The Lower Austrian wine-growing community is located in the wine-growing region of Thermenregion near the Austrian capital of Vienna. Until 1985, Gumpoldskirchen was an independent wine-growing region alongside Bad Vöslau. Even the Romans recognised the optimal conditions for winegrowing here in ancient times. The village was mentioned in documents as early as 1120, when the eponymous Gumpold von Pornheim gave his nephew Sigeboto vineyards here. In 1380, Duke Albrecht III (1349-1395) granted the citizens of Gumpoldskirchen the right, known as Leitgeben, to sell and serve their wine in the village. Later, the exact regulations for serving wine were laid down. In 1784, Emperor Josef II (1741-1790) confirmed the right of the wine tavern owners and thus laid the foundations for the wine taverns, of which there are many in this municipality today.
Gumpoldskirchner Kreszenzen were already known in the Middle Ages for their strength, i.e. their high alcohol content. The famous clergyman Johann Rasch (1540-1612) rhymed about this in his famous work "Weinbuch: Von Baw, Pfleg und Brauch des Weins" ("Wine Book: On the Wine, Care and Custom of Wine") as follows: "Whoever drinks two measures of Gumpoldskirchner can't walk his street alone". Emperor Ferdinand II (1578-1637) appreciated the wine from the sunny, chalky slopes of the Anninger. The composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was recommended Gumpoldskirchen wine by his family doctor. At the end of the 19th century, phylloxera destroyed many vineyards; in 1891, a particularly terrible year in this respect, there was no grape harvest at all. In 1898, the "Kaiser Franz Joseph Jubiläums-Landes-Winzerschule" - today's "Wein und Gast" - was founded.
The vineyards in the municipality of Gumpoldsklirchen cover around 300 hectares of vineyards with medium-heavy calcareous brown earth and gravel soils. The white wine varieties Rotgipfler (60 ha), Zierfandler (50 ha), Neuburger (40 ha), Riesling and Welschriesling are cultivated to 90%. Blauer Portugieser (10 ha), Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Zweigelt predominate among the red wine varieties. Well-known Gumpoldskirchen vineyards are Alte Ried, Badnerweg, Brindlbach, Eichberger (belongs to the viticultural school), Goldknöpferl, Grimling, Hans-Michl, Hofbreite, Hofpoint, Kramer, Kreuzweingarten, Mandlerin, Prichern, Satzing, Schwaben, Sonnberg, Spiegel and Wiegen. The agricultural college "Wein & Gast" teaches subjects such as cellar management, viticulture, serving science, wine laboratory and plant cultivation. There is a wine museum in the village, where you can buy wines dating back to 1945, as well as a vinegar museum. The Stiftsweingut Heiligenkreuz - Freigut Thallern, located two kilometres outside the village, is one of the oldest wineries in Austria. Other wineries include Biegler Othmar, Krug Gustav, Schellmann, Spaetrot Gebeshuber, Straitz & Straitz and Zierer Harald.
Vineyards: By Georges Jansoone - own work, CC BY 2.5, Link
Castle of the Teutonic Order: Henry Kellner - own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
