Wine festival in Poland – Winobranie in Zielona Gora is the largest festival dedicated to wine in Poland. We got to visit the festival and explore it for two whole days. And it is a really special thing that you want to explore! Wine connoisseur or not, we can guarantee that you will enjoy yourself and party like there’s no tomorrow. The party goes on each beginning of  September and lasts for nine days.

Wine festival in Poland – Winobranie in Zielona Gora

Zielona Gora (translates to green hills) is located in the region of Lubuskie in western Poland. This region is super famous for its wine (surprise surprise). The whole region is covered with more than 50 percent forest and the wine-growing business has traditions that go way back. Before WWII, wine production was really big but like with all wars, a lot of the places got destroyed. For many years, winemaking was sparse but at the beginning of 2000, they started to grow grapes again and now there is a huge demand for the regional wine. Hence the wine festival in Poland.

Zielona Gora (located in Lubuskie region) is actually not the biggest wine-producing region in Poland. They are currently in third place. The first place goes to the Podkarpackie region and second place to the area in and around Krakow. However, none of the other regions are so focused on wine as Zielona Gora. Here you can’t miss the theme of wine at all times. Sure, during the wine festival it becomes even more apparent but wine is always a big deal here.

Zielona Gora has a permanent wine theme

Even if Zielona Gora has much more to offer than the wine, it is a huge deal in the town and you can see it all over. As soon as you enter the city center, you can see loads of details that come back to wine. The first thing that sticks out is all the Bacchus Gnomes that are placed all over the city. We were in Zielona Gora during the wine festival and that is not the best time to be chasing these cute gnomes (because a lot of them get hidden by tents).

However, it is a great time to be in Zielona Gora because during the festival it is all about wine! Wherever you look you can see wine-themed things. The benches, lamps and everything has a wine-theme. At first, we thought that it was due to the festival. It turns out Zielona Gora is always wine-themed, festival or not! So make sure to check out the Wine festival in Poland.

9 Days of Wine Festival in Poland

Polish wine is really good and there is a “wine trail” with lots of wine producers that are connected and where you can go to try and buy some wine from the region. However, the wine festival is a way to really explore the Polish wine. During nine days at the beginning of September each year, the whole city transforms into a huge wine-paradise. Usually, you are not allowed to drink alcohol on the streets of Zielona Gora but, during the festival, it’s allowed.

The festival starts on the first Saturday of September and it is the only one of it’s kind in Poland. Around the town hall, the government places small booths and then the local wineries are invited to show up their stuff. We love the fact that the government is paying for all the booths – this is a way for them to lift up their region and what a great idea to arrange a wine festival in Poland.

Tasting wine at the festival

Some of the wineries that present their wine during the Festival offer their tastings for free. Some of them will charge you by the glass. Most of them are also selling bottles and that’s the best part. It’s not always easy to find good Polish wine in the store. Many of these companies are small and don’t produce that much wine each year to be on the shelves of large stores.

A tip is that if you find a wine that you like, buy it at the fair and don’t wait for another opportunity to buy it. Sure, it might be heavy to walk around with wine bottles. Another tip is to choose a hotel that is close by so that you can walk back and forth (if wine is REALLY your thing). Oh, how we loved the wine festival in Poland.

Did you know that the wine festival in Poland is an anual thing?!

Think of the environment – Bring your own glass

No, we didn’t practice as we preached but looking back, we wish that we did. Most of the places that offer wines will serve you in plastic cups. And once you finish the wine, they throw the plastic cup out. We did see some that served their wine in glasses (which is great) but most of them use plastic.

Yes, we know what you are thinking… “should we drink different wines from the same glass?” Honestly, yes! But if that’s a problem for you there is also the option of rinsing the glass with water between the tastings. Since there are so many different booths with wine, it is not ok to get a new plastic cup each time!

Did you know that the bars in Poland used to charge you for the amount of time you spent in the bar and not on what and how much you drank? It was a long time ago though!

Winobusy – visiting a vineyard and tasting wine

The buses leave several times a day and you can choose which winery you want to visit. You get all the information from the ticket booths. You pay 40 zlotych (9 euros) and then you get your ticket to the bus. Make sure to be on time for when the bus is leaving. We ended up taking the bus to visit the company Equus. Well, we didn’t go to their vineyard because that is way too far. We went to the Lubuskie Centrum Winiarstwa and Equus was waiting for us there with their wines.

This is a totally different experience compared to a “regular” visit to a wine producer. While sitting on the bus on our way to the vineyard, our guide on the bus was talking about the region and their importance of wine. If you speak Polish you will enjoy the bus ride a lot. If not, it’s just a way of transportation to the vineyard because of the language barrier. The guides only have tours in Polish.

