VIAJUR winery in Svätý Jur: tastings in the Pálffy cellars

Wine in old cellars on the edge of Bratislava

Svätý Jur is an old wine town at the very foot of the Little Carpathians, just beyond the Bratislava city limits. It is surrounded by terraced vineyards and has a winegrowing tradition of more than 700 years. Its historic centre has been a protected town heritage reserve since 1990, and wine is still made in the old cellars under the houses along the main street.

One of the most prominent buildings in the centre is the Pálffy manor (Pálffyovský kaštieľ) on Prostredná street. Wine has been made in its cellars for centuries, and today it is home to the boutique winery VIAJUR. It combines the old vaulted tunnels with modern technology: pressing, fermentation in tanks, bottling and barrel ageing all take place in the historic cellars. The winery has also revived once-abandoned vineyards on the slopes around the town, planted with vines typical of the Little Carpathians.

The range includes several lines — the classic “Klasik”, “Pro rege et patria”, “Ars in vino”, sparkling wines and even canned frizzante — as well as fruit brandies, liqueurs and PiJUR grape juice.

Why go

• Wine Tour PRO PATRIA. An hour in the cellars with an explanation of the production and a tasting of three wines — a good choice for a first visit.
• Wine Tour PRO REGE. An hour and a half: the press house, the tank hall, the bottling line, the barrel cellar and six samples explained by a sommelier.
• “6 gold wines from France”. A themed tasting of six wines awarded gold medals at the international Vinalies Internationales competition in France.
• Corporate and group tastings. For companies the winery offers tasting rooms and tailor-made programmes.
• Open Cellar Days. In spring and autumn the manor joins the Open Cellar Days of the Little Carpathian Wine Route, when wineries in the towns and villages below the Little Carpathians open their doors to everyone.

What to taste and buy

The wine shop on Prostredná street sells all the current lines, sparkling wines, fruit brandies and liqueurs, plus grape juice for children and drivers. The best choice is what grows around the town: Little Carpathian Rieslings, Veltliner and red varieties. Gift vouchers for tastings are sold through the booking system on the website.

Practical information

Address: Prostredná 13/49, 900 21 Svätý Jur — in the centre of the town, on the main street. It is about 15 km from central Bratislava and about 10 km from Pezinok. Suburban trains on the Bratislava–Trnava line and city buses serve Svätý Jur, so it is easy to come for a tasting without a car — Slovakia has a zero-alcohol limit for drivers. The cellars and manor are on flat ground in the centre; no hiking is involved.

Hours and prices (as of October 2026): the wine shop is open Tue–Sat 12:00–20:00 and Sun 12:00–17:00, closed on Monday. Wine Tour PRO PATRIA €15 per person, PRO REGE €30, “6 gold wines from France” €30; groups up to 30, participants must be 18+. Tastings must be booked in advance: +421 905 503 827, [email protected].

Nearby

• The historic centre of Svätý Jur with Renaissance winegrowers’ houses and terraced vineyards above the town.
• Šúr National Nature Reserve — a rare alder swamp forest south of the town.
• Karpatská Perla winery in Šenkvice and the majolica workshop in Modra, further along the Little Carpathian Wine Route.

Official website: viajur.sk

Photos: cdn.viajur.sk; Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.