XV - Österreichisch-Britische Gesellschaft

A Sum Most Magical: Wine and Wonder and Welcoming Warmth

Review of the 15th ABS “Heurigen” Evening on Friday, 27 June 2025, at the Buschenschank Wolff

(Fotos: © Wolfgang Geissler)

By Wolfgang Geissler

Introducing – A Tradition in Full Bloom

On 14 July 2011, the inaugural Heurigen Evening of the Austro-British Society (ABS) took place, marking the beginning of what has since become a cherished annual tradition. While the first gathering was held at Zeiler am Hauerweg, every subsequent event has found its home at Buschenschank Wolff, nestled in Neustift am Walde.

What began as a joint effort between the ABS and the now-defunct Austro-British Chamber (ABC) has, since 2020, evolved into a distinctly ABS-flavoured affair — casual, convivial, consistent. And yet, each year brings something unique.

Previously on the 14th ABS Heurigen – Friday, 28 June 2024

The number 14, as we discussed last year, carried more meaning than one might think. Symbolising balance, transformation, and the cusp of maturity, it turned out to be a surprisingly apt number for our gathering.

Despite a damp forecast and a soggy start, members gathered undeterred at Buschenschank Wolff, shielding their Spritzers from the drizzle and warming their spirits with laughter and Liptauer. Eighty members registered—a record! The event, as always, was self-financed and self-enjoyed: no speeches, no subsidies, no strings attached. Just good wine, great company, and the shared ritual of an Austrian summer evening.

And Now… the 15th ABS Heurigen

Fifteen. The halfway point between 10 and 20. A number that carries just enough weight to be taken seriously yet still sparkles with youthful energy.

Whereas 13 was clouded by superstition and 14 marked transition, 15 feels like a confident stride into adulthood—if a Heurigen evening could indeed be personified.

So, what do we make of 15?

Fifteen: A Cocktail of Curiosities

Mathematical Mischief

Let’s begin with its mathematical personality. Fifteen is the product of two primes: 3 and 5—both odd, both feisty, both influential. Like any good Heurigen, it’s an odd mix that somehow just works. Even more delightfully, 15 is the “magic constant” in the legendary 3×3 magic square.

Remember that one?

8 1 6

3 5 7

4 9 2

No matter which row, column, or diagonal you choose, it always adds up to 15. The symmetry is satisfying, like a perfectly aligned table setting under a vine-draped pergola.

Fifteen, it turns out, is order disguised as spontaneity—exactly like our Heurigen.

The Chemistry of Spark

Phosphorus—the 15th element on the periodic table—is essential for life, energy, and the occasional incendiary experiment. Matches, fireworks, and DNA owe their sparkle to phosphorus. And isn’t that just like a Heurigen evening? A little bit of food, a lot of wine, and suddenly—laughter, ideas, music, perhaps even a bold political opinion or two.

Fifteen has that energy. Not too dangerous, but certainly not inert.

Fifteen in the Flesh

Culturally, the number 15 represents that delicate age when one thinks they’ve seen the world and yet hasn’t quite paid the bill. In many Latin cultures, a quinceañera marks a girl’s 15th birthday—a ceremonial step into womanhood.

We, too, might say that the ABS Heurigen is now leaving behind its innocent early years and embracing its role as a grown-up among events. Still fun, still casual—but confident now. Seasoned. Capable of navigating both Gemischter Satz and Brexit in one conversation.

Fifteen Players on the Field

A rugby team has fifteen players. Each with a role. Each contributing to a fluid whole. The analogy to our Heurigen evening is irresistible. Some members run with the ball (the conversationalists), some tackle the tricky topics (the philosophers), some kick off the fun (the musicians), OK, we didn’t have any at the Heurigen Wolff, and some hold the line (the ever-watchful board members, perhaps).

Together, they form a team. And like any good team, we don’t need a coach—we just need a reason to meet. And maybe a second or third glass.

Numerology and the Angelic Vibe

Numerologists love the number 15. They say it blends independence (1) with adventure and unpredictability (5), summing up to 6—a number associated with harmony and care.

Fifteen, therefore, is the number of charm and community. It’s social without being chaotic, optimistic without being naïve. It’s the energy of an evening when the wine flows, the cheeks glow, and nobody wants to be the first to leave.

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Andy Warhol famously said that everyone would one day have 15 minutes of fame. But the ABS Heurigen? It’s aiming for more.

Year after year, it endures. No press coverage. No hashtags. Just word of mouth, email invites, and members and friends who mark the date with a sense of quiet anticipation. And somehow, that makes it timeless.

To Be Continued…

As I write these lines, the 15th ABS Heurigen is still fresh in memory—or perhaps still a few sips away, depending on your reading time. So let’s turn to the evening itself: the weather, the turnout, the small dramas, and the lasting memories.

The 15th ABS Heurigen in Practice

We did indeed gather—undaunted, if a little damp. On a sweltering Viennese afternoon that saw the mercury nudge 34 degrees, my wife and I arrived by 35A bus at Rathstraße, Neustift am Walde, only to be greeted by a veritable monsoon. Umbrellas in hand, we navigated what had become a temporary river, all the way to the familiar entrance of Buschenschank Wolff.

There we were welcomed with typical warmth and practicality by our valiant President, Prof. Dr. Kurt Tiroch, who greeted us with a sparkling glass of Prosecco and the sage counsel that the first few rows of tables were blessedly protected by large umbrellas—thus offering at least relative dryness.

A brief moment of urban panic arose when our charming Serbian waiter announced the age-old Vienna mantra “Bares ist Wahres” (cash is king), leaving me staring mournfully at my credit card. But no crisis lasted long: the ever-obliging manager downstairs quickly resolved the matter with friendly efficiency.

In the end, the spirit of the evening triumphed over weather, logistics, and payment systems alike—proof that the Heurigen experience, even in its fifteenth incarnation, remains equal parts improvisation and tradition.

Looking Ahead: The Sweet 16

Next year, we’ll meet again. Will sixteen feel different? Sweeter? More stately? You’ll have to come and see. If the pattern holds, it will be both familiar and unexpected — like the perfect sip of something chilled beneath the vines.

Same place. Slightly different number. Same feeling.

Allow me, then, to close with a touch of hexameter:

***

Fotos von der Veranstaltung