In 2026, all the marketing activities of the Vienna Tourist Board will come under the motto “Vienna Bites. Cuisine, Culture, Character.” The theme of food and drink will be presented on many levels – from gastronomy and agriculture to table culture and the arts. At the center is Viennese cuisine – the only cuisine in the world named after a city. Vienna stands out with its culinary identity and authentic offerings such as the Viennese Beisl (bistro) and the Heuriger (wine tavern). Vienna is also known for its wine growing within the city limits, which, at 600 hectares, has reached a considerable scale for a large city. This shapes the city’s image and its culture of enjoyment, something visitors to Vienna can experience for themselves during the wine harvest in autumn. 

Vienna loves white wine 

Vienna is the city of white wine. Eighty-five percent of the vineyards are planted with white wine varieties – especially Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and above all, the Wiener Gemischter Satz, a local specialty with a long tradition. The Wiener Gemischter Satz is a true success story: at least three different grape varieties must be planted together in a Viennese vineyard and processed into a single wine for the result to be called “Wiener Gemischter Satz”. After nearly fading into obscurity, Wiener Gemischter Satz now accounts for around 40 percent of the city’s total vineyard area. Wiener Gemischter Satz is also seen as a beacon of hope in times of climate change: extreme weather conditions do not result in a total loss of the wine harvest because the grape varieties have different ripening phases. Wiener Gemischter Satz has also held DAC status since 2013. And nearly half of all vineyards in Vienna are already farmed organically.

Viennese wine can be enjoyed in the numerous local restaurants in the city or at a Heuriger on the city’s outskirts. The Heuriger is a Viennese institution. The recipe for success: wine from the owners’ own vineyards, hearty local fare, a cozy atmosphere and a beautiful garden. You can also experience the Viennese Heuriger in modern interpretations. The Viennese Heuriger culture, along with the traditional Viennese coffee house culture and the Viennese sausage stand, is part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

Wine hikes 

The many city hiking trails, which often lead through vineyards to a Heuriger, are another great way to discover Vienna’s Heuriger culture. A special tip is the annual Vienna Wine Hiking Day. On September 27 and 28, 2025, visitors can explore Vienna’s wine landscape on a total of four different routes. At numerous stations along the way, Viennese winemakers offer samples from their cellars and kitchens during Wine Hiking Day. 

In autumn, ‘Sturm’ (young wine) is also a popular choice of drink. Sturm is grape juice that has just begun to ferment—right in the process of becoming wine. In Germany, it is known as Neuer Wein or Federweißer, or Roter for the red variety. During autumn hikes through Vienna's vineyards, you'll notice that almost every winery serves Sturm. A little Sturm etiquette with a wink: you should drink it with your left hand (leaving your right hand free for the wine that comes later). In addition, you toast each other with a cheerful ‘Mahlzeit!’ – but without clinking glasses. 

More and more wineries are also focusing on sparkling wines, crafted with true artisanal skill. Many of them are inspired by the distinctive flavor profile of Wiener Gemischter Satz, even though, due to strict DAC regulations, sparkling wines officially cannot use this designation. These sparkling wines are fresh, elegant and refined. And, just as in France, they are made according to the Méthode Traditionelle – the traditional bottle fermentation method. This is the most elaborate and refined way to add a sparkle to wine. 

Next Generation 

Young winemakers are also bringing fresh ideas and new energy to Vienna’s wine scene. This year, the three children of renowned winemaker Fritz Wieninger – Sophie, Kathi, and Max – are running a pop-up Heuriger under the name Wieninger.Next in the Viennese wine village of Stammersdorf, where they also serve their own wines. Through this project, the siblings are offering a fresh perspective on the traditional wine tavern experience.

Stefan Fuchs-Steinklammer, a member of the ‘Junge wilde Winzer’ (Young Wild Winemakers) association, will soon take over his parents’ winery with his brother Alexander – and they have already converted to organic farming. 

At Weingut Kroiss, located both in Vienna and in Illmitz, Burgenland, the 27-year-old daughter is now at the helm of the Viennese estate. Her personal signature is becoming increasingly evident there. The result is a Viennese-cool, sophisticated style, which comes into full bloom in the wines named after her, such as ‘Julia’.

In the latest episode of the award-winning YouTube series ‘Hungry for More Vienna’ created by Vienna Tourism, Michelin-starred chef Lukas Mraz (Mraz & Sohn) and his guest Jessica Tan (Co-Founder of Stoke Berlin & Wine Lover) go in search of Vienna’s wines. They visit Biohof N°5, where they find not only wine but also adorable Mangalitza pigs. They stop by winemaker Jutta Ambrositsch and end up at the Buschenschank Hans & Fritz, a project by winemaker Fritz Wieninger and star chef Juan Amador. They enjoy their final glass at Weinhaus Pfandler ‘Zu den Seligen Affen’, a wine tavern with its original 1950s interior. 

Further information:  

• Vienna Bites. Cuisine, culture, character: viennabites.wien.info
• Vienna City Hiking Trails: www.wien.gv.at/umwelt/wald/freizeit/wandern/wege/
• Vienna Wine Hiking Day on September 27 and 28, 2025: www.wien.info/en/food-vienna/viennese-wine-heurige/wine-hiking-day-365026
• Heuriger Addresses: www.wien.info/en/food-vienna/viennese-wine-heurige
• Wieninger.Next:  www.wieningernext.at
• Fuchs-Steinklammer: www.heuriger.co.at
• Julia Kroiss: https://kroiss.wine/collections/julia-ist-wien 

Show all pictures

1 /of 6

6 pictures

Contact

Helena Steinhart
Media Relations
+43 1 211 14-364
helena.steinhart@vienna.info