Medieval occupational name for the person responsible for viticulture (also Weinzürl or Weinzettl) with extensive duties. The Weinzierl was employed by the landlord and had to supervise the cultivation, the care of the vineyards and the grape harvest. He hired the vineyard workers (Hauer-Knechte), distributed their work and responsibilities and had to keep a constant eye on things. The duties of the workers were strictly regulated and supervised by the Weinzierl. The wine-growing regulations issued by the Austrian Habsburg Duke Albrecht II in 1352 contain detailed provisions on leasing, harvest regulations, remuneration and the guardianship of the vineyards (see also guardians of the vineyards). The workers had to enter the vineyards at sunrise and were not allowed to leave them until sunset. Only later were they allowed to interrupt their work by taking a meal break. The farm labourers were mostly so-called day labourers, that is, they were paid daily after the end of work in the evening.
After the first failed Turkish siege of the city of Vienna in 1529, the Lower Austrian provincial government issued a new strict "Order for Hauerknecht and Vineyard Workers": No farm labourer was to leave his landlord or vineyard before the grape harvest without good cause; offenders were to be dangerously confiscated, ordered to pay damages to the landlord or vineyard owner, and where the latter demanded it, to swear an oath to continue working; in the event of repetition, however, they were to be sentenced to up to two pounds pfennigs or a corresponding corporal punishment.
This ordinance regulated the hours of work per day, the duration of the noon period and the hourly wage, as well as containing numerous prohibitions. For example, it was forbidden to enter the vineyard with a weapon, to blaspheme, to indulge in gambling, to drink wine at the workplace or to take vines with you. Immediate punishments (including corporal punishment) were provided for non-compliance. See other old winegrowing professions and customs under winegrowing customs and today's functions under winegrowing education.
Winemaker: Professions of this world
Weingartman: Nuremberg House Books, Public domain, Link
