Next session : July 11, 2025, starting at 5:00 p.m. and running until open end—it’s not for nothing that it always takes place on a full moon. The final session will be on August 14—again on a full moon.
One of my personal favorite places/events is the wine picnic at Himmelreich. In this age of overtourism, you’re not really supposed to reveal your favorite spots, but then I wouldn’t really be fulfilling my role as a host. And my blog’s reach isn’t that big anyway 🙂
Himmelreich is a vineyard between Purbach and Donnerskirchen that’s actually called that—but it sounds like a marketing gimmick because it really does feel a bit like heaven. After a 5- to 15-minute walk (depending on the temperature and your fitness level) along a path that’s quite steep in places (a free shuttle is available for those who need it), you’ll find yourself high above Lake Neusiedl (I know: it’s spelled “Neusiedler See,” but do people—and Google—know that?). With a fantastic view, you can enjoy excellent wines from the Donnerskirchen Wine Quartet along with a top-quality picnic package—both available for purchase. Speaking of buying: ultimately, it’s also a “sales event” (there’s nothing wrong with that) for Donnerskirchner wine; it’s not a professional restaurant, but rather an event organized by local winemakers as part of what we’d call today a “pop-up” when the weather is nice.
Reservations are recommended.
And if you can't make it on that date: the spot is still nice even without the event—you'll just have to bring your own food and drinks, just like you would for a picnic in the great outdoors.
It takes about 1 hour by bike from/to Rust to the www.stilt houses.at (16 km). Donnerskirchen also has a train station; it’s a nice ride from Vienna.
For more information: https://www.weinquartett.at
and https://www.burgenland.info/dc/detail/Veranstaltung/weinpicknick-im-himmelreich-1
(C) The photos are from my personal archive, which dates back a long time.
