraternity, gives permission for the grape harvest - a cause for celebration. An emotional spectacle that enchants not only wine lovers.
ARD-alpha, 8.15 p.m.
The culinary journey continues to Galilee, which is one of the best wine-growing regions in Israel today. On the border with Lebanon, Tom helps with the grape harvest at the Tulip Winery. The young owner Roy Itzhaki has realised a vision with Tulip: he produces top quality wine with employees who are mentally handicapped.
SWR Television, 10.00 p.m.
Where to actually go with black money that can no longer be parked in Swiss banks? Resorting to expensive material assets is a good way to park untaxed money safely abroad. Ancient, precious wine, for example... Matteo Lüthi of the Thurgau police wants to uncover such deals and in the process crosses paths with Klara Blum and Kai Perlmann, who have to uncover the murder of a young unemployed man - who was dumped in Lake Constance with a backpack full of presumably valuable bottles of wine. Murder and tax offences could be connected, Klara Blum and Matteo Lüthi, in a very cooperative mood, investigate together through the small official channels. A case from the 19th century is linked to one from today. It is about the extremely valuable wedding wine of Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, several bottles of which are found in the Swiss depots of German tax fraudsters. And about the spark of late love that Kai Perlmann discovers in a forgotten wine cellar... In "Château Mort", author Stefan Dähnert has Klara Blum and Kai Perlmann investigate on two time levels, so to speak, in the present and in a case from 1848. Based on historical facts, he creates a mind game around the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff and the Baden Revolution, thus giving director Marc Rensing the opportunity to stage what is probably the most distant murder in "Tatort" history.
SWR Television, 6.15 p.m.
The Markgräflerland has good wine and recently also a hiking route right through the vines. The "Markgräfler Wiiwegli" (Markgräfler Wine Trail) runs 77 kilometres from Weil am Rhein to Freiburg-Sankt-Georgen. It can be hiked in four stages. Those who wish can hike without luggage. The initiators will then take care of the luggage transfer from hotel to hotel. For "Fahr mal hin", Claudia and Rainer, two Black Forest hiking enthusiasts, test the wine trail and also take a look along the way.
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WDR Television, 4.30 p.m.
The Canal du Midi, the "Canal of the South", is the classic for houseboat holidays in France. Built over 300 years ago, it connects Toulouse with the Mediterranean, passes medieval towns like Carcassonne on the way, leads through the wine-growing areas of the Minervois and the Corbière and through charming towns like Narbonne and Béziers.
SWR Television, 3.15 p.m.
Where once princes ruled, you can find traditional, rural cuisine as well as upscale. What distinguishes the region are the people who produce traditional products with great dedication. Bernulf Schlauch, for example, produces his "Holunderzauber" (elderberry magic), a sparkling wine made from elderflowers, here. The Jauernik family in Weißlensburg sells organic sheep meat and cheese. Toasts are made with Hohenlohe elderberry sparkling wine and pear sparkling wine, which is hand-shaken as in the champagne process. Hohenlohe, the former poorhouse of Württemberg, has long since become a culinary insider tip.
SWR Television, 3.45 p.m.
Sommeliérs from the southwest meet in Koblenz at Gerhard's restaurant at the Deutsches Eck. Their big common theme: liquid pleasures. At the round table of the "Genussgesellschaft bei Gerhards" (enjoyment society at Gerhard's) there is not only beer, wine, spirits and coffee, but above all drinkable stories from the various SWR television programmes "Lebensart". These are stories from passionate makers, connoisseurs and trendsetters. The sommelier specialists present their individual top delights and evaluate them professionally. From Koblenz to Lake Constance, the pleasure society tries its way through and philosophises about enjoyment. Beer with cheese or a beer after wine, noble brandy in coffee or rather straight as a drink? What goes with what? What tastes good together? What's on the label should be in it, according to flavour connoisseurs. But how imaginatively and diversely flavours are further reinterpreted stands and falls with the makers, the craftsmen. What should a Trollinger taste like? And what does a beer taste like? Is there rum that tastes like a noble brandy? And which cocktail will win the competition between Austria, Switzerland and Germany? The youngsters also know their craft. They are the ones who keep setting new trends. Taking a clear position on the market can also be vital for survival. Even among small or medium-sized manufacturers, the competition is fierce. So it's always about special and unmistakable enjoyment. It should taste good and finally the round of sommeliérs at the host Georg Gerhards in Koblenz should feel good. Gerhards, himself a passionate gourmet, knows how to do it.
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SWR Television, 8.15 p.m.
Steep slopes and magnificent views, the Moselle is one of Germany's most breathtaking rivers. But working on its banks has never been easy. Nevertheless, young people in particular are once again choosing to live along the Moselle - in France, Luxembourg and Germany. Rebecca Materne and Janina Schmitt belong to a new generation of winemakers who have rediscovered the steep slopes of the terraced Moselle. Rebecca Materne comes from the RUhr region, Janina Schmitt from Hesse. In 2012, the friends leased a vineyard in Winningen near Koblenz - and grow Riesling on the slopes with an incline of more than 50 degrees - without using machines, without pesticides. The couple's life is characterised by the unpredictability of the weather and hard work: tying the vines in spring, bottling in ssummer grape harvest in autumn. It would not be possible without the help of family and friends. If both want to make a living from winegrowing one day, their business has to grow. But Materne & Schmitt are optimistic. The people along the Moselle love their homeland, the river offers security - and that is why in some places along the Moselle customs and traditions live on as they did centuries ago. In Contz-les-Bains, France, in the border triangle of France, Luxembourg and Germany, young men are preparing a grandiose spectacle for St. John's Day. A huge wooden wheel is supposed to roll down a mountain into the river. If it works, it promises a good harvest! In Traben-Trarbach, the "Stadtschröter" drag a tree trunk through the town to set it up as a guild tree on the banks of the Moselle. Schröter were once indispensable for the wine trade. They heaved the full barrels out of the cellars to load them onto ships - but the advent of the wine pump caused the craft to die out.
