30 by the glassKrems
A wine boutique and tasting bar in central Krems pairing over 200 Austrian and select international labels with regional charcuterie, truffles and cheese. Knowledgeable staff guide visitors through Smaragd vs Federspiel comparisons.
The list: Over 200 Austrian and international labels with a strong focus on Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. Curated themed tastings led by winemaker Wolfgang Gansdorfer.
Pours: Wachau Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Kremstal Riesling Alte Reben, Kamptal Grüner Veltliner Reserve
40 by the glassKrems
The evening wine bar in Krems that stays open until 01:00, pairing over 100 Austrian labels with a warm kitchen. Wines are sold at shop prices, making this one of the best-value wine-by-the-glass programs in Lower Austria.
The list: 100+ Austrian wines poured at vinothek prices with daily Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal focus. Hot kitchen Monday to Saturday from 16:00 with Austrian wine-pairing plates.
Pours: Wachau Riesling Smaragd, Grüner Veltliner Federspiel, Kremstal Zweigelt
20 by the glassDürnstein
A Heuriger wine tavern nestled against the medieval city walls of Dürnstein, open from the afternoon until midnight. The garden garden overlooks the vineyard terraces and the Danube, with a traditional cold-platter menu alongside regional wines.
The list: Wachau-focused wine list heavy on regional Grüner Veltliner and Riesling producers. Garden terrace with Danube views for warm-weather sipping.
Pours: Dürnstein Grüner Veltliner, Wachau Riesling Federspiel, local Zweigelt
15 by the glassKrems
One of the top wine taverns in the Krems valley, run by brothers Johann and Michael Müllner. The 500-year-old walls of this urban Heuriger in Krems's Stadtgraben set the backdrop for own-estate wines poured alongside cold platters.
The list: Own-estate Kremstal wines plus selected Wachau producers. Traditional Heuriger program with cold buffet and seasonal hot specials.
Pours: Kremstal Grüner Veltliner, Kremstal Riesling, Zweigeltrosen
25 by the glassKrems
The sky bar and wine lounge at Steigenberger Hotel & Spa Krems, perched on a vineyard rise above the old town with UNESCO landscape views. The Smaragd bar runs a focused all-Austrian wine list with evening flights.
The list: Curated Wachau and Lower Austria wine bar with sky roof terrace. Structured Smaragd vs Federspiel comparison flights and a short list of international benchmarks.
Pours: Wachau Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau Riesling Smaragd, Wachau Federspiel
20 by the glassUnterloiben
A carefully renovated country inn in Unterloiben with a Wachau-focused wine list and upscale tavern cuisine. The wine selection centres on Tegernseerhof and Dürnstein producers; Friday to Tuesday kitchen service.
The list: Wine list rich in Wachau Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, with a particular focus on wines from Weingut Tegernseerhof. Paired with refined tavern cuisine.
Pours: Tegernseerhof Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau Riesling, Federspiel selections
30 by the glassDürnstein
The historic wine cellar bar of the only 5-star hotel in Lower Austria, housed in a 17th-century castle overlooking the Danube. Over 400 years of accumulated Wachau bottles available in the cellar bar, which is accessible to day visitors.
The list: 400-year-old historic cellar showcasing hundreds of Wachau bottles. Bar list spotlights Vinea Wachau Smaragd producers alongside a curated international selection.
Pours: Dürnstein Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau Riesling Smaragd, Loibenner Riesling
20 by the glassDürnstein
The bar and restaurant of the 4-star Hotel Richard Löwenherz, occupying a former convent in the heart of Dürnstein. Third-generation Thiery family hospitality pairs fine Wachau wines with regional cuisine in a historic riverside setting.
The list: Focused Wachau and Austrian wine list served alongside Danube-view fine dining. Speciality in Riesling and Grüner Veltliner from Dürnstein and Loiben appellations.
