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Transcription: [00:17:18]
The castle gates closed on this world of make-believe. But, it's nice to know that here we can step back into the past in this jet age.
[00:17:29]
When autumn comes, it's time for the harvesting of the grapes. And some of Austria's richest vineyards lie here in the eastern province of Burgenland, which was a part of Hungary right until 1920.
[00:17:40]
The vineyards stretch right to the now foreboding borders of Hungary.
[00:17:44]
That's the land you can see in the distance beyond the trees.
[00:17:49]
Burgenland is least known by the tourists. It's so different from the rest of Austria, with it's flat terrain and Hungarian-type people that you almost feel as though you're in another country.
[00:17:59]
With so much traffic out here, I guess this harvester felt it was necessary to ease the congestion.
[00:18:07]
This families vineyard is located between the villages of Mirvish and Rust, which for years have produced some of Austria's finest wine.
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In fact, the excellent quality of this wine played an interesting role in history.
[00:18:20]
Back in the 17th century, this territory was controlled by the Esterhazy overlords.
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The people wanted to be free of their jurisdiction. So, presented their rulers with 800 barrels of their choicest wines.
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The Esterhazy's liked the wines so much, they did grant the people their freedom. And still today the village of Rust is called a free city, having special governmental privileges.
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[00:18:50]
In the village of Mirvish, located right on the Hungarian border, the people can be seen putting the grapes away in their basements.
[00:18:57]
Right from here we can see the forbidding watch towers with their armed guards.
[00:19:02]
We were warned though not to try to photograph them, as it might be very dangerous. But, the people don't think about them now, with all the work at hand.
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Soon this man's grapes will be the rich muscatel that Mirvish is so famous for.
[00:19:16]
When the harvesting's over, the people feel like celebrating, and wine festivals breakout all over the village country.
[00:19:23]
A few miles east of Vienna is the famed Abbey Town of Klosterneuberg lying at the foot of the vine-covered hills.
[00:19:30]
And it's here where one of Austria's most popular wine-fests takes place.