The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus (232-282) secured the Rhine and Danube lines in his battles against the Franks, Alemanni, Burgundians, Vandals and Goths. In 280, he lifted the ban imposed by Emperor Domitian (51-96) in 92 on planting vines in the provinces outside Italy. In the "Historia Augusta" it is mentioned: Gallis omnibus et Hispanis ac Brittannis hinc permisit, ut vites haberent vinumque conficerent (He allowed all Gauls, Spaniards and Britons to own vines and produce wine).
In Germany and Austria, he is regarded as the founder of viticulture and is even considered to be one of the gods of wine. In the 19th district of Vienna in Grinzing (where there are many wine taverns ), an alley is named after him. The mosaic shown in the picture on the left can be seen on a house there. His achievements have been exaggerated, but he promoted and positively influenced viticulture throughout Europe with various measures.
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The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena