Rottweil, Germany

5/23/2019

Rottweil, Germany

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Recently, we brought home Trixie our four month old female Chiweenie puppy. Much to her chagrin, I brighten up her masculine black & tan color fur by dressing her in girlie girl clothes as not to confuse her with a male. If Trixie was born around St Patty’s day, I probably would have named her, after the black & tan beer, Guinness. Speaking of black and tan colored dogs, the Rottweiler dog comes to mind and our 2016 visit to the Southwestern German town named Rottweil, where the dog breed Rottweiler has its roots. The quaint town of Rottweil is located between the Black Forest & Swabian Alps nestled between the Baden & Wurttemberg wine regions.

The Rottweiler dog’s journey through Germany has a fierce beginning dating back to the Roman Empire’s Pax Romana and was essential to the Roman Army; the dog’s importance made no exception during the Medieval era. During medieval times, the dogs were well known in Germany as “Rottweiler Metzgerhund”, meaning the butcher’s dogs. The Rottweilers were the butcher’s essential helpers during the towns’ busy market days. Because of the dogs’ massive body power, one of their duties included pulling heavy laden carts loaded with slaughtered butchered meat from town to town. Another important job was protecting the butcher’s/merchant’s money by hanging the money purse securely around the dog’s neck to protect it from thieves.

The medieval town of Rottweil is the oldest town around both Baden and Wurttemberg wine regions. Baden is Germany’s third largest wine region, yet, less known on export markets and the Wurttemberg wine region has been historically known for producing red wines. Like other European wine making and marketing practices, Germany’s winemaking cooperatives are a common practice.

My most memorable experience in that wine region was my visit to Würzburg Residence, an Aristocratic palace. Undoubtedly, Germany is well known for their Rieslings also our wine tasting included their local red wines. The Würzburg Residence guided tour included the beautiful frescoes by Italian Venetian Mannerist painter Tiepolo followed by a wine tasting in the cellar.