{"id":2414,"date":"2019-04-28T06:17:37","date_gmt":"2019-04-28T05:17:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=2414"},"modified":"2026-02-23T15:42:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T14:42:05","slug":"vienna-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/vienna-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Wine from Vienna?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viennawine.jpg\" alt=\"Bottle of wine from Vienna\" class=\"wp-image-9578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viennawine.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viennawine-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>How much wine do you think the city of Vienna produces each year? A few bottles from some clever homeowner with a south-facing terrace? The answer is something like 2 million litres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The only large city in the world with a major wine-growing industry (I think)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Most wines are regional varieties, like <em>Gr\u00fcner Veltliner<\/em> or <em>Blauer Zweigelt<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Most wineries sell locally through a wine tavern (Heuriger)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/vienna-attractions-c60335\/tickets-for-schlumberger-cellar-world-fast-track-p977976\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Wine\" rel=\"sponsored\">tour of the Schlumberger wine cellars<\/a>*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/traditional-food-drink\/\">Food and drink in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The August <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/neustifter-kirtag\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"50947\">wine-growing festival<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/schlumberger-wine-cellars\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"71268\">Schlumberger tour &amp; tasting<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Viennese vineyards<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/vineyard.jpg\" alt=\"A vineyard\" class=\"wp-image-46855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/vineyard.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/vineyard-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A vineyard in one of the outer districts)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wine production has always played an important role in the Viennese economy. When Rudolf I laid siege to the city in 1276, for example, one of his more powerful threats was to destroy the local vineyards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, numerous (mostly small) wineries produce wine within the city limits on over 600 hectares of land. Which probably makes Vienna the only large city in the world with a significant wine growing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Austria&#8217;s main sparkling wine producer also has its cellars in the city; I can recommend doing one of their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/schlumberger-wine-cellars\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"71268\">public self-guided tours<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it doesn\u2019t stop at wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I last checked official statistics, Vienna grew around 75% of Austria&#8217;s cucumbers, 61% of the country&#8217;s aubergines, and 30% of the tomatoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The city even sells its own range of organic food (look for the <em>Wiener Gusto<\/em> brand).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But back to wine&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-slug-ids=\"pro977976,pro1037818\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_wine\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Since growing vines on roundabouts, roadsides and high-rise balconies can pose quite a challenge, you might wonder how all that wine production is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer is largely geographical luck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The outer districts in the north and west of Vienna stretch into sunny hillsides, where the soils are perfect for a diverse mix of grape varieties. Various climatic influences (particularly the course of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/mapsgeography\/the-danube\/\">Danube river<\/a>) ensure the right weather conditions, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And these vineyards really are within the city limits; nobody slipped a brown paper envelope to the cartographers to move the border out into wine territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The vineyard pictured above is one tram stop away from my home, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Viennese wine<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/winebottle.jpg\" alt=\"A wine bottle\" class=\"wp-image-46856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/winebottle.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/winebottle-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A bottle of Gr\u00fcner Veltliner)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>White wine makes up most of the harvest. While you\u2019ll find your Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, the commonest grape variety is a fairly local one called <em>Gr\u00fcner Veltliner<\/em>, popular in white wine spritzers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Red wines include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, but (again) another local variety is commonest: <em>Blauer Zweigelt<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, skeptics might question whether any of this is quality wine. After all, you don\u2019t see the word Vienna on too many wine lists in the gourmet temples of London, Paris and New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019d have to judge for yourself, but Viennese wines score well in national guides. And a <a href=\"https:\/\/kalkundkegel.com\/liste-2024\/\">2024 list<\/a> of the most influential wine producers in Austria (based on the opinions of top sommeliers ) included five from Vienna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The city also has a hotly-contested annual Wiener Weinpreis (Vienna Wine Awards) with formal evaluations by an independent jury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vineyard manager is even a legitimate career goal for a municipal employee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, for example, the city&#8217;s state-owned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/cobenzl-winery-open-day\/\">Cobenzl winery<\/a> took home first prize in the Wiener Weinpreis <em>Rote Cuv\u00e9es<\/em> category. In 2023, top place went to them in the <em>Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC Ortswein<\/em> category. In 2024, they had the best sparkling wine. And in 2025, the best <em>Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One reason you don\u2019t see too much Viennese wine outside of Vienna, though, is that the locals drink rather a lot of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most wineries sell direct to consumers at the vineyard or through their own Heuriger (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/heuriger\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30836\">wine tavern<\/a>). The Heuriger has a long tradition in the city (see below). Local restaurants and supermarkets also stock the regional wines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look, for example, for the <em>WienWein<\/em> label (literally ViennaWine): a collaboration between leading wine estates in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We even have a 4-day wine-growing festival: the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/neustifter-kirtag\/\">Neustifter Kirtag<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Heuriger<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/heurigersign.jpg\" alt=\"Sign pointing to a Heuriger\" class=\"wp-image-46199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/heurigersign.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/heurigersign-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(This way to a Viennese wine tavern)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The heuriger wine tavern is a particular Austrian and Viennese phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there are various types, the more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/heuriger\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30836\">traditional Heuriger<\/a> opens only seasonally, serving local food from a buffet in addition to home-produced wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A visit to a Heuriger makes for a rather pleasant evening in the summer months, and the ones in Grinzing, Neustift am Walde, and Nussdorf (all in the 19th district) are particularly popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a close look at the buffets to discover various local delicacies, too, like <em>Blunzen <\/em>(blood sausage or black pudding), <em>Grammelschmalz <\/em>(fried bacon bits and lard) and <em>Kummelbraten <\/em>(roast pork belly with caraway seeds).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All, um, part of a healthy balanced diet (possibly not).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMahlzeit\u201d, as they say before meals in Austria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about Viennese food and drink on my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/traditional-food-drink\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1654\">overview page<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How much wine do you think the city of Vienna produces each year? A few bottles from some clever homeowner with a south-facing terrace? The answer is something like 2 million litres. The Viennese vineyards (A vineyard in one of the outer districts) Wine production has always played an important role in the Viennese economy. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9578,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2414","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-eatingdrinking","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2414"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88850,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414\/revisions\/88850"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}