KCD2 Wine Quest Complete Guide: In Vino Veritas Walkthrough

KCD2 Wine Quest Overview

In Vino Veritas is a side quest in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 that tasks Henry with uncovering the secrets behind the Sedletz Monastery's superior wine to help Casper Rudolf, a struggling winemaker in Kuttenberg, improve his failing business. This KCD2 wine quest represents a departure from combat-heavy content, instead focusing on investigation, social engineering, and stealth mechanics—making it an excellent opportunity to develop your character's dialogue and intelligence skills.[1]

The KCD2 wine quest is one of the most rewarding side quests in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, offering substantial Groschen rewards and valuable skill books. This comprehensive KCD2 wine quest guide will walk you through every step needed to complete the In Vino Veritas quest successfully.

KCD2 Wine Quest Location: Kuttenberg Region
KCD2 Wine Quest Giver: Casper Rudolf (western entrance of Kuttenberg, near the fountain)
KCD2 Wine Quest Requirement: Complete Main Quest 14 - Speak of the Devil[1] KCD2 Wine Quest Rewards: 425 Groschen (base completion) + up to 205 additional Groschen for optional objectives, Life in the Tavern IV (Drinking Skill Book), and Reputation increase[1]

Getting Started: Meeting Casper Rudolf for the KCD2 Wine Quest

To begin the KCD2 wine quest, upon arrival in Kuttenberg, head to the western entrance of the city near the fountain. You'll find Casper Rudolf standing behind a wine cart offering free samples. Accept his offer and taste his wine—the taste will be unpleasant, which prompts Casper to ask for your help. He explains that his wine business is failing because the Sedletz Monastery produces a superior product with what he believes is a secret ingredient or technique.[2]

Casper offers you 205 Groschen to investigate the monastery's wine-making process and discover their secret. Accept the KCD2 wine quest to receive your first major objective.[1]

KCD2 Wine Quest Objectives Breakdown

Stage 1: Optional - Acquire Casper's Wine Book

Difficulty: Easy to Medium | Time Required: 10-15 minutes | Reward: Knowledge boost

Before approaching the tavern for the KCD2 wine quest, Casper suggests studying his wine knowledge book to better understand wine terminology and tasting methods. This is an optional but highly recommended step that will help you pass dialogue checks with Havel more easily during the KCD2 wine quest.

Method 1: Persuade Adleta with Scholarship Skill (Easiest)

Travel south to the gardens outside Kuttenberg. You'll encounter Hugo Mannlicher guarding the entrance. If you have approximately 20 Charisma, speak with him about his sword and mention Smithing—he will grant you access to the gardens.[3]

Once inside, locate Adleta Mannlicher (Hugo's sister) sitting on a bench. Speak to her and select "We could become 'friends' as well." If your Scholarship skill is sufficiently high, you can recommend her a book, and she will agree to trade it for the wine knowledge text.[4]

Method 2: Gift Marigolds (Easiest Material Path)

The same dialogue option with Adleta allows you to offer flowers. Marigold flowers grow abundantly around the bench where Adleta sits. Collect 5-6 marigolds from the garden area and present them to her—she will trade the book immediately without requiring skill checks.[5][4]

Method 3: High Speech Skill Check

If your Speech skill is 16+, you can pass a persuasion check to convince her to trade the book.

Once you acquire Sir Bushek's Vintner Wisdom, read it thoroughly in your inventory. This grants you knowledge context for wine-tasting dialogue options and increases your familiarity with medieval wine terminology.

Stage 2: Impress Havel the Tavern Keeper

Difficulty: Medium | Time Required: 10 minutes | Critical Objective

This is the primary objective that unlocks the monastery's secrets in the KCD2 wine quest. Havel is the innkeeper of the Emperor Charles Tavern located in the northern part of Kuttenberg.[1]

Preparation Before Meeting Havel:

Charisma: Ensure you have at least 20 Charisma by equipping high-quality clothing and armor[4]
Drinking Skill: While optional, 15-20 Drinking skill makes passing subsequent checks easier
Wine Book: Having read Casper's wine book provides contextual knowledge that doesn't directly affect checks but helps you understand the dialogue

The Wine Tasting Dialogue

Enter the tavern, find Havel, and initiate conversation. Select the dialogue option "I'd like to speak to you about wine." He will invite you to sit and participate in a wine tasting challenge.

The dialogue sequence consists of multiple questions where Havel tests your wine knowledge. There are three confirmed working dialogue paths, each yielding the same outcome if you pass enough checks:

Path 1 - Germany Route (Most Common Success):[1]

When asked where you're from: Germany
When asked about German wine: Steinberger
When asked what's missing from the wine: It's missing ginger

Path 2 - France Route:[6]

When asked where you're from: France
When asked about French wine: Avignon
When asked what's missing from the wine: Ginger

Path 3 - Italy Route:[7]

When asked where you're from: Italy
When asked about Italian wine: Vin Santo
When asked what's missing from the wine: Ginger

Important Note: Regardless of which path you select, the critical answer is always identifying ginger as the missing element. The first two responses can vary based on region, but ginger is the universal correct answer that reveals the monastery's secret.[2][1]

