Wroclaw and the Zielona Gora Wine Festival

This four day long weekend break offers the chance to visit; one of Poland’s major cities after spending time at the annual Wine Festival at Zielona Gora. We visit some of the local vineyards and join in the partying in town in the evening.

Day by Day itineray

Day 1.

Join tour at Wroclaw hotel. Drive to Zielona Gora. Our weekend starts as we arrive at our hotel in Wroclaw. Having met up with the rest of our group at the hotel, we join our coach for the late afternoon drive to Zielona Gora. Arriving in the early evening, we check-in before taking an initial wander around the city. Zielona Gora lies in a heavily forested region – the name means “Green Mountain” – and is a University town. Lying close to the German border, much of its history is tied up with Germany, from medieval time right through to the 20th century. The city centre is well worth a wander, with its 19th century tenement houses, a Town Hall dating from the 1400s, and a church dating from the 12th century. But perhaps the event of the year in Zielona Gora is the ‘Winobranie’, the annual nine-day Wine Festival  which is held every September. The grape harvest has been celebrated here for many centuries, but was formalised into an organised festival in 1852 and has been going ever since.

The Festival kicks off on a Saturday, with a Parade through the city, after Bacchus, the God of Wine, has been given the keys to the city. For much of the following week there is a non-stop mixture of events, with a folklore Festival, street theatre, musical concerts, sporting competitions and a market.  A walk round the town will give a flavour of what is to come as the place gears up for the festivities.

Day 2.

In Zielona Gora visit to the Wine Museum. Excursion to the vineyards. After breakfast we join our coach and head first for the Museum of Wine; a pleasant introduction to viticulture and to the history of wine-making in and around Zielona Gora.  Wine has been produced here for centuries, since around the early 1300s. The area is one of only two locations in Poland with the necessary mild climate to allow this, and traditionally there has been an emphasis on whites. The most famous wine in the area is ‘monte verde’ – Italian, of course, for ‘green mountain’, or ‘Zielona Gora’.  Under the communist regime, production died away and the last large winery closed in the 1990s. However, although production in the city has ended, a number of small vineyards have sprung up in villages surrounding the city, and we will visit two or three of these today. After leaving town, however, our first stop time will be at the village of Ochla, to visit the Ethnography Museum, then we visit two or three of the local vineyards, before our last stop, at the Julia Vineyard, complete with a bonfire.

From here we head back to Zielona Gora, where it’s time to hit the streets and join in the festivities. As the afternoon gives way to the evening the partying continues into the night. Be as restrained or as gregarious as you wish; just enjoy the atmosphere!

Day 3.

Morning drive to Wroclaw. Afternoon tour of the Old Town. After breakfast we check out and drive back to Wroclaw. Arriving around mid-day there is time to find some lunch before our afternoon tour.  After lunch we join our private walking tour of the city. Our exploration will include a visit to the Old Town, including the Main Square and the Gothic town Hall and a wander across to the Tumski Peninsula.

After the tour there is time to explore at our own pace: Wroclaw has over a hundred bridges, crossing numerous canals and inlets, perfect for strolling away the late afternoon.  Or perhaps its better just sitting at a cafe in the Market Square and watching the world go by; the choice is yours. In the evening there are many restaurants in the Old Town to choose from; and if we are in the mood for some wine with the meal – perhaps a suitable white from Zielona Gora!

Day 4.

Tour ends. After breakfast our tour ends, and it’s time to head for the airport and the flight home.

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