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Sabile Wine Hill is a unique place in Latvia and in the world – in 1990 it was included in the Guinness World Records as the northernmost vineyard in the world where grapes grow in open-air conditions. The top of the hill rises 34 metres above the town of Sabile, and its slopes are home to a vineyard of approximately 1.5 hectares, with around 950 grapevines and more than 30 different varieties.
The vineyard is continuously maintained and supplemented with new plantings. It is dominated by varieties suited to the Latvian climate, developed by notable Latvian grape breeders Pauls Sukatnieks and Gunvalds Vēsmiņš. Both blue, red, and light grape varieties grow here, including “Zilga”, “Supaga”, “Guna”, “Veldze”, “Meda”, “Lauma”, “Rītausma”, and others.
The history of the Wine Hill dates back several centuries – it was first cultivated in the 14th–16th centuries. During the time of Duke Jacob, viticulture flourished, and new varieties were introduced to the hill. Sabile wine was once highly appreciated both in the court of the Duchy of Courland and elsewhere in Europe. The Wine Hill has been restored several times – during the period of the first Republic of Latvia on the initiative of Kārlis Ulmanis, and later despite war damage and changes in management. A new phase of development began during the period of the Latvian Awakening.
Today, Sabile Wine Hill is not only a historical site but also a cultural and tourism destination. Every year, on the last weekend of July, the Sabile Wine Festival is celebrated here. This is the only time when it is possible to taste wine made from the grapes grown on this hill, as it is not available for sale.
The Wine Hill is usually open to visitors from 15 May to 30 September (depending on weather conditions). Please note that it is currently not accessible to wheelchair users.
More information and the opportunity to virtually explore Sabile Wine Hill in different seasons using virtual reality headsets is available at the Sabile Art, Culture and Tourism Centre (4 Strautu Street, Sabile).
Tourist Information Center address:
4 Strautu Street, Sabile
Phone:
+371 27841827
E-mail:
tic.sabile@talsi.lv
Accessibility and facilities
2 Photos
Close
Sabile Wine Hill is a unique place in Latvia and in the world – in 1990 it was included in the Guinness World Records as the northernmost vineyard in the world where grapes grow in open-air conditions. The top of the hill rises 34 metres above the town of Sabile, and its slopes are home to a vineyard of approximately 1.5 hectares, with around 950 grapevines and more than 30 different varieties.
The vineyard is continuously maintained and supplemented with new plantings. It is dominated by varieties suited to the Latvian climate, developed by notable Latvian grape breeders Pauls Sukatnieks and Gunvalds Vēsmiņš. Both blue, red, and light grape varieties grow here, including “Zilga”, “Supaga”, “Guna”, “Veldze”, “Meda”, “Lauma”, “Rītausma”, and others.
The history of the Wine Hill dates back several centuries – it was first cultivated in the 14th–16th centuries. During the time of Duke Jacob, viticulture flourished, and new varieties were introduced to the hill. Sabile wine was once highly appreciated both in the court of the Duchy of Courland and elsewhere in Europe. The Wine Hill has been restored several times – during the period of the first Republic of Latvia on the initiative of Kārlis Ulmanis, and later despite war damage and changes in management. A new phase of development began during the period of the Latvian Awakening.
Today, Sabile Wine Hill is not only a historical site but also a cultural and tourism destination. Every year, on the last weekend of July, the Sabile Wine Festival is celebrated here. This is the only time when it is possible to taste wine made from the grapes grown on this hill, as it is not available for sale.
The Wine Hill is usually open to visitors from 15 May to 30 September (depending on weather conditions). Please note that it is currently not accessible to wheelchair users.
More information and the opportunity to virtually explore Sabile Wine Hill in different seasons using virtual reality headsets is available at the Sabile Art, Culture and Tourism Centre (4 Strautu Street, Sabile).