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Viennese wine
Vienna is not only the city of sweets , it is also the city of wine . Vienna is the only capital city that grows enough wine within its city limits to make it worth mentioning . Wine , especially white wine , is omnipresent in the city : It is enjoyed in the city ’ s many bars and restaurants or on the edge of town in the famous wine taverns ( called “ Heurigen ”) that offer wine from their own vineyards .
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My Secrets : If you ’ d like to take home one of Austria ´ s high quality wine , take “ Grüner Veltliner ” ( Austria ´ s most popular sort of wine ) or “ Gemischter Satz ” ( Vienna ´ s most popular sort of wine ). There are many Vinotheques and Wine Bars all over the city , for example “ Meinl ’ s Weinbar ” or “ Wein & Co ” bar . The prices for good white wines range from € 12 . Also supermarkets sell high quality wine for an even better price .
Wine glasses of the brand “ Das Goldene Wiener Herz ” ( DGWH ): They are very hip and popular souvenirs of Vienna — and definitely not kitsch . The glasses make reference to old Heurigen traditions (“ Heurigen ” are the famous Viennese wine taverns ). On the glasses of the “ Das Goldene Wiener Herz ,” these vine patterns are finished in real gold . You get them in nice two or four glass packages ( for € 11 or € 18 ) at the DGWH store in the 7th district of Vienna as well as in many museum shops or hotel shops .
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Traditional sweets
Viennese cuisine is famous and much loved for its variety of fine pastries , cakes , strudels , pralines and bonbons . If you ’ re looking for something special to take home , you are spoilt for choice . My favourite gifts are Sacher Torte , Mannerschnitten and Wiener Zuckerl .
My Secrets : The Sacher Torte is the most famous cake of Vienna . Bring home the original which you only can buy at the legendary Hotel Sacher behind the Vienna State Opera . The fluffy chocolate cake with apricot jam and chocolate glaze is sold in an attractive wooden box . The smallest size costs € 23.30 .
Mannerschnitten : Everybody in Vienna knows this little , cheap and well-packed sweet snack ! Mannerschnitten are legendary nougat waffles in a pink foil bearing the silhouette of St . Stephen ’ s Cathedral , Vienna ´ s most famous sight . You find a Manner sweetshop right opposite the cathedral itself . But you also get the waffles in every supermarket ( a package of four waffles costs € 2 , 20 ).
Wiener Zuckerl : Wiener Zuckerl translated means “ Viennese Candies .” You will not only love the taste of these classic Austrian fruit candies , you will surely also like their vintage style packaging . You get them in every supermarket for only € 1 , 80 .
Meet Nina Wildzeisz
Nina Wildzeisz-Rezner runs Wiener Zuhause , a guest house in the heart of Vienna city . She is the Austria correspondent for Travel Secrets magazine .
travelsecretsmag . com Monsoon issue 2016 Travel Secrets 35