Grape harvest jobs in Austria: Grüner Veltliner, Blaufränkisch and Styrian slopes

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How does the grape harvest work in Austria?

Pickers cut bunches with secateurs, sort out damaged berries, fill buckets and crates and carry them to bins or the tractor. On terraced slopes, hand harvesting remains essential, and quality-focused estates insist on careful sorting in the vineyard itself.

Which wine regions hire?

Lower Austria is the largest wine region, with the Weinviertel, Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal, Wagram and Thermenregion; Grüner Veltliner and Riesling dominate. The dry-stone terraces of the Wachau require a fully manual harvest, often on steep and narrow plots.

Burgenland, around Lake Neusiedl, the Leithaberg and Mittelburgenland, produces Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and sweet wines. Styria, known for Sauvignon Blanc on steep hillsides, and Vienna, with its Gemischter Satz field blends, complete the map of autumn recruitment.

When is the harvest?

The first picking for sparkling wine starts in late August or early September. The main harvest runs from mid-September to late October; in Burgenland the main picking often begins around mid-September. Late-harvest and sweet wines can stretch into November.

What profile do estates want?

Estates look for fit people who are comfortable on slopes and in all weather, available six days a week for three to six weeks. Harvest experience helps; driving a tractor or working in the cellar can lead to better-paid tasks during the season.

Who can pick grapes in Austria?

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work freely. Many pickers come from Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic or Romania, neighbours of the eastern wine regions. The employer must register them with the ÖGK before the first bunch is cut.

What are the rules for third-country nationals?

Third-country nationals go through the 2026 agriculture and forestry quota, kept at previous levels and open to a 30 percent overrun in peak months. The special six-week harvest-helper quota was abolished and merged into the regular agricultural quota.

The estate applies to the AMS for the Beschäftigungsbewilligung at the earliest six weeks before picking starts. It lapses if work does not begin within six weeks of its start date, so a realistic date based on ripeness matters a great deal.

Does Stammsaisonier status apply?

Yes, for workers employed in agriculture for at least three months per season in three of the last five calendar years. A grape harvest alone rarely lasts three months, so it has to be combined with other vineyard or farm work to reach that threshold.

Which visa for a few weeks?

For a harvest under 90 days, a Schengen C visa is enough, requested in person at an Austrian embassy or consulate with the AMS permit. Regular seasonal workers can obtain a multi-year C visa valid for up to five years, but each season still needs its own permit.

How much do grape pickers earn?

Pay follows the province's agricultural agreement. In Styria, the farm-workers agreement for 2025 set 10.76 euros gross an hour for casual day labourers and 1,864.73 euros a month for farm hands; staff in Buschenschank wine taverns received 12.98 euros an hour including supplements.

Pro-rata 13th and 14th salaries are added, along with accrued paid leave. Paying per crate or per bucket is possible, but it can never push earnings below the hourly collective-agreement minimum that applies in the province where the estate is located.

How is the work organised?

Days start early, once the dew has dried, and follow the weather: rain can halt picking and then force longer days. Overtime must carry a supplement, and all hours, including waiting time on site, must be recorded by both sides.

Where do pickers stay?

Estates often house pickers on site or in the village, with shared meals. In Styria, full board and lodging was valued at 196.20 euros a month in 2025; for a few weeks the deduction must be calculated pro rata and set out in writing.

Costs and documents

How to find a grape-picking job

1. Choose a wine region and check its usual harvest dates for the vintage.
2. Search AMS alle jobs using Weinlese, Lesehelfer or Erntehelfer Weinbau.
3. Contact estates directly in June or July, before crews are formed.
4. Ask in writing for the hourly rate, expected duration, accommodation and meals.
5. Third-country nationals have the estate file the AMS permit application.
6. Keep your dates flexible, as the start depends on grape ripeness.
7. Record your hours daily and, if paid by output, the number of crates.

Mistakes to avoid

• Travelling without written confirmation when the start date can slip by several days.
• Accepting a flat fee with no reference to the hourly collective-agreement minimum.
• Working without ÖGK registration, even for a two-week harvest.
• Forgetting rain gear and footwear suited to steep slopes.
• Paying an intermediary for a place on a harvest crew.

Frequently asked questions

These answers are for foreign pickers considering a season on an Austrian wine estate. Pay depends on the province and is renegotiated every year, so the agricultural agreement for the estate's region is what counts at the time of signing.

Is the harvest good for a first stay?

Yes, the harvest is short, needs few qualifications and often has a family atmosphere. It is a good first experience for an EU citizen, provided you accept physical work, weather-dependent hours and sometimes basic accommodation.

How long does the harvest last?

On a family estate, picking often lasts two to four weeks. Larger estates and regions that combine dry wines with late harvests can offer six weeks or more, between late August and November, especially in Burgenland.

Can I move on to other harvests?

Yes, Styrian apples are picked until October and Marchfeld vegetables until November. For third-country nationals the total remains capped at nine months within twelve, with a separate permit for each employer.

Who can help if something goes wrong?

The Sezonieri campaign gives free advice to farm workers in thirteen languages on pay, hours and accommodation. The provincial Landarbeiterkammer can also step in when wages are unpaid or working conditions breach the collective agreement.