Visiting the Lubuskie Centrum Viniarstwa

Since we were tasting the wines from the vineyard Equus, we went to a place where several different wineries are growing their grapes. At the center, several different winemakers are growing their grapes and they all work together. We got to see parts of the vineyard and we also got to try some of the grapes.

At the Lubuskie Centrum Viniarstwa, they have an interactive area and you can learn a lot about Polish wine and the winemaking in Poland. We got some free time to walk around and check out all the information in the building and then it was time for us to try some of the wines from Equus.

Wine tasting with Winnica Equus

If you want to enjoy some Polish wine, this is the place to be. We got to try three wines in total, two whites and one red. All the wines were really good and we would recommend them to anyone. The thing that was different compared to the wine tasting that we did at Winnica Saint Vincent was that the tasting with the “Winobusy” felt more about drinking. 

After we all tried a glass each (there were a lot of people), they let the alcohol flow freely. Usually, at a tasting, you will get a sip of each wine and then it’s finished. With Winobusy, we got to drink a lot more. Now, I’m not sure if that goes for all the tours or if it is only on our tour that day. We think that it is worth trying out a bus tour like this while being at the wine festival. And another big thumbs up for Polish wine.

A lot of things happening during the wine festival

Nine days of Polish wine and locally produced wine. Nine days of fun where you are allowed to taste wine in public streets. But at the same time, the Festival is not only about wine. Lots of different vendors are there, selling their stuff. You can buy food, candy, toys, books, and everything else. There is even a street where they have a flea market.

And there are several people that are selling honey and, that’s not strange at all since the Lubuskie region is famous for their honey. One vendor even has a display of bees – it’s awesome and great and so different to see. In Sweden that would probably be prohibited to have bees “uncontrolled” like that. There is also an amusement park with loads of carousels for the children and adults alike.

Entertainment during the wine festival

There is a schedule that you can get where you have all the information about the different things happening during the festival. There are a lot of concerts and lectures that are happening every day (and night) during the wine festival. When it comes to promoting Polish wine and the region – there is no limit to the events that are free for everyone to enjoy.

There are two main attractions that we believe you should not miss. You will see a lot of concerts while you just stroll around in the city center. We prefer to make the visit to the festival a spontaneous one and take each day as it comes. However, there are two things that you should make sure to do… Go with “Winobusy” (wine buses) to a vineyard and watch the parade (Korowod Winobraniowy).

The Parade Korowod Winobraniowy

When visiting the wine festival in Zielona Gora, make sure to be there on the day of the Korowod Winobranowy. It’s a parade and it is held on one of the festivals last days. It’s huge and it’s a spectacular parade that you need to experience. We had no idea what it was and what to expect. It was on our schedule that we were supposed to see the “thing”. Our Polish is not that great so we just went there without knowing what we would be watching.

The parade lasts for about two hours and it’s constant of dance, music, and fun. Think a smaller version than the carnival in Rio or the one in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Still, this is a big deal for the city and it’s a huge deal for local companies and wineries of the region.

Did you know that the first parade (Korowod Winobraniowy) was held in 1840?!

Parade with free wine and happy people

The Korowod Winobraniowy is all about Polish wine and showing off. All the different wineries that are having their wine on display during the festival are at the parade. Here they promote their products and if you’re lucky, you might snatch a glass of wine. But the parade is a lot more than just Polish wine – there are a lot of schools and local companies that walk in the parade and promote themselves.

Cars, motorcycles, props and everything in one awesome mix. It’s fun, it’s great and it’s a must-see while visiting the festival. A tip is to turn up a while before the parade starts so that you can get a good spot. We ended up at the beginning of the parade but you can see it just fine from everywhere. If you are planning to visit the wine festival in Poland – check out their website.

Museum of Ancient Torture and Wine in Zielona Gora

This museum is not only open during the wine festival. This is a museum that is dedicated to wine and to torture. Not sure what the combination of the two is implying but we decided to check it out while being in Zielona Gora. The entrance fee will set you back 10 zlotych (2,50 euros) and it is a fair price we believe.

The museum has one part that is dedicated to the history of wine and then there’s a torture part. No, there isn’t much that combines wine and torture, unless you drink too much and it’s the morning after. Jokes aside, the museum is a small one and there are even other things in the museum that don’t have anything to do with neither wine nor torture. But hey, if you are here and you have the time – check it out and make sure to see the huge glass mural inside.

Address: Aleja Niepodległosci 15, Zielona Gora.
Entrance fee: 10 zlotych (about 2,50 euros).
Opening hours: Wednesday – Friday: 11:00 – 17:00. Saturday: 10:00 – 15:00. Sunday: 1o:00 – 16:00.

