Winemaking has a special place in the history of Zielona Góra. An ancient legend has it that after the death of Bacchus at the hands of the Titans, goddess Athena Pallas sprinkled the area of future winemaking regions with his blood, and one of the drops fell on Grünberg, starting the winemaking tradition in the area.
Thanks to the favourable conditions and the special climate, the area under vines in Zielona Góra and its surroundings quickly grew to 1,600 ha. Varieties grown included: Weißer Riesling, Műller-Thurgau, Weißer Burgunder, Silvaner and Blauer Spätburgunder. Górzykowo plays an important role in the history of winemaking in Zielona Góra. It is a magical place that attracts extraordinary people. Alexander von Humboldt and his friend Pastor were enchanted by this unique hill. They began to spend the summer there, tending to their unique garden, and eventually turned the hill into a vineyard. To this day, monuments of nature, such as mighty oaks and lindens, grow there. They were probably shaped by Alexander and Pastor to now guard the vineyard and its history.
The first records of grape vine cultivation in the Lubuskie region date back to the 10th century. At the beginning of the 15th century, all vineyards died as a result of various disasters and frosts. However, as early as 1466, the Duke of Głogów, Henry VI, brought grape vine cuttings from Hungary, Austria and France, thus giving rise to the vineyards of Zielona Góra.
The tradition of viticulture has become part of the identity of the people of Zielona Góra. The annual grape harvest celebration was one of the most popular customs. There used to be no dates that determined the beginning and end of the harvest. From the mid-19th century, the Grape Harvest Festival was proclaimed by the City Council and included in the calendar of municipal celebrations. Winegrowers formed processions to express their gratitude for a successful harvest, led by the god of wine, Bacchus. The tradition is still cultivated by the people of Zielona Góra, with a Wine Harvest Festival organised every September. This is the biggest celebration in the city of Zielona Góra, attended by guests from all over Poland and abroad. A wine zone is set up in the city centre, where visitors can taste wines from regional vineyards and have a chat with winemakers.
