Wine in the City

Until 30 Nov 2005. Not many European capitals have 700 hectares of vineyards within the city boundaries and this is what makes Viennas annual wine festival so special. Coinciding with the end of the grape harvest and the presentation of the new Junger wiener, this celebration of wine culture offers guided walks through the vineyards, visits to top wine cellars, wine tasting and traditional Martini goose dinners. There are also jazz brunches and readings to accompany your glass of classic Viennese Riesling, white Burgundy or Blauer Zweigelt. The best place to enjoy Viennese wine is in a traditional wine tavern or heuriger, which can be identified by a spray of pine branches hanging outside the door, and a sign which reads Ausgsteckt this means that here you will be served real home-made wine from Viennese vineyards. The word heuriger also describes the wine from the previous harvest, which automatically becomes old wine on St Martins Day on 11 Nov. During the festival heurigers are offering a free glass of wine with meals costing over 10 for diners presenting vouchers from the Vienna & Wine brochures, available at hotels and from the Tourist Information office at 1, Albertinaplatz, 09.00-19.00.