The wine trail in the Lubuskie region

The wine festival in Poland is the time when most of the wineries come together and show their prized wines in the city center of Zielona Gora. However, if you can’t be there during the festival, there’s still a lot of places that you can visit and have Polish wine. The Lubuskie Region has made a list of all the wineries along a wine trail. Lubuskie region is also famous for their honey so the trail is really “the trail of wine and honey”.

However, since we didn’t visit any honey farms in the region – we have decided to focus on just the wine part of the trail. If you are interested in Polish honey you can read about our visit to a honey farm in Poland here. For now, we stick to the wine and here is the list of the wineries that are included in the trail. We haven’t been to all of them but we believe that they are all worth a visit.

Samorzadowa Winnica w Zaborze

This winery is located inside the Lubuskie Centrum Winiarstwa, a regional wine center of Lubuskie. They have a spot where they are allowed to grow their grapes.
Address: Winiarska 1, 66-003 Zabór.
Started: 2013.
Size: 35 hectares (but not everything belongs to this winery).
Offer: Tastings and events.
Types of grapes: Tauberschwarz, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Solaris, Traminer and Zweigelt.
Website: www.lubuskie.pl/winnica-zabor

Stara Winna Gora

Address: Górzykowo 22, 66-131 Górzykowo.
Started: 1997.
Size: 6 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard and a store.
Types of grapes: Pinot Noir, Regent, Riesling, Saint Laurent, Saphira, and Traminer.
Website: www.winnydworek.pl

Winnica Cantina

Address: Mozow 13, 66-100 Sulechow.
Started: 2006.
Size: 1,2 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, a visit to the vineyard and, a store.
Types of grapes: Bianca, Dornfelder, Pinot Gris, Regent, Riesling, and Rondo. 
Website: www.winnicacantina.pl

Winnica Cosel

Address: Kozla 107, 66-008 Kozla.
Started: 2003.
Size: 8 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard and a store.
Types of grapes: Aurora, Riesling, Rondo and, Suroczynski.
Website: www.hoder-cosel.com

Winnica Equus

We got to try their wine during the festival. We went with “Winobusy” to the Lubuskie Centrum Winiarstwa and they had their tasting there. They offer some really good wines! You can read more about our visit there above in this article.
Address: Mierzecin 17, 66-520 Dobigniew.
Started: 2006.
Size: 1 hectare.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard and, a place where you can buy grape plants.
Types of grapes: Cabernet Dorsa, Chardonnay, Johanniter, Kerling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Regent, Riesling, Rondo, Solaris and, Traminer. 
Website: www.winnicaequus.pl

Winnica Hiki

Address: Bycz 34, 67-115 Bycz.
Started: 2006.
Size: 1 hectare.
Offer: Tastings.
Types of grapes: Acolon, Cabernet Cortis, Dornfelder, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Solaris, Traminer and, Zweigelt.
Website: www.facebook.com/Winnica-Hiki-1620097138236587/

Winnica Ingrid

Address: Łaz 54, 66-003 Łaz.
Started: 2008.
Size: 0,5 hectares.
Offer: Tastings and visit to the vineyard.
Types of grapes: Alibernet, Devin, Muller Thurgau, Muscat Moravsky, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Saint Laurent and, Zweigelt. 
Website: www.winnicaingrid.pl

Winnica Jedrzychow

Address: Ignacego Domeyki 12B, 65-012 Zielona Góra.
Started: 1986.
Size: 0,25 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard and, a place where you can buy grape plants.
Types of grapes: Aurora, Chrupka Rozowa, Pinot Noir, Reisling and, Traminer. 

Winnica Julia

Address: Stary Kisielin – Pionierów Lubuskich 15, 66-002 Stary Kisielin.
Started: 2003.
Size: 0,2 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard and, a place where you can buy grape plants.
Types of grapes: Chrupka, Dornfelder, Gewirztraminer, Kernling, Pinot Noir, Regent, Saint Laurent, Silvaner, Solaris and, Veltliner.
Website: www.winnicajulia.pl

Winnica Kalina

Address: Sieniawa 70, 66-220 Sieniawa.
Started: 2008.
Size: 0,3 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard and, a place where you can buy grape plants.
Types of grapes: Dornfelder, Rondo and, Solaris.
Website: www.facebook.com/Winnica-Kalina-568043816578092/

Winnica Krucza

Address: 66-014 Buchałów.
Started: 2001.
Size: 4 hectares.
Offer: Tastings and visit to the vineyard.
Types of grapes: Different local varieties. 
Website: www.winnicakrucza.pl

