Vienna prepares for 20th annual Weinwandertag wine hike

The annual Weinwandertag is returning to Vienna for its 20th edition this weekend. The event, which draws large crowds to the city's vineyards, saw approximately 30,000 participants last year across routes in Döbling, Stammersdorf, Ottakring, and Mauer.

While the tradition remains popular, the local wine tavern scene, known as Heuriger, is undergoing significant changes. The number of traditional family-run establishments has declined sharply; for instance, Döbling hosted 300 Heurige in 1960, but today has fewer than 40. Across all of Vienna, there are now only about 100 remaining. In response to these shifts, the scene is reinventing itself by returning to its roots through the Buschenschank style of service.