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“Heuriger“ is a name for the last wine harvest of the year, which on November 11 always becomes “the old wine.” It is also the name for the wine bars that serve wine cultivated in Vienna and the bordering communities. The Viennese Heurige wine comes from vineyards within the city, making it the only opportunity world-wide to enjoy delicious wines—be it Riesling, Weissburgunder or Blauer Zweigelt—in precisely the place where they are grown. The wine region around Vienna has exceptionally fruity and elegant white wines. However, in recent years, Viennese vintners have been cultivating an increasing number of red wines as well, first and foremost the above-mentioned Blauer Zweigelt. If one hears the word “Sturm,” which translates to “Storm,” the likelihood is that no one is speaking of the weather, but rather of a somewhat sweet, partially fermented grape cider. While delicious, this drink is to be enjoyed with care, as its sweet taste lends itself to overindulgence!
Vienna is a city of both wine and of music, and is therefore home to a famous “Heurigen Quartet,” the Brothers Schrammel, who created their own sound using two violins, a guitar and an accordion. They have written a number of “Wienerlieder” (songs about Vienna), the most famous being “Wien bleibt Wien” (Vienna will always be Vienna). Speaking of Wienerlieder, these are a great Heurigen tradition. Almost every Heurigen hires performers who play these traditional Viennese songs. If one is lucky, one may be witness to nostalgic Viennese wine drinkers putting on their best opera voices and singing along whole heartedly with the musicians, longing for an idealized Vienna that perhaps never existed.
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