Straußwirtschaft, kleinigkeiten… a couple of German words you absolutely must know!!

In Germany, there is a well-kept secret known – probably – only to the locals in the region. June is the month that not only escorts in the wine festival season and is dedicated to sampling the fares of the vintners along the Rhine and Mosel rivers and on the wine road in Germany.

Wine festivals: Once a year, each wine producing town or village has a weekend-long wine festival at which the local producers present/sell their wines. For the villagers and townspeople, it is a time to meet friends and neighbors, and for others it is time to partake of the local wine. The wine is sold by the glass which allows visitors to identify the wine(s) which specifically meets their taste.  Real wine ‘aficiandos’ (read: drinkers!!) bring their own wine glass attached to a leather strap worn around the neck.  Have glass, will travel….and drink!!  These ‘wine glass necklaces’ are also particularly handy when you are strolling from vineyard-to-vineyard and want to take a glass or bottle of wine with you. 

 

 

 

Local vineyards: In June, you can also visit a Straußwirtschaft or two. Each year for a 6 week period of time - the local authorities allow the vintners to open their premises to the public and not only sell their wine but also set up a few tables in their courtyards and offer a little something to eat (a ‘kleinigkeiten’- simple, regional cold dishes or finger food).

The newly-installed tables are always full. In wine country, it is a favorite past time to walk or drive to your favorite vintner’s for a glass of wine and a bite to eat. Of course, after eating, if you have brought your car, you can always load the trunk of your car with a case or two or your favorite wine.

 

Once while visiting a vintner, I admired the sketch of a rather elderly woman wearing a bonnet which adorned the logo on his wine bottle. The vintner explained to me that the drawing was of his mother. ( looking at the image and the bonnet, I thought I had misunderstood him and it was his grand or great-grand mother!!) As the conversation continued, a little old lady (sans bonnet, but looking as old as the hills) toddled out of the house. The vintner called her over in order to introduce us. As she got closer I could see that the portrait was a true likeness.