This autumn, we too had the opportunity to be part of this special event in Sopron: you could meet the wines and sparkling wines of our Kúria Sopron and Etyeki Kúria wineries in the courtyard of Erhardt Restaurant.
It was wonderful to see the old courtyards, cellars and streets fill with life, and to see conversations, encounters and new discoveries emerge over a glass of wine. Perhaps this is the greatest strength of Hey, Poncichter!: people-oriented, welcoming and atmospheric. Rooted in tradition, yet not old-fashioned. Elegant, yet relaxed.
And all of this takes place against the backdrop of one of Sopron’s most fascinating historic districts.
Who were the poncichters?
“Poncichter” is a distinctive name of German origin used in Sopron for the city’s grape-growing farmer-citizens. The name comes from the German word Bohnenzüchter, meaning “bean grower”: the grape growers of Sopron also cultivated beans and other vegetables between the rows of vines. This supplemented their income from grape growing, while the vineyards and city life were closely intertwined.
The historic poncichter district, now the northwestern part of the city, is an important reminder of this way of life. In the 19th century, it played a defining role in shaping Sopron’s character, and the farmers once sold their wines from their own homes, in so-called Buschenschank taverns.
Hey, Poncichter! brings this world back in a wonderfully natural way - not as a museum, but as a living, contemporary community experience.
At the event, several smaller venues in the historic poncichter district - cellars, courtyards and hospitality venues - open their doors, allowing visitors to explore the area on foot while meeting the winemakers and discovering the wines of the Sopron Wine Region.
Why we love it too
For Kúria Sopron, occasions that are about more than just wine are especially important - occasions that also bring a place, a story and a community together.
Hey, Poncichter! is exactly that. It shows that a historic district can not only be preserved, but can also be brought to life again and again. That tradition can be fresh, and that wine can be born not only in a glass, but also in the story of a place.
Thank you to Erhardt Restaurant for sharing its courtyard with us, and of course to everyone who stopped by for a glass of wine, a toast or simply a good conversation.
We want more, more, more events like this. We will definitely be there.
