Wine is deeply rooted in Vienna’s history with a centuries-old tradition. To highlight this heritage and demonstrate the aging potential of Viennese wines, the wineries have opened their cellars and brought out some of their greatest treasures. During this masterclass the winery owners will personally present vintages dating back to the 1960s representing their estates Edlmoser, Christ, Cobenzl, Fuhrgassl-Huber, Mayer am Pfarrplatz, Wieninger, Kroiss and Uhler.

This masterclass showcases the impressive diversity of the "Pulkautal" region (over 2,000 hectares of vineyards), which has been renowned for centuries thanks to its unique climatic conditions. Join the winemakers and internationally renowned tasting expert Ferdinand Mayr (lecturer at the Rust Wine Academy) on a journey through the diverse treasures of the Pulkautal. Sensationally fruity Grüner Veltliners and award-winning reserves, an exciting variety of grape varieties, as well as fruity and full bodied red wines. Step into the “Pulkautal Treasure Chamber”!

Moderation: Willi Balanjuk

This masterclass by the Regional Wine Committee Weinviertel showcases the evolution and diversity of Weinviertel _DAC – the always-authentic Grüner Veltliner from the Weinviertel – through a range of exciting perspectives.
“A la Carte” wine editor-in-chief Willi Balanjuk traces the arc from the sensational 2025 vintage, bursting with fresh fruit and peppery spice, to the key factors that shape Grüner Veltliner’s style — and even the question of whether Grüner Veltliner might have a feminine side.
In the tasting, Balanjuk also highlights the impressive diversity of interpretations of the variety through “Hidden Treasures” from estates that have been working at the highest level for years, yet are not continuously in the media spotlight. The finale, naturally, is Weinviertel _DAC Reserve: a category with enormous potential and depth.

The Thermenregion is home of true treasures: matured wines from seven decades tell stories of sunshine, limestone soils, and artisanal patience. Burgundian varieties with depth, the powerful yet elegant and characterful Rotgipfler and Zierfandler as well as Pinot Noir and St. Laurent reveal how time shapes flavor. Each vintage preserves the climate of its era and the signature of the winemakers—from vibrant classics to rare rarities.
These aged treasures unite tradition and a culture of enjoyment at the highest level, inviting you on an emotional journey through history and terroir. Here, it is not only wine that matures, but identity.

Moderation: Anne Krebiehl MW

Experience the elegance and finesse of Leithaberg with Anne Krebiehl, Master of Wine.
The focus is on the region’s defining soils – limestone and schist – which shape Leithaberg’s distinctive style. Anne Krebiehl highlights how wines from Leithaberg achieve remarkable precision and depth. The tasting includes white wines as well as Blaufränkisch, ranging from current releases to mature vintages. These wines demonstrate international potential and offer a comprehensive insight into the diversity and quality of Leithaberg.

Moderation: Raimonds Tomsons, Joris Gutierrez Garcia & Reeze Choi

Three top sommeliers – Raimonds Tomsons (ASI Best Sommelier of the World), Joris Gutierrez Garcia (ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas), and Reeze Choi (ASI Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific) – offer a 75-minute introduction to the diverse expressions of Austrian terroirs.
Using three grape varieties, they demonstrate how these wines develop differently across various wine regions, soils, and climatic conditions, revealing unique characteristics in each context.
An informative insight into the profile of Austrian wines and the influence of their terroirs.

Moderation: Herbert Prohaska, Rainer Pariasek & Annemarie Foidl

Lower Austria versus Italy – two worlds of wine, one competition, and no predetermined winner. In this interactive masterclass, 8 top wines from Lower Austria go head-to-head against 8 stylistically matching wines from Italy. The tasting is blind – neither the audience nor the celebrity panel knows the origin of the wines. The session will be moderated by wine and sports expert Rainer Pariasek. Soccer legend Herbert Prohaska and wine expert Annemarie Foidl will share their impressions and personal favorites. Expect charming and sharp insights that are professionally sound, yet always accessible and entertaining. 
The audience is actively involved: participants vote live via QR code after each flight. The final result will be announced at the end: Who wins the international match – Lower Austria or Italy? And where do the audience and experts agree, and where do their opinions differ?
The Lower Austrian wines are selected by "Wein Niederösterreich" and come exclusively from top estates represented at VieVinum. Their Italian counterparts are curated by "Vinaria." 

This presentation offers a brief introduction to Georgia as the homeland of wine, highlighting its unique place in global wine culture and tracing the journey of Georgian winemaking from ancient history to the present day. It will explore the country’s winemaking traditions, the significance of qvevri culture, indigenous grape varieties, and key wine regions. The session will also introduce the main styles of Georgian wine, with a special focus on amber wines, followed by a relevant tasting of representative wines from Georgia.
The talk will also include some stats on production volumes and world exports of Georgian wines.

Moderation: Raimonds Tomsons, Joris Gutierrez Garcia & Reeze Choi

Three top sommeliers – Raimonds Tomsons (ASI Best Sommelier of the World), Joris Gutierrez Garcia (ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas), and Reeze Choi (ASI Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific) – offer a 75-minute introduction to the diverse expressions of Austrian terroirs.
Using three grape varieties, they demonstrate how these wines develop differently across various wine regions, soils, and climatic conditions, revealing unique characteristics in each context.
An informative insight into the profile of Austrian wines and the influence of their terroirs.

The Austria–Germany duel at VieVinum has long been one of the fair’s best-loved and most established formats. In 2026, the event will be thoughtfully refreshed: with the theme “Riesling 2022”, a fully blind tasting format and a direct audience vote, the duel gains new energy without losing its traditional appeal.

On stage, Walter Kutscher of the Vienna Sommelier Association will represent Austria, while Harald Scholl, Editor-in-Chief of VINUM Germany, will head the German team.
Across seven flights, one Austrian and one German Riesling 2022 will compete in blind tasting. All wines will be paired anonymously and served without disclosure of origin. New this year: even the two team captains, Walter Kutscher and Harald Scholl, will not know which glass belongs to which country until the wines are revealed. That makes the format fairer, more credible and more exciting.

The audience, rather than a jury on stage, will decide the outcome. After each pairing, visitors will vote immediately, and the wines will then be revealed. The result is a format that combines tradition, suspense and audience participation in a particularly vivid way.
In essence, the idea remains the same: two great wine countries meet through a grape variety that each interprets in its own distinctive style. Riesling shows just how close Austria and Germany are — and how striking their differences can be.

With this refreshed concept, VieVinum 2026 presents a familiar rivalry in a contemporary, audience-focused format.