The earth-drilling machine grinds its way somewhat laboriously into the ground. The soil in western Munich is hard: rather dry, many stones. The members of the still-young Menzing Wine Association have been toiling for the third weekend on the field. They have drilled around 1,000 holes, and are now planting the last 50 grapevines. They are still small, just 30 centimeters long, and most of them have to go into the earth.
A Long-Lost Tradition Returns to Munich
Munich is renowned as a beer city, but there was a time when wine was the most important drink for its citizens and nobility, even on the Isar. However, over 200 years ago, the grapevines disappeared. Now, genuine Munich wine is set to grow again. This ambitious project is spearheaded by the Menzing Wine Association, bringing viticulture back to the city after a two-century hiatus. The first vines are being planted in Menzing, marking a significant step in reclaiming Munich’s forgotten winemaking heritage.
Hard Work for the Vineyard
The vines are to be planted so that only the tips with the first delicate shoots peek out. For the members of the association, like Simone Streidl, this was all completely new: “We are all bloody beginners, but with 1,000 vines, you learn a lot. It’s a process, and by now we’re all pretty good at it.” Next to her, Kim Stacheter kneels on the ground and digs in the next vine: “The spacing is particularly important so that vehicles can pass through when watering, and the depth, because of the frost.”
Christian Dauber, a native of Franconia and a trained winemaker, is also involved. He owns a wine shop nearby and came up with the idea for the wine association. Classical grape varieties like Riesling or Silvaner, which thrive in northern Bavaria, are not well suited here, he says. Dauber relies on new grape varieties for the cooler and wetter Munich climate: “There are new cultivars, future vines or future wines. They have been specially bred for cooler regions like here in Munich. This is a Sauvignier-Gris grape, a fungus-resistant variety.”
The First “True” Munich Wine
There are already several viticulture projects around Munich. Grapevines have been growing at Lake Ammersee since 2014. In Dachau and Ismaning, farmers are also daring to grow grapes. All of them rely on fungus-resistant varieties such as Solaris, Muscaris, or Sauvignac. In Menzing, the first wine is now growing on Munich city territory.
A Small Adventure with Big Hopes
If all goes well, the first real harvest might take place in two or three years. But the first wine after more than 200 years back on Munich soil – that remains a small adventure for now. Much will depend on how the vines survive the next two winters. The now over 100 members of the wine association are eagerly anticipating, like Michael Kraus: “It’s really a lot of work, but a change from being a desk jockey. It’s fun to achieve something in a community. I’m looking forward to the yield later.”
Future Plans for the Menzing Vineyard
If things go well, the vineyard will continue to grow. The Menzing Wine Association has space for up to 3,000 grapevines. And even more ideas – the wine festival in the district is to grow, and perhaps there will be a Menzing Wine Queen next year. The project symbolizes a return to historical roots and a new chapter in Munich’s agricultural landscape.
Source: https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/in-muenchen-wird-wieder-wein-angebaut-nach-200-jahren-pause,VJ77cuw
