I didn't like it here
in the beginning, but
then I realized that I
work where other people
come for holidays.
In the MUNCHIES Guide to
Moselle I will take you
with me into the world of
the Moselle Riesling and
betray a fraction of my
knowledge about this
multi-faceted wine.
By visiting different
wineries I hope to give
you some insights
By visiting
different wineries I
hope to give you some
insights into how
wine is made here.
I'll taste my way through
their cellars and let
you in on what makes this
wine one of the world's
most extraordinary.
But I won't just
be drinking-I will
be feasting on regional
specialties with colorful
characters in traditional
establishments.
I will take part in
a driven hunt I will take
part in a driven hunt;
where wild boar, deer and
foxes are hunted to
protect this region's
most important
cultural asset,
the Riesling grape.
Behind me is the most
beautiful wine region in
the world, the Moselle.
Wine has been produced
here since Roman times
and we are visiting one
of its oldest towns,
Neumagen-Dhron.
I'm here to discover how
the people I'm here to
discover how the people
and winemakers live and
how they make wine.
In order to understand
this I will go back to
the beginning and
see how the Romans
used to make wine here.
I will also find out
how the Romans began to
develop this culture.
Neumagen-Dhron is marked
by numerous artifacts
pointing back to the
presence of the Romans
two thousand years ago.
It's not just one
replica after another,
like a wagon with
a barrel on it or
an old drinking fountain.
Tourism here relies
heavily on this history
with multiple guest
houses, cafes and
restaurants all within
100 meters of each other.
A huge number of tourists
are expected over
the summer.
All hell breaks loose,
in summer it takes half
an hour just to drive
from here to the bakery.
Once the Romans had
established a peaceful
reign, the warships
were converted to other
functional uses,
such as transporting
goods along the Moselle.
This is a wine ship, with
dragons at both ends.
A replica of it is now
going to take me on
a trip down the Moselle.
The Roman history of
this area is not just
represented by
the artifacts but
also by the inhabitants,
who passionately keep
this culture alive.
I'll do it up nice and
tight to keep
everything inside.
But there's
nothing in there!
How should I wear this?
Left means that
you're single,
center means you're
a virgin and right.
I'll wear mine to
the left then!
You never know who
we'll bump into!
I've taken off
my ring too, so.
How do you get to be
a Roman on this ship?
We were voted in.
People voted for you?
We were asked by
the people to represent
the culture of
the village.
We were asked by the
people of the village to
represent the culture
of the village.
On which occasions do
you sail the boat?
Groups of us will be
booked when there
are events or holidays.
It's important that
we're present.
We going to the ship now,
as oarsmen and superiors.
I'm an oarsmen,
obviously.
It's a nice day,
the sun is out.
That's good for rowing.
I hope we're
going downstream,
that will make
things easier.
The men have brought
some wine with them so
I don't think it
will be too tough.
We're setting off!
This will be fun!
Precisely because
there's wine!
We are about to
start rowing.
We'll be standing
instead of sitting.
The rowing starts to take
its toll after a while
but we're lucky because
we're going with the wind
and current.
The route is
unbelievably beautiful;
wine terraces left and
right.
The slopes are very
steep; the winemakers
have a tough job.
I suppose that's where
the Moselle gets its
special characteristics-
I suppose that's where
the Moselle gets its
special characteristics,
the roots dig deep to
hang on to the slopes and
take up the flavors
from the ground.
This scraggly ground
makes Moselle Riesling so
unique and special.
We just take care of
what the Romans let us.
Cheers.
It's got some
rough edges.
It's round but
certainly dry.
We've just arrived back.
We'll disembark now and
set off for Piesport.
I had a great
time with you.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Danke schon.
Enjoy the rest of your
time on the boat!
It was a lot of fun!
I've just arrived
in Piesport, where
I'll help press wine
in a Roman wine press.
Salve!
Salve!
Just now I was surrounded
by men, now by women.
How delightful!
We have a guest!
If you want to drink with
us later then you will
have to become a slave
and help us press
the grapes!
Slave is a role that
I'm familiar with.
Wonderful, thanks!
We are almost
ready to start,
the slaves have gathered
most of the harvest.
We just have to throw in
the last few baskets and
then we'll begin.
I'd like the knot
on the left so
that you all know
i'm still available.
Yes, on the left!
And press!
It's such a cool feeling!
You can really feel
the grapes bursting and
the juice coming out.
My second comment is
that it's freezing cold!
It's not as easy
as it looks!
You couldn't do this
drunk- you'd just fall
over!
Do any of you know
a song we could sing?
Maybe the women could
sing us a song!
It's very slippery!
O Mosella!
You have so
much wine, O Mosella!
Do you drink
it all alone?
O Mosella!
Do you drink it
all alone?
In your Garden of Eden
there's wine growing for
everyone.
With the help of gravity,
the juice has run from
the vat up here
to down there.
Just the pomace
is still up here,
the remaining grapes,
seeds, skins and stems.
We will gather them and
throw them into
a mechanical press.
What happens now?
My colleagues are raising
the pressing beam.
Then we'll set
up the press and
start the next pressing.
Let's do it!
The river is
starting to flow!
Very good.
The hard work
was worth it!
Why is the stone
hovering?
This stone
weighs one ton.
The stone on the other
side weights two tons.
And now that
moves upwards.
A very interesting
construction.
Now it's time for
the foot wash,
which I am looking
forward to enormously.
