With a length of 2,857 kilometres, the Danube is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga. Presumably, the Latin name "Danubius" is derived from the Indo-Germanic "dānu" (river). The name Danube applies from the union of the two source rivers Breg and Brigach, which rise in the Middle Black Forest in the southwest of Baden-Württemberg. In succession, it crosses the large basin landscapes of the Northern Alpine Foothills and Vienna Basin (upper reaches), the Pannonian Plain (middle reaches) and the Romanian Lowlands (lower reaches). In an extensive delta, the Danube flows into the Black Sea in Romania. On its course, it crosses the ten riparian states known as the Danube countries Germany, Austria, Slovakia (Dunaj), Hungary (Duna), Serbia (Dunav) and Romania (Dunărea), as well as touching on one side as a border river the countries Croatia (Dunav), Bulgaria (Danube), Moldova (Danube) and Ukraine (Danube).
Like all bodies of water, the Danube has a positive effect on viticulture or creates the prerequisites for it through the formation of often terraced valley slopes. On its banks or in its catchment area, as well as on several tributaries, there is significant viticulture in a total of five countries. In Germany, there is only a small vineyard near Bach on the Danube between Regensburg and Straubing; the wine is marketed under the name Regensburger Landwein. In Austria, these are the wine-growing areas of Carnuntum, Wachau and Wagram (area Klosterneuburg) crossed by the river, as well as the three wine-growing areas of Kamptal, Kremstal and Traisental named after tributaries of the Danube.
In Hungary, viticulture is practised almost everywhere along the Danube between Visegrád (Plintenburg) north of Budapest and the southern border. In Slovakia, the vineyards are mostly located along the three Danube tributaries Hron (Gran), Nitra (Neutra) and Váh (Waag) around the capital Bratislava (Preßburg). In Romania, the Danube forms the border in the Dobrogea region in the extreme southeast on the Black Sea. The Rotterdam-Constanța shipping route is the shortest navigable connection between the North Sea and the Black Sea via the Rhine, Main, Main-Danube Canal, the Danube and the Danube-Black Sea Canal. See other rivers of importance for viticulture under Waters.
Vienna: by Der Küchenteufel on Pixabay image (Aulandschaft)
Budapest: by Jo Stolp on Pixabay
Wachau/Dürnstein: picture by Gerhard Bögner on Pixabay
Navigation route: by Olahus - Own work, Public domain, Link
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Thorsten Rahn
Restaurantleiter, Sommelier, Weindozent und Autor; Dresden