Liechtenstein wine facts for kids
Did you know that the small country of Liechtenstein makes its own wine? Even though it's tiny, Liechtenstein has a perfect climate for growing grapes. It has sunny mountain slopes, special soil, and lots of sunshine every year. A warm, dry wind called the foehn helps the grapes become sweeter.
More than 100 winegrowers work in Liechtenstein. They grow many different kinds of red and white wines. Liechtenstein also follows important European rules for wine quality. This means their wines meet high standards.
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A Journey Through Liechtenstein's Wine History
Wine-making in Liechtenstein started over 2,000 years ago. Long before Christ, a group called the Celts began growing grapes here. When the Romans arrived, they grew even more grapes.
How Wine-Making Changed Over Time
After the Romans left, wine production almost stopped. But then, Christian monks helped start new vineyards. During the time of Charlemagne (who ruled from 742 to 814 AD), many towns and monasteries had their own vineyards. For example, the vineyards near Gutenberg Castle made a lot of wine each year. Charlemagne also encouraged better ways to make wine, like keeping things clean.
The grape called Blauburgunder, also known as Pinot noir, came to Liechtenstein later. A French duke named Henri, duc de Rohan brought it in the 1600s. He encouraged farmers to plant it.
In the late 1800s, wine was one of Liechtenstein's main exports, along with cattle. The wine industry grew a lot, reaching its biggest size in 1871. About 320 hectares (790 acres) were used for growing grapes.
Challenges and Comeback for Wine
After 1871, things became harder for wine growers. A new railway brought more foreign wines into the country. Also, in the early 1900s, bad harvests and plant diseases hurt the wine industry. Even though the government tried to help, wine production went down a lot.
However, wine was still important to the people of Vaduz. Their town's coat of arms, created in 1932, even shows bunches of grapes! Since the 1970s, wine-making has slowly grown again. By 2008, about 26 hectares (64 acres) were used for vineyards.
Popular Wines Grown Today
Today, Liechtenstein produces several popular white wines. These include Chardonnay, Riesling x Sylvaner, and Gewürztraminer. For red wines, the most common types are Blauburgunder, Zweigelt, and Blaufränkisch.
The highest vineyard in Liechtenstein is in the Walser village of Triesenberg. It sits at 850 meters (2,800 feet) above sea level. Here, they have successfully experimented with a French grape called Léon Millot. Other special wines include the Zweigelt Selektion Karlsberg Profundo and a sparkling wine called FL Premier Brut 1996. This sparkling wine is made from Rhine Riesling grapes.
Where to Taste Wine
You can visit several places in Liechtenstein to try their wines. The most famous place is the "Hofkellerei des regierenden Fürsten von Liechtenstein." These are the wine cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein himself!
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