Enjoy Viez in Trier - Cider Tradition - Tourist-Information Trier

When the Romans moved north, they had to do without many of the things they had grown fond of back home in the warm Mediterranean region, such as wine. And so they discovered another inebriating drink, cider. It became a substitute wine while the newly planted vines grew. As a substitute for wine made from grapes, Roman cider was called vice-vinum... or so the story goes. Whether this story is actually true can no longer be conclusively determined.

But the name has remained: Viez! This is what cider has been called in the region between the Moselle and Saar since time immemorial. Viez, a exquisite drink in an infinite number of variations. There is pure apple Viez; blends with pear, quince or elderberry; and there is the sweet Viez, the unfermented apple juice. Traditionally, Viez is made dry, but there are no limits to the creativity and experimentation of the cider pressers. Every producer has her/his own secret recipe, often passed down through generations of the family. Viez is now also available as Secco, sparkling wine or champagne. Viez is produced with an alcohol content of 5 to 7 percent. This dry, tart drink harmonizes perfectly with savoury dishes.

The raw material for Viez comes from the numerous orchards in the so-called Saargau region between the Moselle and Saar rivers across national borders. Viez can be found in Lorraine, Saarland, the district of Trier-Saarburg and the western parts of the Eifel and Hunsrück, but especially in Luxembourg. Viez is therefore not only one of the most sustainable and traditional luxury foods in our region, it also promotes biodiversity by preserving orchards.

Products made of Viez in our Trier Shop »

By the way: Viez was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2024!
So if you would like to find out more about the uniqueness, protection and enjoyment of the Viez tradition, take a look at the nationwide list of intangible cultural heritage.