30 by the glassUnterloiben
The wine bar and restaurant at Loibnerhof is the Wachau's most serious dining venue and a destination for wine-focused evening visits. The menu integrates Wachau wines with regional cuisine and the wine list spans current and library vintages.
The list: Extended by-the-glass list with older vintages of Wachau Smaragd Riesling and Gruner Veltliner from the cellar. The Loibnerhof wine list is one of the most comprehensive in the Wachau, with vertical flights of key producers available by arrangement.
25 by the glassDurnstein
Domane Wachau's Heuriger is the most accessible evening wine venue in Durnstein, with a generous courtyard and cooperative pricing. A starting point for evenings before or after dinner in the village.
The list: The Domane Wachau cooperative's Heuriger in Durnstein pours the full cooperative range: Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd across Gruner Veltliner and Riesling, making it the easiest no-appointment evening wine stop in the valley.
10 by the glassUnterloiben
The Heuriger at Knoll is a rare opportunity to drink benchmark Wachau Smaragd wines in a farmhouse setting directly at the source. Open on designated evenings throughout the season; check the green pine-branch signal outside for current opening.
The list: Emmerich Knoll's estate Heuriger serves only the estate's own wines: current-release Federspiel and Smaragd Gruner Veltliner and Riesling, with Kellerberg and Loibenberg single-vineyard bottlings in stock.
8 by the glassMautern
An evening at Nikolaihof's Heuriger is among the most distinctive wine experiences in Austria: an ancient estate with Roman foundations, Demeter-certified biodynamic wines, and a courtyard setting in Mautern. Seasonal and limited; advance inquiry essential.
The list: Nikolaihof's seasonal Heuriger opens the estate's historic courtyard and medieval vault for tasting of their biodynamic Wachau wines, served with local produce in an antique stone courtyard.
20 by the glassDurnstein
The Richard Lowenherz hotel in Durnstein occupies a former monastery building and maintains an excellent wine collection. Their evening wine bar in the Gothic-influenced interior is one of the most atmospheric venues in the village.
The list: The Richard Lowenherz hotel in Durnstein maintains an exceptional wine cellar and serves Wachau wines by the glass in the hotel's vaulted bar until late evening.
15 by the glassThal-Wachau
A village wine shop in Thal-Wachau that doubles as a tasting bar in the evenings, offering a relaxed alternative to the more tourist-oriented venues in Durnstein and Weissenkirchen. Particularly strong on smaller-production Wachau estates.
The list: Local wine shop and tasting bar in the Thal-Wachau village stocking a broad range of Wachau DAC producers, open in the evenings during the tourist season.
10 by the glassWeissenkirchen
One of Weissenkirchen's most respected estate Heuriger evenings, the Prager family opens their courtyard on designated evenings during the season. The green pine branch (Fichtenbuschen) outside signals that the Heuriger is open for the evening.
The list: Weingut Prager's estate Heuriger opens in summer and autumn evenings, serving the full range from Steinfeder through Smaragd Riesling and Gruner Veltliner at estate prices in the producers's own courtyard.
8 by the glassSpitz
One of Spitz's iconic estate Heuriger evenings, Hirtzberger's courtyard serves benchmark Wachau Riesling at cellar-door prices. The Singerriedel Smaragd is one of the most sought-after single-vineyard bottlings in the region and appears here directly at source.
The list: Franz Hirtzberger's estate Heuriger in Spitz serves only the estate's wines including Steinporz Federspiel and Singerriedel Smaragd Riesling from the terraces above Spitz, by the glass in a village courtyard setting.