SWR Television, 6.50 a.m.
Festivals and customs used to be a welcome change from the hard everyday life in the villages. They were the rare opportunity to meet, celebrate together and exchange news. And perhaps also to meet the love of one's life. When Neustadt-Gimmeldingen in the Palatinate celebrates its Almond Blossom Festival, spring begins with the first wine festival in the Palatinate. Matthias Frey reports on the time when his great-grandfather founded the festival. The oldest wine festival in Germany is celebrated in Winningen on the Moselle.
ZDF, 8.15 p.m.
There is still a deep longing in Germany for "life in the country". This is shown by a representative survey for "ZDFzeit". Asked about their desired place of residence, 44 percent of Germans say they dream of living in a small village in the countryside, 39 percent would prefer to live in a smaller town, and only 16 percent prefer the big city. Winemaker Hildegard Stigler leads such a life, which is probably what many imagine. She regularly stands in her vineyards, prunes the vines and enjoys the landscape. Afterwards, she sits with the whole family at "Vesper", the evening meal. With a glass of wine from her own vineyard, of course. "It's a cosy life here," she says, "it lets us grow old. We don't have any stress." In fact, women in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald region have the highest life expectancy in Germany.
rbb television, 3.15 p.m.
The Ponte Dom Luís is the landmark of Porto. The bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It connects the old town with the neighbouring town of Vila Nova de Gaia, where the large port wine warehouses are located.
SWR Television, 8.15 p.m.
A small town on the Middle Moselle that was once almost a cosmopolitan city - Anna Lena Dörr's expedition to Traben-Trarbach is also a journey through time: Around 1900, the twin town was the largest wine trading centre in the German Empire. The Traben-Trabach Moselle Riesling had a world-wide reputation. Many wine merchants had their immense financial success chiselled in stone, in a unique and then very modern way: in Art Nouveau. With Markus Müllen from "klitzekleiner Ring", Anna Lena Dörr experiences first-hand on the reforested Trarbacher Hühnerberg why you have to be free of giddiness as a Mosel vintner. Today, the 60 to 100-year-old vines are to once again produce the very special Mosel Riesling. And Adolph Huesgen, eighth-generation wine merchant from Trarbach and world traveller in wine, started anew in his homeland a few years ago: in the magnificent Art Nouveau villa Huesgen on the banks of the Moselle - also designed by Bruno Möhring.
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SWR Television, 11.45 a.m.
3sat, 3 .35 p.m.
The Dordogne River meanders through gorges and lovely vineyards in the southwest of France. The banks of the river are a land of plenty for many gourmets. The controversial foie gras is produced here. A delight for some, animal cruelty for others. Less well known is that "black gold" is also produced here: Since the 1990s, tons of caviar have been produced in sturgeon farms. The red Bordeaux is world-famous. The Médoc, a wine landscape north of the city of Bordeaux, is home to the most famous wine châteaux in the world: Lafite Rothschild, Pommerol, Cheval Blanc. They are also the backdrop for the foolish "wine marathon": 8000 costumed people run through the vineyards at this runners' carnival and drink red wine instead of water. Wine harvest in the Médoc - that also means seasonal jobs for the many migrant workers who earn their living here. Members of the so-called "Manusch" - Sinti living in France - also come to the renowned Margaux for the grape harvest.
Das Erste (ARD), 4.30 p.m.
South of the Italian Alps stretches one of the most famous cultural landscapes in the world, Tuscany. Mild climate, olive groves, vineyards and small forests characterise the region.
3sat, 2.05 p.m.
Wachau, Burgenland, Weinviertel, Southern Styria, Vienna and the Thermenregion: Austria's great wine-growing regions cultivate their cultural wine tradition. From the growth of the vines and grapes to the work of the winegrowers with the ripening wine to the diverse small animal and plant life in the vineyards and cellars: the film shows Austria's wine culture in the course of the seasons.
hr-television, 6.50 p.m.
It has been rumoured in France for a long time: Bordeaux is a serious competitor for Paris. Bordeaux produced the philosophers Montaigne and Montesquieu, its architecture is a prime example of classicism, and Bordeaux is the world capital of wine - a visit to the wine museum "Cité du Vin" is a must. "service: reisen" explores the city the French way with a restored 2CV lady in Charleston look. Its owner, Martine Marcheras, guides you through the city on the Garonne in a charming way. Only an hour's drive away, always heading southwest, is the Cap Ferret peninsula with its colourful settlements of oyster farmers. If you like to slurp oysters, this is the place to be, and only here is paté served with them. Away from the coast, we head into the heart of the Bordelais to Saint Émilion. Here, too, wine is the elixir of life. In September, the Jurade, the wine brotherhood, gives permission for the grape harvest - a reason to celebrate. It is a huge spectacle that enchants not only wine lovers.
hr-television, 11.00 a.m.
3sat, 6.50a.m.
It is one of the most beautiful spectacles of nature when the apricot trees in the Wachau begin to blossom in spring, transforming the entire region into a fragrant sea of blossoms. At 36 kilometres, the Wachau is only a short section of the 2800-kilometre-long Danube - and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The documentary shows the charms of this cultural and natural landscape in the changing seasons. The winding Danube valley, the riparian forests, rock formations and the man-made vineyard terraces are UNESCO natural monuments. The Wachau is also known for its idyllic villages, its monasteries and castles. Since Roman times, the Wachau has been wine country - today the "Land am Strome" with its white wines can compete with any wine-growing region in the world.