The Wachau
Our Home for Generations
Picturesque. Idyllic. Breathtakingly beautiful: The Wachau carries many attributes, and rightly so!
The Wine Jewel on the Danube
The Wachau is one of Austria’s most renowned wine regions. It extends along the Danube between Melk and Krems in Lower Austria. With a vineyard area of around 1,350 hectares, it is one of the country’s smaller but most significant wine regions.
Top Wines from Steep Slopes
The region’s approximately 100 individual vineyards are situated at elevations ranging from 200 to 450 meters above sea level, often on dramatic, steep slopes. The combination of these steep terraces, mineral-rich soils, and unique climatic conditions makes the Wachau one of the best white wine regions in the world.
The Wine Jewel on the Danube
The Wachau is one of Austria’s most renowned wine-growing regions and stretches along the Danube between Melk and Krems in Lower Austria.
With a vineyard area of around 1,350 hectares, it is one of the smaller but most significant wine regions in the country.
The approximately 100 individual vineyards of the Wachau are situated at an altitude of 200 to 450 meters above sea level and are often laid out on spectacular steep slopes.
The combination of steep terraced vineyards, mineral-rich soils, and unique climatic conditions makes the region one of the best white wine regions in the world.
The Secret of Fresh Wines
The Wachau benefits from a unique microclimate shaped by the influence of two major climate zones. Warm air masses from the Pannonian Basin bring hot summers and promote grape ripening.
Calm winds from the Waldviertel and the Dunkelsteiner Forest and the Danube as heat reservoir, create strong temperature fluctuations between day and night. These contrasts preserve the wines natural acidity and freshness.
Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus
The Guardians of Wachau’s Wine Culture: Uncompromisingly Unique
Vinea Wachau is a winemaker association in the Wachau, dedicated to preserving and promoting the region’s wine culture. Founded in 1983 by leading Wachau winemakers, it was established to protect the authentic identity of Wachau wines and ensure the highest quality standards.
- Strict Origin
Only wines from the Wachau are allowed to carry the Vinea Wachau seal. - Classification into Three Categories
Steinfeder, Federspiel, Smaragd - Traditional Winemaking
No enrichment — No concentration. - Commitment to Handcraft
Harvesting and selection are done by hand in the vineyard. - Emphasis on Terroir & Authenticity
The wines are meant to reflect the unique terroir of the Wachau. - Sustainability & Respect for Nature
Preserving the traditional cultural landscape of the Wachau.
Principles
Vinea Wachau has played a key role in establishing Wachau as one of the most renowned wine regions in the world.
Its strict rules ensure that wines from the Wachau are unique, terroir-driven, and of the highest quality.
Today, around 200 wineries are members of Vinea Wachau, ranging from small family-run businesses to internationally recognised estates.
