Roman Wine Odyssey
Germany
Chapter 8 of the Roman Wine Odyssey, Germania & Raetia: 4 wine trails and 24 stops.
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Chapter 8: Germania & Raetia
- Mosella Poet's Trail The poet Ausonius wrote 'Mosella' (c. 371 AD), describing vine-covered slopes that look identical today. This is Germany's oldest wine region, planted by Roman legions stationed at Trier — capital of the Western Roman Empire. The steep slate vineyards, some at 65-degree angles, were first terraced by Roman soldiers. Two thousand years later, the same slopes produce some of the world's finest Rieslings. 8 stops · 1 week · moderate
- Rhenish Limes The Rhine was Rome's final frontier in the north. Legions stationed along the Limes Germanicus needed wine, so they planted it. Mainz (Mogontiacum) was capital of Germania Superior with 40,000 soldiers. Today, the Rheingau and Rheinhessen regions produce some of Germany's most aristocratic wines from the same slopes those legions terraced. 6 stops · 1 week · moderate
- Noricum Heritage Noricum (Austria) was a peaceful Roman province along the Danube limes. Carnuntum was capital of Pannonia Superior, home to the XIV Legion and 50,000 residents. Three future emperors were proclaimed here. Today, the Carnuntum DAC and Wachau regions produce Austria's finest wines from the same terraced slopes the legions planted. 6 stops · 1 week · moderate
- Raetia Alpine Trail Raetia was Rome's Alpine province, and the legions planted vines in impossible mountain locations. This trail explores Switzerland's hidden wine regions — from Valais's sunny slopes to Graubünden's Pinot Noir — following Roman routes across the Alps. 4 stops · 4 days · moderate