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As early as the 3rd century A.D. Roman emperors planted vineyards all over the country. By the 16th century Stuttgart had already become one of the largest wine-growing communities in the Holy Roman Empire. Today, the main wines grown in the Stuttgart region are the popular red Trollinger, Spätburgunder and the exquisite Lemberger, and spirited white wines such as Riesling, Kerner, Silvaner or Müller Thurgau. And the countless awards that Stuttgart wine growers receive year after year are proof of the fact that they are masters of their trade.
The nicest way to make the aquaintance of the local wines must surely be a visit to one of the many cheerful wine festivals held annually all over the Stuttgart region. Every year at the end of August connoisseurs and wine-lovers from all over the world meet at the popular "Stuttgart Wine Village", one of Germany`s biggest and best wine festivals.
In the heart of the city on the marketplace and Schiller Square near the Old Palace, outstanding wines are served in nostalgically decorated arbours. With over 350 different wines on sale at the Village, it`s hard to know what to choose - either in small tasting glasses, by the quarter-litre or for larger parties by the bottle. To go with the wine, Stuttgart`s restaurants offer a selection of Swabian specialities such as Kässpätzle (noodles with cheese), Maultaschen (pasta squares) or Schupfnudeln (potato noodles) with sauerkraut - to name but a few. A glass or two of wine and lots of music make for a sociable atmosphere and lots of good fun while visitors sit and chat happily to one another.
One of the finest views of Stuttgart`s vineyards and the idyllic Neckar valley can be enjoyed from the historic hill known as the Württemberg. In the 11th century this was the site of the castle of the founder of the House of Württemberg. In 1820, following the premature death of his beloved consort, the Grand Princess Katharina of Russia, King Wilhelm I erected a burial chapel here.
At the foot of the Württemberg in Stuttgart-Uhlbach the city of Stuttgart`s Wine Museum invites visitors to take a walk round two thousand years of viniculture. A complete cooper`s workshop, numerous pieces of equipment, certificates, maps and other documents are on display here. A good way to wind up a tour of the museum is with a tasting of some of the outstanding wines from the municipal vineyards in the museum`s tasting room.