• Wien Mitte the Mall - The tour meeting point is Vienna’s ‘Wien Mitte’ railway station (09:10 between Apr-Oct & 09:40 from Nov-Mar). Once we’ve met and introduced ourselves, we’ll board a train southwards (approx 30 minutes) to the heart of the Vienna Woods.
• Vienna Woods - Summer
  We begin our hike in the lovely spa town of Baden, once a favourite country retreat of Beethoven. We meander through the classic village centre and its gorgeous parks before hiking along forest trails towards a magnificent elevated viewpoint which overlooks the Vienna basin & the Wienerwald in all directions. This spot alone is a photographer’s dream! We then enter the vineyards, wandering through row upon row of lush green vines. As reward for our efforts, we’ll take a break sat among the vines for an open-air wine tasting.

Winter
Our train brings us directly to the vineyards of the Thermal Region and to one of Austria’s oldest wine making institutions, steeped in middle-age tradition and history. We’ll discover how the monastic orders became wine pioneers of their time, develop an understanding of what has shaped the Austrian wine landscape over time, and consider in what direction it may be moving forward…we’ll discuss this during our first wine tasting of course!

• Gumpoldskirchen - Summer & Winter
  We then continue to the picturesque wine village of Gumpoldskirchen to have lunch at one of its traditional Austrian wine taverns. The main highlight of the day is an afternoon wine tasting, which takes place at one of the village’s finest producers and is led by a local winemaker. This tasting allows for plenty of opportunities to ask questions regarding how wine is produced to give an intimate insight into the challenges facing vintners today.

The tour ends with a short train ride back to the city center. You’ll arrive to your hotel in plenty of time to freshen up before dinner, the opera, the theater, or the concert! Whichever it is, you’ll sleep well that night!

• Extensive wine tasting with Q&A and winery tour
• Scenic 9km guided hike through forests and vineyards (summer)
• Live tour commentary in English by a native speaker

• Lunch

Lower Austria is the birthplace of Austrian wine, and we invite you to discover the stunning forests and vineyards of the Thermal Region, positioned to the south of Vienna. Dotted with charming wine villages and distinctive local varietals, our tours encapsulate the best of Austrian wine directly from farm to glass. During the summer, we’ll undertake a journey through the Alpine foothills via wooded paths and vibrant vineyards on their sun-drenched southern slopes. We’ll pause along the way to take in the majestic views spanning the treetops of the forest and the Vienna basin towards Hungary & Slovakia, before culminating in one of Austria’s oldest wine villages for a refreshing lunch and a visit to a winery. In the colder months, the focus shifts from the hike to an exploration of two wineries, delving into the rich history of wine-making in the Thermal Region and meeting a local winemaker to understand contemporary wine production - naturally, all this will occur as we savor some of the finest wines the region has to offer!

• The summer hike is accessible for most people, with regular breaks built into the itinerary. However, please note that this tour is not suitable for people with mobility issues. While the majority of the winter itinerary is indoors, there is a gentle 20 minute walk through flat vineyards as we move between villages, so do dress warmly for that
• Minimum age is 16 years old on the day of tour
• Use comfortable footwear in summer time - either trainers or sturdier hiking shoes
• To wear: Summer - shorts/light trousers, t-shirt, hat, extra layers/light rain jacket recommended for chillier conditions; Winter - check the weather forecast on the day of your tour and dress accordingly
• To bring: Summer - rucksack with drinking water, hat & sun cream, cash, fully charged camera; Winter - camera, cash & possibly an umbrella
• Go to the Venture Vienna website to read our FAQ and to learn more
• This tour requires a minimum number of four participants to go ahead
• You don’t need to be a wine expert to enjoy this tour - it is extremely relaxed and is for everyone!

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.