Rohrendorfer Kellergasse: A place steeped in history

The Rohrendorf cellar lane is a true rarity in Austrian viticulture. Stretching approximately 1.6 kilometers, it is considered the longest cellar lane in Central Europe. It didn't develop all at once, but rather over centuries, cellar by cellar. Some of these historic cellars date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Today, there are 72 wine cellars in the Rohrendorf cellar lane.

The decisive factor in this development is the loess soil. It could be easily dug deep and still creates ideal conditions in the cellar today. Temperatures of around 10 to 12 degrees Celsius prevail year-round, along with natural humidity and complete darkness. This consistency is perfect for storing and aging wine – without technology, without energy input. This is precisely why many of these cellars are still in use today.

Typical of the Rohrendorf cellar lane is its clear function. The buildings were never residential, but consistently designed for winemaking. At the front is the wine press house, behind it the deep cellar in the hillside.

This structure also characterizes our own Mittelbach wine cellar at Lindobelgasse 21, which is part of the cellar lane and was deliberately built according to this principle. The cellar is constructed over three levels, taking advantage of the natural slope. The grape reception area is located on the top level, directly adjacent to our cellar vineyard, the Ried Schnabel. One level below, on the ground floor, is the press. At the very bottom of the cellar are the wine tanks where our wines mature.

This concept enables a particularly gentle gravity-fed transport. Must and wine move from one level to the next solely by gravity – without mechanical pumping. This protects the must, preserves its freshness, and ensures a calm, controlled processing.

Historically, the cellar lane was not only a workspace but also a social meeting place, especially during busy times like the grape harvest. This communal element is preserved to this day and is also evident in the cellar lane festival, which deliberately takes place only every two years. At the end of August/beginning of September, the cellar lane opens its doors to a national and sometimes international audience and is considered one of, if not the most famous, cellar lane festivals in Austria.