Weinbaumuseum am Zürichsee
The museum in a historic barn on the Au peninsula tells the story of viticulture on Lake Zurich, with a 1761 beam press and a historic vineyard.
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About the museum
The Gesellschaft für das Weinbaumuseum am Zürichsee was founded in 1968 to present the history of the region's viticulture to a broad public. The initiators came from a group that had already wanted to set up a "Wii-Puure-Museum" in the Küsnachter Zehntentrotte (tithe wine press) in 1960; when this site finally failed in 1970, attention turned to an agricultural building on the Au peninsula that had previously been used by the Wädenswil specialist college for fruit, wine and horticulture.
In 1976 the converted barn received its future centerpiece: a roughly twelve-meter-long wooden beam press, built in 1761 in Zürich-Unterstrass, which is among the largest still-functioning presses in Switzerland. The museum opened in 1978.
Today it shows on two floors how wine was grown and pressed on Lake Zurich in the past and present, and also leads groups into the small historic vineyard behind the house. On the peninsula there is also a variety garden with around 250 grape varieties. The museum continues to collect equipment, documents and media on Lake Zurich viticulture and is run as an independent association that is currently developing a new permanent exhibition.
Highlights
- Wooden beam press from 1761, one of the largest still-working ones in Switzerland
- Historic vineyard directly behind the museum
- Variety garden and demonstration plot with around 250 grape varieties and 39 training systems
- Museum bistro and wine shop with Lake Zurich wines
- Guided tours with tastings, including the historic Räuschling variety
Permanent exhibition
- Weinbau am Zürichsee – Across two floors, equipment, presses and documents show how wine was grown and pressed on Lake Zurich in the past and today; the large 1761 beam press stands on the first floor.
- Founded
- 1978
- Operated by
- Gesellschaft für das Weinbaumuseum am Zürichsee
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 10 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 16 · Children up to 16 years old accompanied by their parents enter free |
| Groups | –Guided tours and tastings for groups by quote (online calculator on the website); max. 20 people per group. |
| Admission with guided tour incl. 1 glass of Riesling-Silvaner (members) | CHF 20 |
| Admission with guided tour incl. 1 glass of Riesling-Silvaner (non-members) | CHF 30 |
The admission price of CHF 10 is stated as the price for the special exhibition. According to the museum, the Museumspass and Raiffeisen card are valid free of charge for individual admissions, but not for group admissions.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The first floor with the large exhibits is step-free; the exhibition on the second floor and the gallery on the third floor can only be reached by stairs. Groups with mobility restrictions should get in touch in advance.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 16 |
|---|
Children up to 16 years old have free admission when accompanied by their parents.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Aubrugg · 300 m
By train to the "Au ZH" station (about 600 meters, roughly 7 minutes' walk on a flat gravel path). Alternatively, from Wädenswil station take bus no. 121 to "Aubrugg" and then walk about 300 meters. By boat to "Halbinsel Au" (about 15 minutes on a steep footpath).
By car
Parking available
Public parking on the Au peninsula a few steps from the museum; on sunny Sundays it fills up quickly.
The museum recommends arriving by public transport.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Museum bistro (wine, Plättli cold platters, quiche, coffee and cake, in summer under the linden tree) and wine shop with around 40 wines from Lake Zurich winegrowers, open on Sundays.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
On request, the whole museum with the press room and attic can be rented, or the Stube with around 40 seats and a small kitchen (only for storing catering food, no crockery).
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | One-hour museum and vineyard tours for groups, optionally with an aperitif or tasting; special tours of the variety garden and the training garden. On selected Sundays public tours take place (program on the website). Tastings take place in the heated Stube or in the bistro. |
