F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Kellerberg
Producer: fx-pichler
Single-vineyard Riesling Smaragd from the Kellerberg Ried above Oberloiben. Slate mineral, lime zest and dried apricot with long ageing potential.
Price: EUR 70-110 at retail
A UNESCO World Heritage valley carved by the Danube between Melk and Krems, where gneiss and loess terraces produce dry Grüner Veltliner and Riesling under the Steinfeder-Federspiel-Smaragd tier system.
Drink your way through Wachau
Map of Wachau
Every vineyard, tasting room, wine bar and cellar we cover in Wachau, pinned. Click a pin for the page.
Signature wines of Wachau
The iconic bottles that define Wachau.
F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Loibenberg
Producer: fx-pichler
Full-bodied Smaragd Grüner Veltliner from the Loibenberg Ried: ripe stone fruit and white-pepper spice on a broad mineral backbone with persistent finish.
Price: EUR 60-90 at retail
Emmerich Knoll Riesling Smaragd Loibenberg
Producer: emmerich-knoll
Benchmark Smaragd Riesling from the Loibenberg Ried: apricot, chalk mineral and bright acidity. Fuder-aged; rewarding 8-12 years of bottle age.
Price: EUR 50-75 at retail
Emmerich Knoll Riesling Smaragd Schütt
Producer: emmerich-knoll
Structured Smaragd Riesling from the Schütt Ried above Loiben: Fuder-aged with stone-fruit depth, chalk mineral and firm, persistent acidity.
Price: EUR 55-80 at retail
Prager Riesling Smaragd Achleiten
Producer: prager
Prager Achleiten Riesling Smaragd from the celebrated amphibolite-gneiss Ried: apricot, crushed granite and exotic spice with firm, structured acidity.
Price: EUR 55-80 at retail
Prager Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Wachstum Bodenstein
Producer: prager
Reserve Grüner Veltliner Smaragd from Prager's select Achleiten parcels: intense pepper spice, concentrated stone fruit and exceptional mineral length.
Price: EUR 70-120 at retail
Vineyards to know in Wachau
A handful of the estates we send friends to when they are in Wachau.
Weingut F.X. Pichler
Seven-generation Pichler estate in Oberloiben producing Smaragd Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from the Kellerberg and Loibenberg sites. 20 hectares planted half Grüner Veltliner, half Riesling.
Signature: fx-pichler-kellerberg-riesling-smaragd, fx-pichler-loibenberg-gruner-smaragd, fx-pichler-unendlich
Weingut Emmerich Knoll
Family estate since 1825 at Unterloiben, working Schütt, Loibenberg, Pfaffenberg and Kreutles sites. Celebrated for age-worthy Riesling and Grüner Veltliner Smaragd bottlings.
Signature: knoll-schütt-riesling-smaragd, knoll-loibenberg-gruner-smaragd, knoll-pfaffenberg-riesling-smaragd
Weingut Prager
Bodenstein-run estate in Weissenkirchen with 18 hectares split across Achleiten, Klaus, Steinriegl, Hinter der Burg and Hollerin sites. The Wachstum Bodenstein series bottles selected Achleiten parcels as Smaragd.
Signature: prager-wachstum-bodenstein-riesling-smaragd, prager-wachstum-bodenstein-gruner-smaragd, prager-achleiten-riesling-smaragd
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger
Five-generation estate in Spitz known for the Singerriedel Riesling from gneiss-granite terraces above Spitz. Honivogl Grüner Veltliner Smaragd is a warm-year, full-bodied expression of Wachau Veltliner.
Signature: hirtzberger-singerriedel-riesling-smaragd, hirtzberger-honivogl-gruner-smaragd, hirtzberger-hochrain-riesling-smaragd
Nikolaihof Wachau
Oldest documented winery in Austria (nearly 2,000 years of history) at Mautern on the south bank. Demeter biodynamic since 1971. Famous for the Vom Stein Riesling Smaragd and long-aged Hefeabzug Grüner Veltliner.
Signature: nikolaihof-vom-stein-riesling-smaragd, nikolaihof-hefeabzug-gruner-smaragd, nikolaihof-vinothek-riesling
Domäne Wachau
Wachau's largest estate, representing around 250 vintner families across 440 hectares. Founded 1938 as Winzergenossenschaft Wachau, renamed Domäne Wachau in 2008. Roman Horvath MW oversees the range alongside Heinz Frischengruber.
Signature: domaene-wachau-achleiten-gruner-smaragd, domaene-wachau-kellerberg-riesling-smaragd, domaene-wachau-terrasen-federspiel-gruner
Sub-appellations of Wachau
Spitz an der Donau
Wösendorf in der Wachau
Joching
Weissenkirchen in der Wachau
Dürnstein
Loiben (Unterloiben and Oberloiben)
Wachau wine, FAQ
When is the best time to visit Wachau for wine?
Peak wine-travel season in Wachau is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
Do I need an appointment to taste at Wachau estates?
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
What hours do Wachau cellars and tasting rooms keep?
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
How does tipping work at Wachau tastings?
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
What is the one wine to try in Wachau?
If you only open one bottle, open F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Kellerberg by fx-pichler. It is the wine most associated with Wachau.