Skill Check Mechanics:

Throughout the conversation, Havel will present skill checks. With 15-20 Drinking skill, you should pass at least 1-2 of the medium-difficulty checks. If you fail all checks, you have an alternate path (see "Fallback Option" below).[3]

Fallback Option - Havel's Ledger:

If you fail to impress Havel sufficiently, you can retrieve his personal ledger from his office on the third floor of the Emperor Charles Tavern. The office is the door on the left after going upstairs, and his ledger is in a dark-colored chest to the right upon entry. However, this triggers a trespassing warning and is a less elegant solution than passing the dialogue checks.[3]

Stage 3: Report Back to Casper

Difficulty: Easy | Time Required: 2 minutes

Return to Casper Rudolf at his wine stall by the fountain in western Kuttenberg. Select the dialogue option to tell him about your investigation results. Explain that the monastery's secret ingredient or technique involves ginger (or the incense/burning process that enhances the wine).[2]

Casper will thank you for this information and provide 55 Groschen as an immediate reward. At this point in the KCD2 wine quest, you receive the next major objective: infiltrating the monastery vineyard to obtain physical evidence of their secret.

Stage 4: Get Hired at the Vineyard (Highly Recommended)

Difficulty: Easy | Time Required: 5 minutes + optional 1 in-game day of work

The vineyard is located directly north of Kuttenberg. Casper suggests that getting officially hired will make accessing restricted areas and obtaining the secret much easier than attempting to sneak in as a trespasser. This approach is highly recommended for completing the KCD2 wine quest efficiently.[4]

Travel to the vineyard and speak with the Recruiter at the entrance. Select "I'm in!" to accept employment. This automatically triggers the Under the Straw Hat task, which runs parallel to this quest.[3]

The Recruiter will direct you to speak with Jerome, the vineyard caretaker. Jerome will explain that your job shift begins the next morning at 6:00 AM and involves basic labor tasks.

Optional Work Shift:

If you wish to complete the Under the Straw Hat task fully, return after sleeping and work in the vineyard from 6:00 AM onward. Your tasks include:

Picking thistle and other plants growing between vine rows
Carrying sacks from three fenced areas in the western part of the vineyard to the storage area beside the hut[8]

Completing your shift earns 5 Groschen and provides a legitimate reason to be in the vineyard. However, this is purely optional—you can proceed directly to stealing the secret without working.[8]

Stage 5: Find the Monastery's Secret (Sulphur Wicks)

Difficulty: Medium | Time Required: 15-20 minutes | Lockpicking Requirement

The monastery's secret is Sulphur Wicks—incense they burn in the wine cellar to enhance the wine's flavor. This is located in a restricted area requiring stealth or legitimate access. Finding these Sulphur Wicks is a crucial step in completing the KCD2 wine quest.[9]

Location: Main building of the vineyard → Wine cellar area

Route:

Enter the main building (central structure) of the vineyard
Move toward the kitchen area and look for stairs descending to the wine cellar[4]
In the cellar, you'll find a Medium-difficulty locked door
Lockpick this door (or steal the keys from Jerome if your Thievery is very low)
Enter the storage room and open the chest inside—you'll find Sulphur Wicks[9][1]

Lockpicking Tips:

Ensure your Thievery skill is at least 12-15 for the Medium-difficulty lock
Carry lockpicks in your inventory
If you're struggling, purchase a Quickfinger Potion from the apothecary located east of Casper's stall—this temporarily boosts lockpicking ability[10][4]
Alternatively, steal the keys from Jerome (Medium Thievery check) to open the door without lockpicking

Stealth Considerations:

Even if you're officially hired, the wine cellar remains restricted. Entering after hours (post-23:00 game time) is advised to minimize guards. If you complete the Under the Straw Hat work shift during the day, you gain a legitimate reason to be in the building, allowing you to lockpick the door during your break without suspicion.[11]

Stage 6: Optional - Collect Wine Seedlings for Casper

Difficulty: Easy to Medium | Time Required: 10 minutes | Optional but Rewarding

As part of the KCD2 wine quest, Casper also requests 5 wine seedlings from the vineyard to attempt growing his own grapes. There are 6 seedlings available in a private garden area of the vineyard.

Location: Exit the main building through the back, and look for a locked door to your left (west side of the structure). This door has a Hard lockpicking difficulty.[4]

Options:

Lockpicking: If your Thievery is 18+, attempt the Hard lock (prepare with a Quickfinger Potion)
Steal Keys: Obtain keys from Jerome to open the door without lockpicking
Access During Work Shift: Complete your work shift during the day to move around the vineyard more freely, then sneak into this private area when guards are distracted

Once inside the private garden area, collect 5 of the 6 available seedlings. Return these to Casper along with the Sulphur Wicks.[12][1]

Reward for Seedlings: An additional 425 Groschen upon completion, making this objective highly worthwhile if you have adequate Thievery or patience.[1]

Stage 7: Return to Casper with Your Findings

Difficulty: Easy | Time Required: 2 minutes

Travel back to Casper's wine stall in Kuttenberg to complete the KCD2 wine quest. Present him with:

Sulphur Wicks (required—the monastery's secret)
Wine Seedlings (optional but recommended—nets 425 additional Groschen)
His wine book (optional—if you retrieved it from Adleta)

Upon completion of the KCD2 wine quest, Casper rewards you with:

425 Groschen (base reward)
Life in the Tavern IV (Drinking Skill Book)[1]
+Reputation increase in Kuttenberg

If you brought the wine seedlings, add an additional 425 Groschen to your total earnings, bringing the KCD2 wine quest's maximum reward to 855 Groschen plus the skill book.

