Estate housed in the Prandtauerhof, a Baroque jewel designed by Jakob Prandtauer. 14 hectares with traditional viticulture methods; boutique hotel and acclaimed restaurant on site.
Signature wines: holzapfel-liebenberg-riesling-smaragd, holzapfel-achleiten-gruner-smaragd, holzapfel-achleiten-riesling-smaragd, holzapfel-gruner-smaragd-joching
Tip: Stay overnight at the Prandtauerhof and dine in the arcade courtyard for the full Wachau experience.
Address: Prandtauerplatz 36, 3610 Joching, Austria, Wachau
Multi-generation Joching estate evolving from grape production to quality self-marketing. 8 hectares across terraced Wachau sites; the attached Heurigen is popular with locals.
Tasting: Wine tavern (Heurigen) attached to the estate; walk-ins welcome.
Signature wines: hoellmueller-ried-pichl-gruner-smaragd, hoellmueller-sauvignon-blanc-wachau
Tip: The Sauvignon Blanc is a rarity in the Wachau and worth seeking out.
Multi-generation Joching estate evolving from grape production to quality self-marketing. 8 hectares across terraced Wachau sites; the attached Heurigen is popular with locals.
Tasting: Wine tavern (Heurigen) attached to the estate; walk-ins welcome.
Signature wines: hoellmueller-ried-pichl-gruner-smaragd, hoellmueller-sauvignon-blanc-wachau
Tip: The Sauvignon Blanc is a rarity in the Wachau and worth seeking out.
Third-generation family estate at Spitz foot working 8.5 hectares from St. Michael to Schwallenbach. Singerriedel, Hartberg and Tausendeimerberg are key sites. Gelber Muskateller and Frühroter Veltliner add variety to the portfolio.
Tasting: Seasonal Heurigen (wine tavern) on site; direct sales available.
Signature wines: hofstaetter-singerriedel-riesling-smaragd, hofstaetter-tausendeimerberg-gruner-smaragd
Tip: The Gelber Muskateller Federspiel is one of the few compelling Muscats in the Wachau.
Mathias Hirtzberger set up his own estate in Wösendorf in 2014, independent from the Franz Hirtzberger domaine. The Hofmeisterei restaurant attached to the winery is a wine-tourism draw.
Tasting: Restaurant and wine shop on site (Hofmeisterei); tastings combined with dining.
Signature wines: weinhofmeisterei-hirtzberger-gruner-smaragd, weinhofmeisterei-hirtzberger-riesling-federspiel
Tip: Book the Hofmeisterei restaurant for a combination of regional Wachau cuisine and Mathias's wines on the terrace.
Family estate in Wösendorf working steep sites at Höll, Kirchweg, Kollmütz and Hochrain. A Vinea Wachau member committed to site-specific farming with active green cover management.
Tasting: Direct cellar-door sales; vineyard walk tastings by arrangement.
Signature wines: schrey-hochrain-riesling-smaragd, schrey-holl-gruner-federspiel
Tip: Vineyard walks with tasting can be arranged for groups wanting an off-the-beaten-path Wachau experience.
"Honest viticulture without compromise" is the motto of this 1786-founded estate in Wösendorf. Picturesque 13th-century farmhouse cellar; the family has been active in the region for over 200 years.
Tasting: Direct sales at the 13th-century farmhouse; Buschenschank seasonal tavern.
Signature wines: machherndl-gruner-smaragd-wosendorf, machherndl-riesling-federspiel-wosendorf
Tip: The historic farmhouse and barrel cellar offer a genuine old-Wachau atmosphere that larger estates cannot replicate.
Father-and-son estate at Vießling on the western edge of the Wachau, where the Spitzer Graben valley opens toward the Waldviertel. 10 hectares planted 60% Grüner Veltliner, 35% Riesling, all white wine.
Tasting: Direct cellar sales (Ab Hof); by appointment for groups.
Signature wines: hoegl-viessling-gruner-smaragd, hoegl-spitzer-graben-riesling-smaragd
Tip: The westernmost position in the Wachau imparts a distinctive cooler-climate intensity to the Rieslings.
