The History of Viennese Wine

In Vienna, viticulture is probably as old as the city itself. Already, the Celtic settlement "Vedunia" and the Roman military camp of "Vindobona" cultivated grapes. The oldest document mentioning vineyards in Vienna dates back to the year 1132. In the late Middle Ages, grapes were cultivated in all Viennese districts. In 1784, the foundation of the present wine and Heurigen culture was laid down by Emperor Josef II., when he permitted wine-growers to sell food produced on their estates along with their home-made wine. Today, wine is grown on an acreage of 680 hectares in Vienna, predominantly on powerful soils of slate, gravel, loam and loess. The main grape variety is the Grüner Veltliner. In special single vineyards, as for instance the Nussberg, where the winery "Rotes Haus am Weingebirg" is situated, wines of outstanding finesse are created.