I'll drink to that where we get behind the scenes of the beverage business.

I'm Levy Dalton.

I'm Erin Scala and here's our show today. Oh, A little less than 2,000 years ago, Roman Emperor Demetian ordered vines ripped up throughout the Roman Empire and limited

plantings to encourage people to plant more grains so that Rome would increase its

food supply. About 200 years later Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus retracted that degree and vineyards began creeping

over the Alps and into Austria. Around 800 AD, Charlemagne jump-started winemaking. He encouraged vineyard

expansion and spread healthy winemaking and viticultural practices throughout

the region. Around the 11th century, monastic plantings increased,

and monks helped establish the modern day Thurman region

and terraces in the Vachau.

Also during this time period, the royal family moved their base to Vienna

and Viticulture became popular for the everyday person within the city. By the

1300s Vienna was a major trade port along the Danube, and in 1359 we see our first

wine tax levied on the record books.

This was a 10% tax, and importers and exporters also found that they had to pass through tolls to transport wine.

For the 50 years before World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was one of the most culturally influential entities in the world and the

contributions of this entity to our modern day society are far-reaching in ways that are difficult

to fathom.

During this period thousands of kilometers of railway track

were lined, which changed European trade forever. Cultures collided along the

roads and in major cities throughout the empire, Vienna was at the hub of it all.

Architecture and city planning were re-crafted in Vienna.

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