Schlumberger is one of Austria's best-known producers of sparkling wine, founded in 1842, and its Sparkling Wine Cellar World on Heiligenstaedter Strasse in the nineteenth district is where visitors can see how Sekt is made. The visit takes you into the cellars where the bottles age, explains the traditional method of fermentation in the bottle, and gives you a sense of the scale and craft of a house that has been part of Viennese social life for nearly two centuries. Austria has its own sparkling wine tradition, with Sekt made from local grapes, and learning about it is a good counterpart to the more familiar Viennese stories of coffee and cake. The entry ticket is rated 4.7 from more than a hundred and sixty reviews, a high score that suggests a visit that is well run and satisfying. What the ticket includes in terms of tour length, languages and tastings depends on the operator, so check the details for your date when you book. The location in Heiligenstadt makes it a natural pairing with the wine-growing slopes of the Nussberg and the Kahlenberg, and with the Heurigen taverns of the northern suburbs, so a day on this side of the city can combine cellars, vineyards and a tavern lunch. It is indoors and cool, which makes it a refreshing choice in summer and a warm, weatherproof one on rainy days. If you enjoy wine, or simply like seeing how a product is made, this is a rewarding hour or two away from the main tourist circuit.
Planning the visit
The cellar world is at Heiligenstaedter Strasse in Heiligenstadt, close to the U4 terminus, which makes it easy to reach from the centre in about fifteen minutes. Check the opening days, tour times and languages on your ticket, and confirm whether a tasting is included, as some entries include a glass and others do not. Cellars are cool year-round, so bring a light layer even in summer, and wear comfortable shoes for stairs and uneven floors.
Getting the most from it
Pay attention to the explanation of the traditional method, in which the second fermentation takes place in the bottle, since it explains much of the character and cost of quality sparkling wine. If a tasting is included, take your time and ask what to look for in the bubbles, aroma and finish. Pick up a bottle in the shop if you enjoyed it, but check airline rules for luggage. Remember that you will be drinking alcohol, so plan your onward travel sensibly.
Who it suits
Wine lovers, couples, and visitors who have seen the major sights and want something different. It is less suitable for young children, though families with older teenagers may enjoy the cellars. Combine it with the Kahlenberg viewpoint, a walk through the vineyards and a Heuriger tavern in Grinzing or Nussdorf. The U4 returns you to the centre, and the D tram offers a scenic route to the Ring.
What to expect
The experience
A visit to the cellars of an Austrian sparkling wine house, explaining how Sekt is made; check whether a tasting is part of your ticket.
Best time
Any time of year; combine with a daytime visit to the Kahlenberg and the vineyards.
How long
Check the length of your visit when you book.
Tips
Bring a light layer, since the cellars are cool. Check whether a tasting is included. Combine with a Heuriger lunch in the northern suburbs.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Seeing how Austrian sparkling wine is made, inside the city limits.
- Families
- More suitable for adults and older teenagers than for young children.
- Couples
- A pleasant, civilised outing before a tavern dinner among the vineyards.
- Pair with
- The Kahlenberg viewpoint, the Nussberg vineyards and a Heuriger tavern.
- Time needed
- Check the length of your visit when you book.
Good questions
Where is Schlumberger in Vienna?+
In Heiligenstadt in the nineteenth district, near the U4 terminus. It is about fifteen minutes from the centre by underground.
Is a tasting included?+
This depends on the ticket and the date, so check the details when you book.
What will I learn?+
How Austrian sparkling wine is made, including the traditional method in which the wine ferments a second time in the bottle.
Is it suitable for children?+
It suits adults and older teenagers best, since the focus is on wine and the cellars involve stairs and cool temperatures.
Can I combine it with other sights?+
Yes. It pairs well with the Kahlenberg, the Nussberg vineyards and the Heurigen taverns of the northern suburbs.
