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.
Address: Thal-Wachau 5, 3623 Kottes-Purk, Wachau
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.
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.
The Kunsthalle Krems (contemporary art gallery) runs a wine bar that integrates the region's Wachau and Kremstal wines with art openings and musical events. On evenings with a live performance or opening, the bar has a listening-bar atmosphere unusual for the rural Wachau zone.
The list: The bar at Krems's contemporary art museum pours Wachau and Kremstal wines alongside exhibition openings and evening cultural events. Music and performance programs are frequent, creating a listening-bar atmosphere on event nights.
Wein und Co is Austria's leading wine retail chain and the Krems location serves as a wine bar in the evenings, with a consistently good Wachau and Lower Austrian selection. A reliable evening stop in Krems for visitors who want a broad-range tasting experience.
The list: Wein und Co's Krems branch is open into the evening, offering a broad by-the-glass selection of Austrian wines including Wachau producers, with a relaxed wine-bar atmosphere and occasional tasting events.
A village gasthaus rather than a tourist wine bar, the Alte Riedmuehle in Spitz has a relaxed evening atmosphere where local winegrowers are regulars. A useful evening stop when visiting producers in the upper Wachau.
The list: Village gasthaus in Spitz with a comfortable bar area serving Wachau wines from local producers, including some not widely available in export markets. A relaxed local-facing venue where local winegrowers are regulars.
The Roman cellar at Nikolaihof, incorporating masonry from the 1st-century Danube limes garrison, creates one of the most unusual evening tasting atmospheres in Austria. Wine is served directly beneath 2,000-year-old stonework. Access is by appointment or via group bookings.
The list: On evenings when the Roman cellar at Nikolaihof is open for visits, the estate serves wine from the current vintage in the historic stone vault that incorporates Roman-era construction from the Faviana garrison period.