Character Build Optimization for the KCD2 Wine Quest

To successfully complete the KCD2 wine quest, you'll want to optimize your character build with the following attributes and skills:

Ideal Attributes

Attribute	Recommended Level	Why It Matters
Charisma	18-20+	Required to initially engage with Havel; affects dialogue reception[4]
Drinking Skill	15-20+	Significantly improves wine-tasting dialogue checks with Havel[1]
Thievery	12-18+	Essential for lockpicking the wine cellar (Medium) and seedling room (Hard) doors[1]
Speech	14-18+	Helps with persuasion checks when acquiring the wine book from Adleta[3]
Scholarship	15+	Alternative to Speech for convincing Adleta to trade the wine book[4]

Useful Perks and Equipment

Tight Pockets III: Increases carrying capacity for seedlings and other loot
Burgher's Dignity: Improves reception in taverns and with merchants
Thievery Perks (Lockpicking): Reduce lockpicking difficulty by 1-2 levels
Well-Groomed Equipment: Wear high-quality clothing during Havel interactions to boost perceived Charisma[4]

Consumables to Prepare

Quickfinger Potion (2): Purchased from apothecary (east of Casper); greatly aids lockpicking
Saviour Schnapps: For saving before attempting difficult dialogue checks or lockpicking
Strength Potion: Useful if your Carrying Capacity becomes strained with seedlings and other loot

Common Pitfalls and Solutions for the KCD2 Wine Quest

When attempting the KCD2 wine quest, players often encounter these common issues. Here are proven solutions:

Problem	Solution
Failing Havel's dialogue checks	Ensure Drinking skill is 15+; read Casper's wine book first; attempt the Germany dialogue path (most forgiving)
Cannot lockpick the cellar door	Use Quickfinger Potion; or steal keys from Jerome via pickpocketing; or return after gaining employment to access during working hours
Cannot lockpick the seedling room door	This is a Hard lock; prioritize getting 18+ Thievery, use Quickfinger Potion, or steal Jerome's keys
Guards catch you in restricted areas	Complete the Under the Straw Hat work shift during the day to legitimize your presence; access restricted areas after 23:00 when guard patrols are minimal
Adleta won't trade her book	Pick marigolds from the garden (easiest), or raise Scholarship/Speech to 16+ for skill checks
Missing dialogue option with Casper	Ensure you've first spoken to Havel and learned the ginger secret; then return to Casper's stall and select the investigation option

KCD2 Wine Quest Completion Checklist

Use this checklist to track your progress through the KCD2 wine quest:

☐ Meet Casper Rudolf and accept the KCD2 wine quest
☐ Optional: Retrieve wine book from Adleta (marigold or skill check method)
☐ Optional: Read Casper's wine book to improve dialogue understanding
☐ Travel to Emperor Charles Tavern and meet Havel
☐ Complete wine tasting (Germany/France/Italy dialogue path)
☐ Report findings to Casper
☐ Travel to vineyard north of Kuttenberg
☐ Get hired by speaking to Recruiter and Jerome
☐ Optional: Complete one work shift during the day
☐ Lockpick cellar door and obtain Sulphur Wicks
☐ Optional: Lockpick seedling room and collect 5 wine seedlings
☐ Return to Casper with all items
☐ KCD2 Wine Quest Complete!

Narrative Context and Lore

In Vino Veritas ("In Wine, Truth") serves as a window into 14th-century Bohemian commerce and the fierce competition between secular business and monastic enterprises. The KCD2 wine quest reflects King Charles IV's historical wine-growing revival, which encouraged both nobles and merchants to establish vineyards. Casper represents the common merchant struggling against institutional competition, while the Sedletz Monastery symbolizes the economic power of religious institutions in medieval Europe.[1]

The "secret ingredient" of ginger reveals period-accurate wine-making practices—medieval monks did indeed use spices and herbs to preserve and flavor wines, as refrigeration did not exist. This KCD2 wine quest thus balances gameplay mechanics with historical authenticity.[1]

Conclusion

In Vino Veritas is an accessible yet layered side quest that rewards social intelligence and preparation over combat prowess. With the right preparation—adequate Drinking and Thievery skills, a read-through of Casper's wine book, and strategic use of consumables—players can complete this KCD2 wine quest with minimal friction while earning a substantial 855 Groschen (if all optional objectives are completed) and advancing their dialogue and Thievery skills.

For players seeking to maximize earnings and side quest completion rates in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, this KCD2 wine quest represents an excellent investment of time and resources. The KCD2 wine quest offers one of the best reward-to-effort ratios among all side quests in the game.