Austria. Media News.

Dear friends of Austria and fellow travelers,

This time around, we have additional news on the much awaited 125th Anniversary of Vienna's Giant Ferris Wheel. Festivities include an interactive theatrical performance that re-enacts the Ferris Wheel's turbulent history, as well as the installation of a spectacular glass viewing platform: If you have nerves of steel, you'll be rewarded with the most amazing views of Vienna yet.

Since summer and fall are the best times to explore Austria's wine regions, we have also included an overview of the four most important regions, their wines, as well as detailed itineraries for each.

With warmest regards,
Sigrid Pichler

Manager of Public Relations
Austrian Tourist Office New York City
sigrid.pichler@austria.info
tel 212 575 7723 x 119

www.austria.info 

The festivities around the anniversary of Vienna’s beloved landmark show how much the Ferris Wheel is part of the city’s identity. From June 25, until July 2, 2022, visitors to the Giant Ferris Wheel have the opportunity to join in the celebrations in a very special way.

A theatrical performance staged by the award winning Nesterval theater ensemble will enrich the Giant Ferris Wheel experience for any ticket holder who chooses to participate. True to the event’s title, 125 Years of the Giant Ferris Wheel – 125 Years of History, actors will bring to life pieces of the Ferris Wheel’s history. On the square right in front of the Ferris Wheel visitors can expect to encounter historic figures from the Ferris Wheel’s past as well as typically Viennese characters. The actors will be out and about on the opening day (June 25) between 11am and 3pm and from 5 to 9pm daily from June 26 to July 2. The show is included in the standard ticket price.

The dates chosen for the celebrations correspond directly to a pair of historical events: the last bolt was tightened on the Giant Ferris Wheel on June 25, 1897 – and it was officially inaugurated on July 3, 1897, to commemorate the golden jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I. Since then, the Wiener Riesenrad, as it is called in German, has been a constant presence in the lives of the Viennese. It has also provided its share of excitement as the location of daring stunts and as the setting for timeless movies.

Today, it continues this tradition with a new offer for thrill seekers: The newly installed platform 9 takes those with nerves of steel on a special ride. Secured in a harness, standing on a glass platform without ceiling or walls, those brave enough can enjoy spectacular views that have last been seen by the workers constructing the Giant Ferris Wheel back in 1897. These unique trips can be booked here.

Wine has been part of Austria’s culture for millennia. Since before Roman times, grapes have been cultivated here, taking advantage of the rich soil and sunny climes of Austria’s wine growing regions. It is interesting that despite the relatively small size of the country, each region differs greatly from the others, not only in the grapes it grows and the wines it produces, but in landscape and culture as well. To embark on a tour of Austria’s wine country, therefore, is to embark on a discovery of Austria’s diverse cultural landscapes.

There is one thing Austria’s wineries do have in common: With an emphasis on the protection of natural landscapes and the environment, as well as a focus on small-scale production, you’ll find many family businesses instead of large mass producers. Many wineries serve their own wines as well as local products and dishes in their own wine taverns. Their Heurigen or Buschenschanken are immensely popular with locals year round and an integral part of Austria’s wine culture.

In recent years, wine travel has become more and more important, and there are numerous ways for international travelers to discover the delights of Austrian wines on location, such as wine tastings, festivals and entire museums revolving around the beverage. Visitors wanting to stay in the country can choose between wine-themed hotels such as the Loisium, farmhouse accommodations, or spa hotels, depending on the region. The best times to travel are from spring to fall, when the wine harvest is in full swing.

Austria has four main wine regions: the largest, Lower Austria; Burgenland; Styria; and Vienna itself, as the world’s only capital city with a sizable agricultural area dedicated to growing grapes. Other, smaller wine growing areas throughout the country’s more mountainous regions fall under the category “Bergland.” We have put together sample itineraries for each of these four unique regions to give you a better idea of what exactly a stay there might look like and help you discover Austria by discovering its wine culture.

Lower Austria includes the smaller wine-growing regions of Weinviertel, Kamptal, Kremstal, Wachau, Wagram, Traisental, Carnuntum and the Thermenregion. Gruener Veltliner is the signature grape in this region which is known for its rolling hills, the picturesque villages along the banks of the Danube river and its cultural treasures such as Melk Abbey or the Duernstein castle ruins. Gourmet restaurants abound and one can spend months here sampling all the local delicacies (Wachauer Marille or apricots among them) and different wine pairings to go along.

The Burgenland is famous for its red wines, among them Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch, as well as its ice wines. This easternmost region of Austria could not be more different from the other parts of Austria in appearance: the mostly flat, steppe-like landscape surrounding Lake Neusiedl is a birding paradise, ideal for extended bike rides, sun bathing, camping and all kinds of water sports. The different terrain and proximity to Hungary has also led to different building styles than you’d otherwise encounter in Austria. Southern Burgenland is also famous for its thermal spas.

Styria, also called the green heart of Austria, is known for its white wines, for example Welschriesling. The region’s Rosé, Schilcher, has a very devoted following as well. Because of its hilly terrain, Styria’s wine regions have also been named Styrian Tuscany. Ample sunshine, numerous wine taverns, outdoor restaurants and a general proclivity for fine foods and local delicacies more than justify the comparison. Most wine regions in Styria are at most an hour’s drive away from the regional capital, Graz, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a perfect base for exploration.

Vienna itself boasts roughly 700 hectares of vineyards which are an essential part of the city’s economy and contribute to its quality of life with their Heurigen and ample green space. The Wiener Gemischter Satz, a wine made from different grape varieties, is very popular locally and internationally. It wouldn’t be Vienna if local wine culture weren’t deeply entwined with the city’s imperial and cultural history. Beethoven, for example, wrote his Symphony No. 9 largely in the wine village of Heiligenstadt, where the Heuriger Mayer am Pfarrplatz is one of the city’s most popular wine taverns.