The men's feet will be
washed by the women.
This water's cold too!
There's no
alcohol in it but
it's still
very drinkable.
What will happen
to the juice now?
In Roman times it would
have been loaded onto
a ship but
today we ferment it here.
It will go into
a barrel and
we'll ferment it using
modern methods so
that we can serve it to
our guests next year.
This sweetness that
I can taste now,
will that disappear?
Yes, that will disappear
in the process.
It will have
changed to alcohol.
I thought it was
almost over but
it just keeps coming!
It seems it's worth
all this effort.
Marvelous.
Salve!
Salve!
Cheers!
It's trashy,
Moselle-style!
I'm going in.
Good day to you, sir!
Do you need
some strength?
That would be great,
I'm very hungry!
What do you have?
Traditionally in
the Moselle,
you should eat
Flammkuchen.
Would you like to
see how it's made?
Yes, great!
So,
we are going to make two
Flammkuchen; the first
one is traditional
with sour cream,
Black Forest bacon and
a little cheese on top.
We also have a second
variety with
spring onions.
That one is heartier.
And for dessert you can
order one with apples,
Calvados, and carmelized
icing sugar on top,
it's the sweet variation.
You can eat that once
you've tried the others
spread the sour cream
equally across the whole
base.
What is the sour
base made from?
It's made from
wheat flour.
We don't use much yeast;
we add a little bit of
milk and
a little water, and
that's everything
that goes into it.
Why is it called
"Flammkuchen" (flame
cake)?
Because it's baked
at a very high heat.
Now I'm adding the bacon.
You can eat it like too!
It tastes very good.
You can get
addicted to it!
A handful of
spring onions.
Spread them up
to the edges, so
the everybody gets some.
Nobody should starve or
go thirsty here-
be generous!
It's like a pizza.
Hey, careful!
That's no pizza.
I forbid you from
calling it a pizza.
Never call it
a Moselle pizza.
It's an original
Flammkuchen.
This is wafer-thin,
a pizza is much fatter.
This is how you eat it,
with your hands.
No cutlery.
A nice wine alongside it.
Eating these with a lot
of people is a great way
to spend an evening.
You can keep them
coming the whole time,
one after another and
when you're ready for
dessert you can
eat a sweet one.
Just like in
a swingers club!
I'm now in
Trier.
One thing the Romans did
well was entertainment.
The people were pacified
through bread and
circuses.
One form of entertainment
was provided by
gladiators.
Since we are in
a Roman stronghold,
there is of course a
gladiator training center
which I will now visit.
Wow.
Now, that's a combination
of modern and antique!
Down there are the
gladiator trainers.
I think he's going
to destroy me.
Before we fight,
I need to show
you how it works.
You go for the head,
then the thigh.
Head.
Thigh.
Now move in
the other direction!
Very nice.
Come on, keep going!
Hit him, hit him,
hit him!
Keep pushing harder!
Go easy on me!
Good!
One more time!
Okay, that's
the technique.
There's so
much coordination between
the different grips.
I feel like
a total beginner.
I just stand
there all clumsy.
I have to think about
how I move my body,
my legs and at the same
time I have to think
about my hand and
the right move so
that it can be effective.
And the right move so
that it can be effective.
Now without thinking,
put on some armor.
We can talk about how
it feels afterwards!
I don't know if we have
insurance for this!
Quite easy peasy.
Like this?
Billy vs.
Animus!
What the fuck?
It fucking hurts!
Just 10 more
seconds.
Keep going!
Another round?
Okay, fine.
One more.
My nose!
You win more money for
that!
It's just a cut
on your nose.
Now that's a cool sport!
You've fought hard,
you've sweat.
And you must be
asking yourself how
our bodies are so
well-trained.
That's not just down
to the sport, but
also down to what we eat.
Every now and then we eat
classic Roman dishes-
I can show you what
they taste like and
how to make them.
That's a very
modern salt mill.
It's got headlights!
So, what are you
preparing?
There is a main
course of pulses.
It's a Roman meal made
from many pulses,
vegetables and barley.
This is the main course
that the gladiators
always used to eat.
On your left arm you have
an Asian-style tattoo.
As a young girl I
always wanted a tattoo.
Back then it was out of
the question especially
in a village.
Then when I was 51 I
started with my back and
then I got my arm done.
And then I got
my arm done.
You started
with your back?
Yes, with the tattoos.
You have some on
your back too?
Yes, and on my foot!
Really.
Is this like a soup?
No, it will be
more solid.
It will be more
like a nice,
Gloop!
The Romans ate a lot of
wheat and vegetables.
Meat was very
expensive but
it still gives
you energy.
What are you doing
with the cake?
It's still warm and
I glazed it with honey.
Now I'm adding
poppyseeds.
Now I'm adding
poppy seeds.
Okay.
Where do you see your
work taking you in 5 or
10 years?
I would like us to become
the best gladiator
school in the world.
And I'd like
Trier to become the main
destination for
people wanting to see
gladiator fights.
Thank you for the great
battle today and
thank you for
not destroying me.
And I thank you for
the food.
My pleasure.
Enjoy the rest
of your evening.
Great.
Bye.
Then I'll go back
down to the cellar.
Great wines start
with the grapes.
That's why in the next
episode I will go
grape picking with
the extravagant
Ernie Loosen and walk
around the wine terraces
with Katharina Prum.