Winnica Kinga

Address: 28, 67-100 Stara Wieś.
Started: 1985.
Size: 1,5 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard and, a place where you can buy grape plants.
Types of grapes: Chardonnay, Hibernal, Pinoy and, Seyval Blanc.
Website: www.winnicakinga.pl

Winnica na Lesnej Polanie

Address: Proczki 3, 66-003 Proczki.
Started: 1999.
Size: 1,5 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard and, a place where you can buy grape plants.
Types of grapes: Bianca, Dornfelder, Muller Thurgau, Oporto, Ortega, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Traminer and, Rozowy.
Website: www.winnicanalesnejpolanie.pl

Winnica Marcus

Address: ul. Cicha 1; Sterków, 66-010 Nowogród Bobrzański.
Started: 2009.
Size: 1,3 hectares.
Offer: Tastings and visit to the vineyard.
Types of grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sylwaner, Syrah and, Tannat.
Website: www.winnicamarcus.pl

Winnica Milosz

Address: Łaz 65, 66-003 Zabó.
Started: 2004.
Size: 2,7 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard, a place where you can buy grape plants and, live music.
Types of grapes: Devin, Muller Thurgau, Oporto, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Traminer and, Zweigelt. 
Website: www.winnicamilosz.pl

Winnica Mozow

Address: Mozów 63, 66-100 Mozów.
Started: 2009.
Size: 2,5 hectares.
Offer: Tastings and, a place where you can buy grape plants.
Types of grapes: Chardonnay, Leon Milot, Golubok, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and, Zweigelt.
Website: www.winnica-mozow.pl

Winnica w Palacu Wiechlice

Address: Wiechlice 45 b, 67-300 Wiechlice.
Started: 2009.
Size: 1 hectare.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard, hotel, spa and a Restaurant.
Types of grapes: Cabernet Cortis, Johanniter, Regent, Rondo, and Solaris.
Website: www.palacwiechlice.pl

Winnica Park Winny – Palmiarnia

Address: Wrocławska 12a, 65-001 Zielona Góra.
Started: Probably in 1826.
Size: 1,2 hectares.
Offer: Restaurant and live music.
Types of grapes: Aurora.
Website: www.palmiarnia.zgora.pl

Winnica Saint Vincent

We got to visit this place and check out their vineyard and taste their wine. Here you can read more about our visit there.
Address: Borów Wielki 57E, 67-124 Nowe Miasteczko.
Started: 2009.
Size: 6,5 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, visit the vineyard and a store.
Types of grapes: Gewurztraminer, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Regent, Riesling and, Rondo.
Website: www.winnicasaintvincent.pl

Winnica Senator

Address: Markiewiczowej 40, 67-105 Niedoradz.
Started: 2005.
Size: 0,1 hectares.
Offer: Tastings and visit the vineyard.
Types of grapes: Biona Cwietoczny, Gruner Veltliner, Liwandyskij Czarny, Malvazja, Rehberger, Riesling, Schönburger, Sylvaner, Syrah and, Tauberschwarz.
Website: www.manufakturasenator.pl

Winnica w Palacu Mierzecin

Oh, how much we fell in love with this place. We got to spend two amazing days at this palace and it was amazing! You can read all about this palace here.
Address: Mierzęcin 1, 66-520 Mierzęcin.
Started: 2004.
Size: 6,75 hectares.
Offer: Tastings, parties, visit the vineyard, hotel, restaurant, spa and a store.
Types of grapes: Kerling, Regent, Solaris and Zweigelt.
Website: www.palacmierzecin.pl/winnica

Winnica w Paradyzu

Address: 66-203 Gościkowo.
Started: 2005.
Size: 7 hectares.
Offer: Take a walk here.
Types of grapes: Different grapes for sweet wines.
Website: www.paradisus.pl

Winnica w Skansenie w Ochli

Address: ul. Muzealna 5, 66-006 Ochla.
Started: 1994.
Size: 8 hectares.
Offer: Tours around the vineyard with an audioguide.
Types of grapes: Aurora, Cabernet Dorsa, Chrupka Zlota, Gewurtztraminer, Golubok, Kerling, Pinot Gris, Regent and, Skarb Panonii.
Website: www.muzeumochla.pl

Winnica Winiarka.pl

Address: Kiełpin.
Started: 2008.
Size: 0,4 hectares.
Offer: Tastings and a store.
Types of grapes: Cabernet Carol, Dornfelder, Kernlinga, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling and, Zweigeltrebe.
Website: www.winiarka.pl

In 2021 the wine festival is held from september 4 and 12:th