Saint Martin's Day (November 11) marks the traditional opening of the new wine season across Austrian wine regions including the Wachau. Heuriger (producer taverns serving the estate's own wine) ceremonially open their new vintage wines, and some villages hold public St. Martin's celebrations with Gansl (roast goose) dinners paired with the newest Steinfeder and Federspiel releases. The tradition is deeply embedded in the Lower Austrian calendar.
Open-cellar weekend at more than 100 Vinea Wachau member wineries along the Danube, where each estate pours several wines of the new vintage, including the first Smaragd wines of the year, from 10 am to 6 pm on both days. The 40 euro wristband also covers the Wachau buses, the Wachau railway and the Danube ferries, and the Saturday evening Steinfeder Night is held at Schloss Spitz.
Wine fair in the Dominikanerkirche in Krems, the origin of the wachau GOURMETfestival, where about 70 winegrowers selected by Vinaria from its wine guide pour their wines. The 2026 exhibitor catalogue lists Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal and other Lower Austrian estates, and Alimentari stands in the cloister let visitors taste and buy food products.
The Wachau Gourmet Festival is the region's flagship wine-and-food event, staged each spring at Loibnerhof and Schloss Durnstein. Visiting chefs collaborate with Wachau producers on multi-course dinners that pair Smaragd and Federspiel wines with seasonal dishes. A cellar walk programme allows day visitors to taste across a range of Vinea Wachau member estates during the festival period.
The Vinea Wachau association opens its member cellars each October during the harvest season, inviting visitors to taste directly from tank and barrel at estates across the valley.
The Lower Austria Wine Autumn is a region-wide celebration running from September through October, encompassing harvest events, open cellars, and wine markets across all of Lower Austria's wine zones including the Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal, and Wagram. Participating producers offer tastings, vineyard walks, and harvest experiences. The Wachau portion is particularly popular, set against the backdrop of autumn vine colours on the Danube cliffs.
The apricot blossom season in the Wachau transforms the valley into a pink-white floral landscape each April, drawing visitors from Vienna along the Danube by boat and bicycle.
Heuriger Season and Martinmas Opening, November runs 11 November. These are the wine tours and tastings in Wachau to book for the days around it; most cancel free up to 24 hours ahead.
Discover Krems & Stein in a delightful way! Among old wine-pressing courtyards, we'll sample finger foods and typical Wachau/Krems wines and share stories, with wit, f...
An exceptionally discreet carriage tour for 2 with fresh sandwiches & a bottle of sparkling wine from the winemaker
Discover Vienna’s top sights on a private 60-minute tour with a delicious Austrian lunch and a personal guide sharing insider stories, enjoy an exclusive, crowd-free e...