Edelstal’s historic wine cellars

When settlers built their houses on the main street in this “edlen Tal” (or “noble valley”) in the first third of the 18th century, it was common to have a cellar near the house to store wine and supplies.

It is nevertheless unusual for a small community to have such an extensive wine cellar district far from its residential buildings. But the limey ground offers good conditions for cellar building and the elevated position is an added advantage in view of the yearly floods.

After modest beginnings, grape growing becomes increasingly important for Edelstal: in 1876 Judge Matthias Paar writes to the Oberstuhlrichteramt that there are already 150 yokes of vineyard in the village. The grape harvest amounts to a total of 200 pails of “red” and 4800 pails of “white”.

We know that the so-called “parish wine cellar” is one of the oldest wine cellars still in existence, since the first priest leaves a considerable amount of wine there in 1781.

In the 1930s many wine cellars are renovated and extended. In 1992 the Urbanus Chapel is erected, which is the starting point of the St. Martin’s day wine blessing in November. Several wine cellars also open their doors at this time.

Today the wine cellar district comprises approx. 80 wine cellars maintained in their original condition and is a much-loved destination for walkers and hikers. Social get-togethers are an age-old pastime here – preferably with a glass of wine from the Carnuntum region.