Although from now included in the city, Grinzing knew to preserve its character of traditional wine-grower village which becomes animated at dusk when the townsmen come to sacrifice to the tradition of the new wine.
Of course it's winter now, so it's not possible to enjoy the courtyards of the inns, where people sit to eat and drink new wine from late spring to early autumn...
The "Heurige" is one the most special and typical Viennese institiutions. You can find these places in all austrian wine-regions - but nowhere else in the world!
It goes back to Empress Maria Theresia, who released a decree for wine producers, that they may sell their wine and snacks in their gardens to people walking by. But they were only allowed to offer their really own products and nothing else and only for some weeks in the year.

This decree is still valid today!
The "Heurige" means the young wine of this year. To go to the "Heurigen" actually would mean: let's go to have a glass of the new and young wine. And so the name was customized also for the "taverns". Another name is "Buschenschank" what would mean "bush-tavern".
This name leads back again to the decree of Maria Thresia. To be recognized as this kind of tavern the entries had to be marked with a pine boughs hanging over the door, and a lantern with light on or off to signalize if it's open or closed.
A typical Heurige is a tavern with outdoor seating at picnic tables in an enclosed courtyard, under a grape arbor, with the stars visible through the leaves. This year's wine is served from the pitcher in glass mugs, with a pitcher of mineral water to prevent hangovers or to make a gespritzer (wine spritzer).