Württemberg viticulture

Weinmann, Simon Conrad, keeper of the Münsingen cellar and governor of Besigheim (1633-1706). Weinkunst Buch. Item Vieh Arzneyen.

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Attractive, clean and well-legible manuscript on viticulture and wine making, but also brewing, with an extensive veterinary appendix. The autograph ownership written inside the front cover localises the manuscript: mentioned in the "Fürstlich Württembergisch Dienerbuch", Simon Conrad Weinmann first served as cellarer in Münsingen near Reutlingen before taking the office of deputy steward (governor) in Besigheim on the Neckar river from 1662 to 1683. Based on paleographical evidence, Weinmann would appear also to have been the compiler of this volume.

The title-page reads in full: "Von dem Wein, wie mann denselben ablassen, einlegen und bestätten solle, von seiner Pfleg und Wartt. Von mancherley Ringen, oder Spönen, im Herbst, oder sonsten im Ablaß zugebrauchen; von des Weins Gebrechen und Kranckheiten, auch wie mann ihn widerbringen, und Artzneyen: So dann wie mann allerhand Kräutterwein, Kappis, rohten Wein, Claret, und andere gewürtzte Wein: auch Essig machen möge. Item von Bier etc. und Zueberaitung der Fasß etc." Leaves 1-69 discuss viniculture (grape harvest, various methods of sulphurisation, wine faults and how to correct them, conservation, ageing, Malvasia wine, herbal wine, spice wine, etc.); leaves 70ff. treat the production of vinegar and mead; leaves 78ff. discuss beer; leaves 82ff. treat spirit of wine (based on the "Liecht der Natur", published in 1608 by the alchemist Johann Christoph Reinhardt), Marbach wine tincture, fortified wine, etc. The "wine index" is followed by a veterinary appendix: "Artzney Mittel für Roß, Rindvieh, Schwein, und Schaf" (treatments for cows that will not produce milk, against lung diseases and genital warts in horses, etc.). Some recommended treatments are of questionable usefulness.