Sabile

A tiny town in the Abava valley famous for its ancient hillside vineyard, one of the northernmost in the world and once listed in Guinness records. The surrounding Abava River valley offers gentle scenery and a wine festival.

Things to do

• Sabile Wine Hill — Climb the historic terraced vineyard (Vīna kalns), one of the northernmost open-air vineyards in the world and once noted by Guinness records.
• Sabile Wine Festival — Visit in late July for the town's famous annual wine festival with tastings, music, and market stalls celebrating the local grape harvest.
• Old town stroll — Wander the small historic center with its old wooden houses, the Lutheran church, and traces of the town's former Jewish community.
• Abava River valley — Explore the gentle, wooded Abava valley by foot or canoe, taking in one of Latvia's most scenic river landscapes.
• Pedvāle Art Park — Drive a few kilometers to the open-air sculpture park set across rolling farmland just outside Sabile.
• Abava Waterfall (Rumba) — See the wide, low Abava rapids nearby, a popular spot for picnics and river bathing in summer.
• Sabile Sound Witch Broom Museum — Discover quirky local folk collections and craft displays in the town's small cultural spaces.

Food to try

• Sabile wine — Taste locally produced wine from the Wine Hill grapes, a rare northern vintage tied to the town's identity.
• Rupjmaize (dark rye bread) — Try the dense Latvian sourdough rye bread, often served with soups or as an accompaniment to local meals.
• Skābeņu zupa (sorrel soup) — A tangy green soup made with sorrel and egg, popular in the Kurzeme countryside in spring and summer.
• Farmhouse cheese with caraway — Sample Latvian sklandrausis and caraway-flecked cheeses sold at village markets and festivals.
• Fresh berries and honey — Buy seasonal forest berries, cherries, and local honey from roadside and market vendors in the Abava valley.

Local customs & good to know

• Time your visit for the wine festival — The town is quiet most of the year, so the late-July wine festival is the liveliest and most authentic time to experience Sabile.
• Respect the vineyard rules — The Wine Hill is a heritage site, so follow signs and stay on paths rather than picking grapes.
• Bring cash for small vendors — Local market stalls and small cafes may not accept cards, so carry euros in cash.
• Learn the Jewish heritage — Sabile had a significant Jewish community before WWII, and visitors can find the old cemetery and memorials reflecting this history.

Nearby

• Talsi — 22 km
• Kuldīga — 38 km
• Lake Engure (Gulf of Riga Coast) — 40 km
• Ķemeri National Park (Gulf of Riga Coast) — 56 km