Cal,
why NOT Grinzing???

Grinzing is THE Vienna place of Heurigen, THE local spot for wine taverns (Heurigen), if you want a whiff of the famous Austrian/Viennese viniculture, there is no better, and no more convenient place to go!
Make your way there by public transportation, then stroll through the lanes of one tavern after the other, one prettier than the next, sit down for an 1/8 of Veltliner, before checking out the place next door . .
Simply avoid the touristy places, the ones that loudly advertise their menues in English or Japanese.
Simple as that!
I will help if you have more questions.
Corinna

Cal,
I also meant to mention that Grinzing really is THE wine district of Vienna - I do not doubt that some taverns have exploited foreign tourists, and folklorized the shebang -
just enter taverns that are local, instead of internationalized - you won't regret it!

Grinzing is vibrant history, not Disneyworld!

In Summer and Autumn, take the time to enjoy the Heurigers (Vienna's local wine taverns) in Grinzing, the wineyard district of Vienna. You can enjoy the young wines, eat local austrian dishes, and experience the wine tavern life that the local austrians enjoy so much. You can sit out in the garden, drink lots of young wines, and see the grapevines hanging above your head. When you're hungry, you can go inside the heuriger and get cold or warm food from small selections behind the counter. Don't expect to get hot freshly cooked food in heurigers.

Directions: Take the U4 underground train to Heillegenstadt and then Bus no. 38A to Grinzing.

Corinna,
The Heuriger are better up in your area of the beautiful Wachau.
Cal, Go to the Schubel-Auer:
http://www.schuebel-auer.at/
in Nussdorf or try Zum Alten Pflug in the Am Schopfwerk area (take U6)
http://www.alterpflug.at/
Grinzing is a nice stroll by day, but to me it has become too touristy.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Perchtoldsdorf

Hi Cal,
... we have greatly enjoyed Heuriger in Perchtoldsdorf and the above link can direct you there. I don't know how the contraction is spelled, but many there call it "Pedersdorf". Hope you enjoy yourselves... P.

Well, personally, I agree that Grinzing is a bit touristy. Prices are higher than in Sievering or Neustift am Walde and at times the 40 foot tour buses are too prevalent. Neustift am Walde has a string of nice heurigers along the main street. Most of them have nice gardens that back up onto extensive vineyards. Schreiberhaus is our personal favorite, although Wolf and Fuhrgassl-hubr (sp?) and a number of others are good. Zimmerman is excellent(right in the vineyards) but is a bit off the main drag. The 35A bus departs from beside the Spittelau U-bahn station (U4) and you can take it almost to the end (Salmonsdorf). The bus goes right up the mainstreet in Neustift am Walde (2 and 3 stops before the end or ask the driver)... (More to come)

...Another option is to take the 39A bus from Heiligenstadt station (end of U4) to the end in Sievering. It is actually the little valley between Grinzing and Neustift am Walde. It is the least touristy of them all. Very "local" (no tourists at all). Very pleasant, but a bit small and sleepy. Koehler has a great garden (and its next to the FKK pool) Haslinger has a nice rooftop patio in nice weather, and Nikisch probably has the best food. A small hotel, "Zur Agnes" is also right at the bus stop. Great access to the Vienna Woods! We live in Sievering and spend most weekends hiking in the woods and vineyards and visiting the Heuriger in Sievering and Neustift am Walde. My Cholesteral level is suffering, as is my liver, but the area is certainly a little piece of heaven! Hope this helps. Have a good trip!

Dear Alex,
cool that you know about my lovely Wachau :-))
True that the best Heurigen are up my way, but I haven't quite figured out how to explain that one!!!
:-))

Corinna,
I know your area pretty good and remember it with great affection. We have biked the Donau from Aschach an der Donau down to Krems sampling wine, bier, and good food all the way. You must be happy that Fruhling is on the way.

Thomas,
How do you find the Zur Agnes these days? Are Marta and her husband still running things?

Grinzing is lovely for an afternoon stroll. My boyfriend and I went mid-week and had the place much to ourselves! Peaceful and beautiful. Though we thought it might be buzzing with Americans on the weekend. We are headed next to Graz... does anyone have advice on where to eat?