The clergyman Johann Rasch (1540-1612) studied at the University of Wittenberg, but remained true to the Catholic faith. In 1570, he became organist at the Schottenstift in Vienna and wrote one of the oldest wine books in the German language, which was first published in 1580 under the title "Weinbuch: Von Baw, Pfleg und Brauch des Weins" and can be considered a classic of wine literature. It contains numerous rules, regulations and advice on viticulture in general, cellar management, wine storage and wine tasting.

The book also describes the production of beer, brandy, vinegar, mead and Vermouth. A separate chapter is dedicated to the flavoured herbal wines that were popular at the time and exotic drinks such as deer tongue wine, rose wine and rosemary wine are mentioned. Rasch also drew on the works of Arnaldus de Villanova (1240-1311) and quotes the ancient Roman author Palladius.
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