Press Kit the Rubin Carnuntum Wine Estate
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PRESS KIT THE RUBIN CARNUNTUM WINE ESTATE Information: Wine&Partners, 0043 1 369 79 900 Index 1. The Origins of „Carnuntum“ 1 2. Ancient Carnuntum 2 3. Wine Growing in Ancient Carnuntum 3 4. Carnuntum in the 20th Century 5 5. Viniculture in 21st Century Carnuntum 7 6. The Association of Rubin Carnuntum Vintners 8 7. Carnuntum Terroir 11 8. CARNUNTUM EXPERIENCE 13 9. Wineries, Brands and Distribution 14 10. General Information 16 1. The Origins of „Carnuntum“ The wine growing area of Carnuntum is situated east of Vienna, just south of the Danube River. Here are three hill locations devoted to viticulture: the Leithagebirge, the Arbesthaler Hügelland and the Hundsheimer Berge. The stony chalk and loess soils together with the climatic influences of the nearby Pannonian plain and the Neusiedlersee, or Lake Neusiedl, provide ideal conditions for wine growing. The name of Carnuntum actually refers to the Roman colony that was located in what is now Petronell- Bad Deutsch-Altenburg. In this area, numerous excavations in recent times have turned up ancient amphitheater and temple ruins that defer to the time when the first grapevines were planted here. The symbol of Carnuntum - Austria’s most famous Roman landmark - is the Heidentor. Although its name refers to a city “door” or “gate”, it actually was built as a monument to Emperor Constantius II (354-361 A.D.). 1 2. Ancient Carnuntum Founded as a fortified winter camp in 6 A.D., Carnuntum developed over the next few centuries into one of the most important cities of the Roman empire. Built at the intersection of the Amber and Limes roads, this budding city became a Danube metropolis at the end of the 2nd century A.D. Under Emperor Marc Aurel, Carnuntum served as a Roman imperial residence between 171 and 173 A.D. And in 193 A.D., Septimius Severus was proclaimed emperor here. Ancient Carnuntum extended over an area of approximately ten square kilometers, which today makes up the municipality of Petronell-Carnuntum and Bad Deutsch Altenburg. During its golden age in the 3rd century A.D., Colonia Septimia Aurelia Antoniniana Carnuntum boasted 50, 000 inhabitants. Indeed, Carnuntum was a cultural melting pot. Carnuntum: Important Dates 6 A.D. Campaign led by the Roman general Tiberius against the Markomannen. First mentioning of the name Carnuntum by the historian Velleius Paterculus. Around 40 A.D. Legion XV of Apollinaris builds a fortified military camp, which was completed in stone under Emperor Vespasian. 103-107 A.D. Carnuntum becomes the capital of Upper Pannonia (Pannonia Superior), residence of the provincial governor. Around 124 A.D. Granting of the municipal law (Minisipium Aelium Carnuntum) by Emperor Hadrian. 171-173 A.D. Carnuntum serves as the headquarters of Emperor Marc Aurel during the war against the Markomannen. April 9th, 193 A.D. Lucius Septimius Severus, governor of Upper Pannonia, is proclaimed emperor by his troupes. Shortly afterward, the city is elevated to Colonia Seoptimia Aurelia Antoniniana Carnuntum. 260-261 A.D. Publius C. Realianus is proclaimed emperor by the troupes. Coins bearing his impression are found only in Carnuntum. November 11th, 308 A.D. Meeting of the emperors held in Carnuntum: Diocletian, Galerius and Maximian try to preserve the tetrarchy system of government. 364-375 A.D. Emperor Valentinian I uses Carnuntum as the base for battling the German Quaden. Renovation of the fortifications of the Danube Limes. 400 A.D. The Romans begin to leave Carnuntum. Around 430 A.D. Rome gives up the province of Pannonia. Carnuntum is mentioned for the last time in the Romans´ official schematism (Notitia Dignitatum). 2 3. Wine Growing in Ancient Carnuntum Carnuntum´s historical heritage not only encompasses ancient Rome, but also an excellent wine culture. Many archaeological findings - excavated remains of structures and buildings; changes in soil patterns; various tools; containers for supplies and drink; stone relief images and drawings, and ancient plant residues - provide important clues to the wine culture of that period. Wine in the proper sense comes from the vine species, Vitis vinifera. According to the most recent research findings, the origins of the species as a wild vine date to 5000 B.C Near East. However, in the 2nd century B.C., the culture of wine growing spread from the Near East to Crete, Greece and northern Italy. Also, the Greeks brought wine culture to southern Italy, Spain, northern Africa and the south of France. And in Celtic times, the Greeks and Etruscans brought wine knowledge to western, central and northern Europe. These “introductions” were based generally on trade relationships. The wine and valued drinking vessels were imported from the Mediterranean area. Traces of wine culture were revealed in the 1st century A.D. as well: archaeological findings in the Pannonian region indicate that wine growing was at hand there. For the Romans, wine growing was the most profitable sector within the agriculture and livestock economy. In fact, wine growing was expanded northward. But this also meant that technical changes were required for production; the vines were exposed to rougher climatic conditions (especially frost), which in turn demanded more labour-intensive care in the vineyards. Emperor M. Aurelius Probus (276-282 A.D.) was continuously credited with creating a true wine culture in the region. In fact, he eased many of the legal wine growing restrictions that had been previously imposed in the northern and western provinces. It is difficult to say which grape varieties existed in ancient Carnuntum. But there was probably a mix of white and red varieties (vinum album, vinum atrum). During harvests, grapes were picked fully ripened, and by hand – as well as with the use of a knife - and collected in baskets. Many of the vine knives, made of iron, were found in Carnuntum. These can be seen today in the Archaeological Museum Carnuntinum, in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg. Also numerous other tools, such as spades, pickaxes and heavy axes, were found in Carnuntum. The best grapes were used as table grapes and came to the markets in special baskets. But the majority of the grapes from the harvests were transferred from the baskets into great tubs, and then brought to press houses. There, the grapes were tread upon by naked feet in the tubs. 3 This procedure is called, in Latin, "calcare" (to tread), and was adapted into German as "keltern". Of course, necessary hygiene measures were taken in the foot-treading tubs. Finally, the third step in the process was the pressing of the treaded grapes - in a press. After the pressing, the must was stored in rounded clay fermentation vessels, which were closed by flat lids with handles. They were then stored in the gardens or the cellars. In the alpine areas as well as in Pannonia, mainly wooden barrels were used. In Spring, the wine was filled into amphoras. These were closed with clay-stoppers, and sealed with plaster or paste (although cork stoppers had been used increasingly since the 1st century A.D.). Each amphora and storage jug usually had a painted label that contained information about the grape variety and in which year the wine had been pressed. Because wine was considered a basic nourishment product for all levels of the population, it was therefore one of the main trading goods of Imperium Romanum. There were several wine traders, many of them known by name through inscriptions. Transport of the wine was made by ship or, otherwise, over land. Stone monuments lay testament to the trade, showing impressive representations of wine ships, wagons and carts – all loaded with barrels. 4 4. Carnuntum in the 20th Century The number and structure of the wine growing operations in Carnuntum have changed dramatically over the last 100 years. Initially, all winemakers were primarily agricultural and livestock farmers. But for their wine production, barrel wine dominated, with white wines representing nearly 85% of production in 1900 (except for the Spitzerberg wines, which were mainly of the red Blaufränkisch variety). At around 1900, mostly white wine was produced. Müller Thurgau, Neuburger, Österreich Weiß (Austrian White), Grüner Sylvaner and Muskateller represented the roster of white varieties. In the vineyards, the stake training method was dominant. However, it was common for several grape varieties to be planted within a single vineyard; these grapes were vinified together, resulting in the production of “Gemischter Satz” wines. The municipal capital, Bruck/Leitha, was an important wine town at the turn of the 20th century. Until 1850, all sites on the Leithagebirge through to Jois in the Burgenland province were planted with vines. However, on the Lagerberg, an imperial military training area was set up, taking over a vast portion of the vineyards. Still, around 100 Heurige, or wine taverns, could be found in the twon in the 1880s. After World War II - in the 1950s, Carnuntum´s wine economy was near ruin. The sales were very low, and a wine cooperative was founded in the Prellenkirchen area in order to take over production. While agriculture began to experience more and more mechanization and yields were on the upswing, labour intensification in the vineyards as well as price decreases led to more and more wineries ceasing production. In the little village of Berg, located on the southwestern edge of the Hundsheimer Berge, there were a total of 100 ha of vineyards and 107 wineries in operation. Today, only 25 ha. of vineyards and three winemakers operate in this area. Another wine town, Prellenkirchen, boasted 1, 000 ha. of vineyards at the turn of the century. By 1950, the total of vineyard ha. shrunk to 350. Today, only 125 ha. of vineyards are cultivated.