The Weinviertel – leisurely enjoyment
Vineyards, picture-postcard lanes lined with wine cellars, a wide variety of cycle paths, and great destinations set this region apart.
This region in the north-east of Austria is located between Vienna, the Slovak capital Bratislava, and the Czech towns of Brno and Znojmo. A bastion of fine cuisine and excellent wine, it is criss-crossed by an extensive network of cycle paths.
With around 13,000 hectares of vineyards, the Weinviertel is Austria’s largest winegrowing region. So it is no surprise that visitors to the region can experience and enjoy wine in all its rich variety here: with a meal, as part of a cycling tour that follows a special wine route, or in one of the region’s famous Kellergassen – picturesque lanes lined with wine cellars.
High season in the Weinviertel runs from Easter to Christmas!
The Weinviertel’s peak season runs all the way from Easter to Christmas. In spring and around Easter time the region really starts to come to life – both from the agricultural and the tourism point of view. The tradition of ‘in die Grean gehen’ is unique to the Weinviertel and is related to the walks taken in parts of Austria and Bavaria on Easter Monday, marking Jesus’ walk to Emmaus. In days gone by the winegrowers and their assistants would take to the fields to select which parts of the young growth on the vine to prune. But ‘in die Grean gehen’ has long since caught on outside the winegrowing fraternity. The Weinviertel wine tours are the perfect excuse for a trip to the Weinviertel. Sample the young wine and enjoy this beautiful part of Austria as it comes back to life in the springtime. In summer, it is time to enjoy the fruits of the Weinviertel: fine food in the form of a five-course gourmet meal featuring local produce, wine from the region and traditional music all come together at the Tafeln im Weinviertel event. On a balmy summer’s night, beautifully decorated trestle tables are set up outside in unusual locations and pretty little squares throughout the Weinviertel. Early autumn, when the hard work of bringing in the harvest begins for the winegrowers, signifies the start of what is probably the best time of year for aficionados: the warm autumn sum bathes the colourful landscape in golden light and the Lower Austrian wine autumn brings visitors to the gently rolling hills of the Weinviertel in their droves. From parties in the cellar lanes to wine masterclasses and wine harvest festivals: visitors can enjoy wine in all its rich variety at numerous memorable events along the Weinviertel Weinstrasse wine route. After the blessing of the wine in late autumn, the season draws to a close in the Weinviertel with the Weinviertler Advent programme in the run up to Christmas. Festively decorated cellar lanes and beautifully arranged Advent markets laden with traditional handcrafted wares bring visitors to the Weinviertel to enjoy the most magical time of the year, far from the crowds.
Discover the Weinviertel
The region can be explored by bike or on foot on the Weinviertel Jakobsweg – the area’s very own 153km-long section of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. A packed calendar of events ensures that there is always something special going on, whatever the time of year. From Weinviertel wine tours to the Long Night of the Cellar Lanes and In Velo Veritas, a cycling tour on classic racing bikes – there is something for everyone!
