In the town of Ehnen, on the Luxembourg side of the River Moselle, which marks the border between the Grand Duchy and Germany, stands a stout Baroque-style townhouse that used to belong to an eminent local vintner, and generations of his forbearers. Since 1978, it has served as this tiny country's wine museum, and is a tourist attraction in Luxembourg's wine-producing region.
The museum houses wine-making antiquities, bottles used over the centuries, and old documents and photographs. The premises also houses a cooperage that demonstrates how wine-storing barrels used to be made over the centuries, a massive old wine press, and a perfectly preserved pre-war weights-and-measures office.
The wine-making year is illustrated, season by season, with photographs, graphics and displays of tools and other implements.
Located a few metres from the riverbank, this building belonged for generations to the well-to-do Wellenstein family, but today is state-owned, as is the museum.
There is also a small vineyard next to the building, which showcases a number of local grape varieties. A well-visited spot in this leafy, rural part of the country, the Euro3 (HK$33.48) entry fee includes a sampling of local wine (or grape juice for youngsters). It is open from April 1 to October 31, and provides an excellent introduction to the wines of Luxembourg. Even veteran sommeliers can learn something new about the whites of Moselle, one of western Europe's most famous wine regions.
Along the Moselle, viticulture has been supported since this part of present-day Luxembourg was part of the Roman Empire.