Lesser Poland Wine Route

The Lesser Poland Wine Route links vineyards scattered across the region and shows that wine from Małopolska is no longer a curiosity. According to the organiser, the route now brings together 65 vineyards, while the region as a whole has at least 200 vineyard plantations, about 90 of which sell wine commercially – more than any other Polish province. There is no single starting point or single itinerary: it is a network of estates you visit for a tasting, an overnight stay or a cycling loop among the vines.

How the route began

The idea came from the Gorce Tourist Organisation, which created the route together with the Małopolska regional government and Wojciech Bosak – a designer of many vineyards, wine expert and university lecturer, and author of a guidebook describing the vineyards along the route. The project has been funded from the regional budget from the outset. The route grew quickly: at the start of 2020 it had 40 plantations, five more having joined the previous year. Besides vineyards, it includes agritourism farms serving local produce, apiaries and venues on the Małopolska Gourmet Route.

What's in the glass

Alongside classic whites, reds and rosés, dry and off-dry, Małopolska produces successful sweet and sparkling wines. Winemakers like to experiment: long-macerated white wines known as "amber" or "orange" wines have appeared, as have natural wines made without added sulphur. More and more vineyards are going organic, and the first biodynamic ones have appeared.

Open Vineyard Days and cycling

The highlight of the year is Open Vineyard Days: winemakers open their estates to visitors, pour wines, ciders and meads, serve local delicacies, and the route's oenologist gives talks on Małopolska winemaking. It's a chance to see places normally closed to the public. The route also hosts summer open-air cinema in the vineyards and dinners with guided wine pairings. Cyclists can choose from 22 wine-tourism routes – the cycling guide describes them as closed loops of 30–40 km, with maps and GPX tracks. An easy option is the loop from Tyniec towards Srebrna Góra hill (29 km); a harder one is the Wiśnicz Foothills loop from Nowy Wiśnicz (38 km).

Tripto tips

Vineyards are farms, not venues with walk-in trade – arrange a tasting before you come or pick an Open Vineyard Days date. Plan 2–3 vineyards close to each other per day and make sure you don't have to drive back, or combine the visits with one of the cycling loops. The current list of vineyards and events is in the route's free mobile app.