Facts and figures

In the course of their conquests north of the Alps some 2,000 years ago, the Romans – who adopted viticulture from the Greeks and Etruscans – introduced viticulture to the Germanic territories. The Romans were eventually defeated by the Gothic tribes of northern Europe eventually leading to Rome falling under their control. This devastated much of Europe and, without Roman organisation, viticulture collapsed across many parts of Europe, including Germany.

The defeat of the Romans also brought early Christianity but without wine knowledge or centres of power that would follow. In the 8th century, Charlemagne had taken power. Charlemagne or Charles the Great, numbered Charles I, was king of the Franks (France and Germany) from 768 and emperor of the Romans from 800. During the Early Middle Ages, he united the majority of western and central Europe. While in power, Charlemagne regulated viticulture and viniculture as well as wine-related commerce. Monasteries were centres of wine culture; wine was the drink of the people.

Documents show that vineyards existed in nearly all of Germany during the Middle Ages. However, due to climatic changes, improved methods of brewing beer (the addition of hops to preserve) and increased imports of wine, the area under vine continually decreased after 1500.