The small wine-growing region of Sopron is located in the extreme northwest of Hungary, bordering directly on to the Austrian border. Sopron is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Hungary, as early as 33 BC the Celts cultivated wine here, immediately followed by the Romans. Bavarian settlers later intensified viticulture, so that in the 14th century Sopron became probably the most important wine-growing region in the country. A special feature at that time was that the wine cellars were all located within the city; the city walls thus providing protection against enemy attacks. Today, Sopron covers an area of approximately 1,500 hectares and is home to a broad selection of grape varieties. The core of viticulture here, however, is the Kekfrankos, known on the Austrian side as Blaufränkisch. Here, viticulture benefits from the immediate proximity of Lake Neusiedl, as does Burgenland on the Austrian side. The shallow lake warms under the sun in spring and summer, and contributes to excellent grape ripening in a cool autumn. The soils consist of sand, clay and gravel, interspersed in some places by loess with an overlay of brown earth. Sopron has a varied topography. In the hilly landscape, the choice of the right grape variety in the right location is therefore of particular importance, as the higher vineyards are naturally cooler. The small but very beautiful region is now a World Heritage Site.