Bars and Taverns
Vis-a-Vis
When it opened some two decades ago, the pint-size Vis-a-Vis was the first wine bar in town to offer wines by the glass (and one of the first to serve their pedigreed vintages in Riedel). Owner and grape guru Hans Weibel has since expanded his business with two excellent restaurants: the traditional wood-paneled Weibel's Wirsthaus and the more modern Weibel 3, both with inexhaustible cellars and lusty Backhuhn (fried chicken) and Tafelspitz (boiled beef) on their menus. And Vis-a-Vis remains Vienna's best-loved wine bar, drawing a boisterous crowd of politicians and actors who gossip over glasses of aromatic Gelber Muskateller (Muscat Blanc) from Styria and potent walnut and apricot schnapps. One thing you won't find too many of at Weibel's establishments is old bottles. Though they might be sophisticated wine drinkers these days, the Viennese are still in the habit of consuming wines when they're young; 2002 is considered by most locals to be an old vintage. Address: Wollzeile 5; 011-43-1-512-9350.
When it opened some two decades ago, the pint-size Vis-a-Vis was the first wine bar in town to offer wines by the glass (and one of the first to serve their pedigreed vintages in Riedel). Owner and grape guru Hans Weibel has since expanded his business with two excellent restaurants: the traditional wood-paneled Weibel's Wirsthaus and the more modern Weibel 3, both with inexhaustible cellars and lusty Backhuhn (fried chicken) and Tafelspitz (boiled beef) on their menus. And Vis-a-Vis remains Vienna's best-loved wine bar, drawing a boisterous crowd of politicians and actors who gossip over glasses of aromatic Gelber Muskateller (Muscat Blanc) from Styria and potent walnut and apricot schnapps. One thing you won't find too many of at Weibel's establishments is old bottles. Though they might be sophisticated wine drinkers these days, the Viennese are still in the habit of consuming wines when they're young; 2002 is considered by most locals to be an old vintage. Address: Wollzeile 5; 011-43-1-512-9350.
Where to find Austrian wine
The best way to taste Austrian wine is with excellent food in one of the many stylish restaurants or at home:
Wine Stores
New York
Northern California
Southern California
Chicago
Restaurants
New York
Northern California
Southern California
Chicago
