This
evening, after a hard days sight-seeing
in Melk, we headed to the Vienesse suburb of Grinzing which
is well known for its numerous Heurigens.
We headed to the Alter
Bach-Hengle (at Sandgasse
7-9) which was, overall, an enjoyable experience. We
love the idea of heuriger. They produce their own wine and
offer it for sale in their own premises. And thats a good
thing.
I'm really not conviced that the experience we had at the
the Alter
Bach-Hengle was an authentic Heuriger experience. Perhaps
it was the several groups of Japanese tourists? Perhaps it
was the three coaches parked up outside shortly after we arrived?
Perhaps it was the absence of locals beyond the staffing? Or
it could have been the traditional Austrian musical quartet
churning out such Austrian classics as "The Chicken Song"?
Somehow I got the feeling that this was the Heurgier equivalent
to the "Leicester Square Experience" - just without
under-26 Ozzies serving in London pubs as round-the-world-travellers
on favourable work permits.
All
that said, however, we did enjoy our evening. We enjoyed the
wine. And yes - we did partake of the Heurigers own (young)
wine and a glass of their Altwein (Old Wine) which is over
the statutory one year age limit. A selection of other Austrian
wine - including some medal winning wines - were also available.
Some of which were genuinly excellent and predominantly from
the Lower Austria region white wines. While both the Heuriger
wine and the Altwein were both enjoyable - but so was the Grüner
Veltliner which was also available.
The food, we ordered a mixed platter, was enjoyable - and
very Germanic in composition. Pork, sausages, schnitzel, ham,
potatoes and sauerkraut all came on our large platter at an
excellent value of 13EUR per person.
Overall, my learn'd colleague and I enjoyed our visit to the
the Alter Bach-Hengle - but we would also have prefered to
have visited somewhere with less of a "Leicester Square
Experience."
Vienna - an evening in a Heuriger
19th April 2009
We headed to the Alter Bach-Hengle (at Sandgasse 7-9) which was, overall, an enjoyable experience. We love the idea of heuriger. They produce their own wine and offer it for sale in their own premises. And thats a good thing.
I'm really not conviced that the experience we had at the the Alter Bach-Hengle was an authentic Heuriger experience. Perhaps it was the several groups of Japanese tourists? Perhaps it was the three coaches parked up outside shortly after we arrived? Perhaps it was the absence of locals beyond the staffing? Or it could have been the traditional Austrian musical quartet churning out such Austrian classics as "The Chicken Song"? Somehow I got the feeling that this was the Heurgier equivalent to the "Leicester Square Experience" - just without under-26 Ozzies serving in London pubs as round-the-world-travellers on favourable work permits.
The food, we ordered a mixed platter, was enjoyable - and very Germanic in composition. Pork, sausages, schnitzel, ham, potatoes and sauerkraut all came on our large platter at an excellent value of 13EUR per person.
Overall, my learn'd colleague and I enjoyed our visit to the the Alter Bach-Hengle - but we would also have prefered to have visited somewhere with less of a "Leicester Square Experience."
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