Liechtenstein wine

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a producer of wine. The country has a climate ideally suited for the cultivation of vine with mountain slopes facing southwest, calcareous soils and an average of 1,500 hours of sunshine a year. The hot dry wind during the summer months, known as the "Föhn" aids cultivators by having a sweetening effect.

There are over 100 winegrowers in Liechtenstein which produce red and white wines in which despite the small size of the country can produce a significant variety. Liechtenstein is part of the European wine quality system and the international AOC classification.

History

Viniculture dates back to just over two thousand years in Liechtenstein. Growing began before Christ by a celtic tribe that had settled in the area, and during Roman times production was increased. After the Romans had been driven out of the area by the Alamani, production virtually ceased, until the growth of Christianity in the 4th Century, when monks encouraged the establishment of new vineyards. During the rule of Charles the Great (742 – 814); many of the municipalities and monasteries possessed their own vineyards for greater production. cite web|url=http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/fl-portal-aktuell?newsid=13038|title=AOC quality certification for top wines from Liechtenstein|date=September 26 2005|publisher=Principality of Liechtenstein|accessdate=August 17|accessyear=2008] When Charlemagne ruled over the area around 800 AD, the vineyards surrounding Gutenberg Castle yielded some three thousand gallons of wine a year. Charlemagne did much to alter the method of production, strongly encouraging better hygiene and pressing of the grapes by making it practice for the wine pressers to wash their feet although he was met with considerable opposition.

The grape, Blauburgunder or Pinot Noir, was introduced by Henri Duc de Rohan (1579 – 1638) who strongly encouraged the farmers of the Bündner Herrschaft to cultivate it. During the latter half of the 19th century, wine was Liechtenstein's main export alongside cattle. The wine industry in Liechenstein reached an all time peak in 1871 when 790 acres were designated for wine production. After this point however, the opening of the Arlberg railway saw an increase in foreign competition and in the first half of the 20th century bad harvests and parasites, saw the wine industry collapse and virtually dry up. Attempts by the government to sustain the industry by introducing compulsory crop spraying after 1890 was a marked failure. However, although the industry had declined significantly, viniculture was still important enough in Vaduz that its coat of arms, established on the 31st of July 1932, pictured bunches of grapes symbolizing.Since the 1970s there has been a regrowth of viniculture but as of 2008 only 64 acres is under cultivation.

Today, the most popular white wines are Chardonnay, Riesling x Sylvaner, and Gewürztraminer, while red wines most produced are Blauburgunder, Zweigelt, and Blaufränkisch. The highest vineyard in the country is the Walser village of Triesenberg at 850 meters (2800 feet), which has seen some successful experimental growth of the French Léon Millot grape variety. Othe rnotable brands are the the Zweigelt Selektion Karlsberg Profundo and the FL Premier Brut 1996, a vintage sparkling wine, pressed from Rhine Riesling grapes.

Several places in the country have wine tasting venues. Most notable is the "Hofkellerei des regierenden Fürsten von Liechtenstein", the wine cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein.

References