Pours: Dürnstein Riesling Smaragd, Loibenner Grüner Veltliner, local Federspiel
15 by the glassDürnstein
The intimate vine-room wine bars at Gartenhotel & Weingut Pfeffel, a family wine estate hotel 900 metres west of Dürnstein. Own-estate Wachau wines pour alongside garden-to-table cuisine; the bar offers rare blind tastings of house apricot and pear spirits.
The list: Two cosy wine parlours in the hotel serving exclusively own-estate Wachau wines in all three classifications: Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd. Blind tastings of house spirits at the bar from 21:00 with 3-night stays.
Pours: Pfeffel Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Pfeffel Riesling Federspiel, house Marillenbrand
12 by the glassWeißenkirchen
A classic Wachau Heuriger opening on weekdays from 15:00 and weekends from 11:00. The garden overlooking the apricot orchards and terraced vineyards of Weißenkirchen makes this the quintessential Wachau wine-tavern experience.
The list: Own-estate Weißenkirchen wines from Heuriger Denk plus the daily rotating Thal Wachau selection, covering the full Vinea Wachau classification spectrum.
Pours: Weißenkirchen Grüner Veltliner, Weißenkirchen Riesling, Federspiel selections
12 by the glassMautern
The seasonal wine tavern at Austria's oldest winery and the first biodynamic estate in the Wachau. Open late April to early November, Wednesday to Saturday, under a century-old tree in the garden; Christine Saahs' organic Austrian menu is inseparable from the wine.
The list: Exclusively Nikolaihof biodynamic Demeter-certified wines paired with Christine Saahs' traditional Austrian organic cuisine. Back-vintage rarities available by the bottle.
Pours: Nikolaihof Riesling Smaragd, Nikolaihof Grüner Veltliner Spätlese, Nikolaihof im Weingebirge
20 by the glassDürnstein
The sought-after pop-up Heuriger in the baroque Kellerschlössel garden, open only two weekends each summer with views of the Ried Kellerberg terraces. A Wachau-bucket-list evening combining wine flights with traditional regional snacks.
The list: Full Domäne Wachau wine range served in the baroque garden. Specialist evenings focus on vertical Smaragd comparisons during the two dedicated summer weekends.
Pours: Domäne Wachau Ried Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd, Domäne Wachau Terrassen Grüner Veltliner, Wachauer Gemischter Satz
10 by the glassKrems
The Steinertor shop and Apricot Lounge of Bailoni, Austria's first Wachau apricot distillery founded 1872, in the heart of Krems. Fresh apricot dumplings, schnapps tastings and liqueur flights pair the history of Wachau distilling with seasonal apricot delicacies.
The list: Austria's apricot liqueur tasting bar. The lounge serves Bailoni apricot aperitifs, Marillenfrizzante, apricot cake and dumplings alongside the full spirits portfolio in the historic Steinertor shop.
Pours: Bailoni Wachauer Gold Marillenlikör, Bailoni Marillenbrand triple-distilled, Marillenfrizzante
15 by the glassMelk
Rudolf Gottwald's Vinothek at the western gateway of the Wachau in Melk, founded 1999. The shop selects exclusively from the immediate region and offers sit-in tastings; an ideal first stop for visitors arriving from Vienna by train.
The list: Curated Wachau and Kremstal selection from small-production growers, celebrating 25 years of independent wine retail. Quality-and-regionality purchasing philosophy.
Pours: Wachau Riesling Smaragd, Kremstal Grüner Veltliner, Kamptal Riesling
10 by the glassWeißenkirchen
A traditional family Heuriger on the main road through Weißenkirchen, open from noon for wine and cold platters. The sun garden backed by vineyards makes this a popular stop on the Wachau cycling route.
The list: Own-estate Weißenkirchen Grüner Veltliner and Riesling with daily cold platter service. Traditional Heuriger format open from midday on the Landstraße.
Pours: Weißenkirchen Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Weißenkirchen Riesling Federspiel