Sylvia Petz

As the daughter of innkeepers, I was exposed to fine food and, at least in theory, fine wines from a very early age. It shaped me for life. My parents' inn was located in Grein, in the Strudengau region on the Danube, and fittingly, it was called Gasthof Strudengau.

My mother was the head chef and entirely self taught. She brought the great influences of French cuisine to our small corner of Upper Austria, in the southern part of the Mühlviertel. Alongside outstanding traditional Austrian inn classics, the menu regularly featured dishes such as frog's legs, bouillabaisse, beef tartare and Beef Wellington. I truly grew up in a culinary paradise. I already knew from my grandfather that wine was something special. He would often take us to the Wachau to buy Bouteilles, bottled wines, as he called them. Of course, we also bought wine in the traditional two litre Doppler bottles.


Gasthaus StrudengauView original house brochure


  • Since September 2019: owner of »Sylvia Petz – Agency for organized enjoyment«
  • September 2009 until end of August 2019: together with Ruth Havel managing partner of havel & petz
  • January to May 2009: Management BÖG | Best Austrian Hospitality
  • 2005 to 2008: Palais Coburg Wine Event and PR Manager, Project Management World Wine Festival & Coburg Wine Open | www.palais-coburg.com
  • 2002 to 2005: Wieninger Winery, Vienna XXI, Marketing & Sales | www.wieninger.at
  • 1997 to 2001: my daughters Leah and Lisa are born
  • 1995 to 1997: Cape of Good Wines (wine import), Vienna I
  • 1994 to 1995: PBK-Ideenreich, advertising agency, Vienna X, assistant to the creative department

Education & advanced training:
  • 2022/24: Yoga Teachers Training, Pureyoga Wien | certificate „500h  Yoga Alliance
  • 2021/10 to 2022/02: Carbon Management in the Wine Industry, Porto Protocol Foundation, Porto (online)
  • 2021/09 to 2022/02: Speaker training at Freiraum Kommunikation, Vienna
  • 2015 to 2018: Masterstudies of Sustainability & Responsible Management, University of Applied Siences Bfi Vienna (2016: degree as Academic CSR Manager | 2020: Master of Science)
  • 2015: Wifi Trainer Academy
  • 2014: QuintEssence master class at plenum (CSR and sustainability management)
  • 2004 to 2006: The Uncomplete: Diploma of Wines and Spirits at the Wine Academy Austria
  • 2008: Project management methods, next level-academy
  • 2000 to 2001: Web design, Wifi Vienna
  • 1989 to 1993: Studies of Communication Sciences & Journalism, Italian & International Political Science, Universtity Vienna
  • 1985 to 1989: Social awareness and language acquisition in France, Israel and Italy
  • 1980 to 1985: Federal College for Fashion & Clothing Technology Michelbeuern, Vienna IX