Being in various countries, we definitely tried the local produce - cheese, meat, something interesting. And of course, it's not done without drinks.

I remember how this brought us to Poland. In Zakopane, I proudly asked at the "local vine" shop, in the room where we opened the bottle, my husband tried the liquid, rusted and said: "And not the figs on display!" Polish wine turned out to be made of black bits! Well, right, where did the grapes come from Poland? Although in Kaliningrad it is quite developed, but not on an industrial scale.
In Estonia, the climate is even worse. Therefore, when we discovered that in the center of the Old Town there was an Estonian drinking culture museum,
we soon realized - we went there!

Small museum. More, not so. Located in an old house, occupies very little space, but there are so many Unexpected, and very few people know - but in Estonia since the 30s of last century there, and wine making is quite serious.Luscher & Matiesen - the history of labor, success and death in the great political fire.

In 1910, Arnold Lyusher of Switzerland and Estonia Paul Matizen met in Moscow and arranged the production of Russia's most vodka drink. The events of late 1917 forced everyone to leave and leave Russia. In 1921 the joint business was revived in Tallinn, the home town of Paul Matizen. First they have just exported elite spirits - Barton & Guestier, Ginon Gordon, Johnnie Walker Whiskey and Edmund Dupuis Cognac. Partners started producing their own vermouth under license from Martini & Rossi.

In 1929, on top of the Toomppea hill, at Tiesenhausen's house, Estonia's largest wine production was established. Under the Luscher & Matiesen brand, the wine is produced - several varieties. Annual production of wineries within a few years reaches 400,000 liters. After several years of work, 18,000 wine buckets (more than 200,000 liters) were placed in the basement.And from what in Estonia it might make wine? Of course - from apples! Luscher & Matiesen is also the first in Estonia to produce fresh and unfermented apple juice. Paul Matizen's niece Dimitri Matizen specifically studied in Germany about the processing of these inexpensive products. Business grows, Kooning Street has its own bar and shop.In 1940 it was all ruined again. The Soviet Union captured little Estonia, Arnold Lusher went to his homeland, to Switzerland, Paul Matizen could not survive the collapse of his business, he died when the Soviet army entered Tallinn. Dmitry managed to escape to Sweden.

In 2009, 100-year-old Dmitry Matizen returned to his hometown. Luscher & Matiesen factory has been restored!

Besides traveling through the exhibits and tasting, we were offered a truly wonderful entertainment - by the smell it was necessary to guess what was hidden under the cups. This is for the actual "sucker"; As part of the development of smell and drinking culture. Mostly I love to kiss the kids.