“miniWënzer”: Young explorers in the vineyard

Tending, pruning, vine-training, harvesting and more

What happens year-round in a vineyard? How are wine and grape juice made? Children aged eight to ten can join “miniWënzer” to find out everything they need to know about viticulture, from care to harvest and the big “Hunnefeier” at the end of the season. 

Winemaker, psychologist and teacher Laurence Duhr, who comes from a viticultural family, and outdoor adventure and tourist guide Jutta Kanstein spearhead the “miniWënzer” project that guides eight- to ten-year-olds through a vineyard five times a year. This is where the nature-loving duo teaches budding winemakers everything there is to know about tending vines and their environment. The children learn how to work the ground, tend the vines, pick grapes and extract juice. They also learn what other beings grow, crawl and fly around the vineyard and wall, and how important it is to protect nature. 

The vineyard is located in the Manternacher Fiels nature reserve, in the eastern part of Luxembourg. Participants are expected to actively pitch in and thereby experience wine and grape juice making with all five senses. They will also learn how diverse the vineyard and forest ecosystems are and what happens during a growing season. This project is a fun way for children to learn, to awaken their interest in nature and foster their understanding of biodiversity.

At the end of the course, at harvest time, there is even a big “Hunnefeier”, a tradition among winemakers, where everyone eats and drinks fresh grape juice together. 

The project leaders are working on expanding their offers to include other target clients such as diverse age groups and one-day events for tourists.