Wine already played an important role in Munich a few centuries ago, although the city was already known as a beer metropolis.

In the 13th century, monks in Munich and the surrounding area began to cultivate wine. The climatic conditions were quite favorable at this time, although the demands were perhaps not as high as those for “Baierwein”. Thanks to the many taverns, wine quickly developed into the popular drink of the people of Munich, even before beer took over this role.

Wine trade in Munich

The good availability within the city walls certainly contributed to this. Week after week, a wine market was held in the north-western corner of today’s Marienplatz (on what is now the Weinstraße, hence the name). At that time, Munich imported many wines from South Tyrol and Austria (later also from Franconia and the Palatinate), which were served in the numerous wine taverns or ended up in the wine cellars of the powerful.

Important wine cellars

There was a huge wine cellar (with up to 195,000 bottles stored) in today’s Ratskeller under the town hall, as well as in the Residenz. Both locations are still popular places for wine fans today.