Wine in Krems, Wachau

Winzer Krems ★ 4.0

Major Kremstal cooperative representing 700 growers over 1,200 hectares. One of Austria's largest estate-bottled wine producers and a leading exporter. Based at Sandgrube 13 in Krems, the gateway city to the Wachau.

Tasting: Visitors centre at Krems; large tastings and group tours available year-round.

Signature wines: winzer-krems-sandgrube-gruner-smaragd, winzer-krems-riesling-pfaffenberg

Tip: The Sandgrube Grüner Veltliner Smaragd is among Austria's best-value quality whites; the visitor centre offers comprehensive tastings.

Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13 ★ 4.4

The flagship tasting space of the Winzer Krems cooperative, the largest wine producer in Lower Austria. The immersive Sandgrube 13 Wein.Sinn experience moves through eight interactive cellar stations culminating in a 4-D film. Open Monday to Saturday.

Taste Krems - Weingut Stadt Krems ★ 4.5

A joint tasting experience operated by Weingut Stadt Krems (founded 1452) and Weingut Stift Göttweig (founded 1083) in the historic Stadtgraben cellar. Two structured programmes pair wines from both estates with artisanal regional foods.

Weinhimmel Wein & Genuss ★ 4.4

A wine boutique and tasting bar in central Krems with more than 200 Austrian and international wines. Winemaker Wolfgang Gansdorfer runs themed tastings with truffle, ham and cheese accompaniments; a regional standout for browsing and walk-in pours.

Steigenberger Smaragd Wine Bar & Vinotheque ★ 4.3

The hotel wine bar at Steigenberger Hotel & Spa Krems, positioned on a vineyard rise with panoramic views of the Wachau UNESCO landscape. The Smaragd bar and vinotheque curate a focused selection of regional Vinea Wachau producers alongside international wines.

Leopold Weinbar & Vinothek ★ 4.4

A wine bar and vinothek in the heart of Krems, open Monday to Saturday from 16:00 until midnight. More than 100 labels from Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental and Wagram are poured at vinothek prices alongside a warm kitchen until late.

Weinhimmel Wein & Genuss ★ 4.4

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

Leopold Weinbar & Vinothek ★ 4.5

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

Heuriger Müllner ★ 4.3

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

Steigenberger Smaragd Bar & Vinotheque ★ 4.3

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

Bailoni Apricot Lounge - Steinertor ★ 4.3

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

Weinhimmel Wein & Genuss ★ 4.4

A wine boutique and shop in central Krems with more than 200 bottles available for purchase and tasting. Strong on Wachau Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from small producers; knowledgeable advisory service by winemaker Wolfgang Gansdorfer.

Wine focus: Over 200 Austrian and select international wines; Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal specialists

Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13 Shop ★ 4.3

The flagship shop of Winzer Krems, the largest wine cooperative in Lower Austria. Over 50 labels from the cooperative's member growers available to taste and buy, with the premium Sandgrube 13 quality-tier selections.

Wine focus: Kremstal and Wachau cooperative range; Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Zweigelt from member growers

Weingut Stadt Krems Farm Shop ★ 4.4

The cellar shop of Weingut Stadt Krems, one of the oldest continuously active wineries in the world. Fritz Miesbauer focuses the range on Grüner Veltliner and Riesling; guided tastings are offered on selected weekday and Saturday slots.

Wine focus: Kremstal Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from the city-owned winery operating since 1452

Bailoni Steinertor Shop ★ 4.3

The Steinertor retail outlet of Bailoni, the first Wachau apricot distillery, founded 1872 in Krems-Stein. The full spirits, liqueur and frizzante range plus seasonal apricot dumplings and cake from the in-store Apricot Lounge.

Wine focus: Wachauer Marillenlikör, triple-distilled Marillenbrand, Marillenfrizzante and specialty apricot products from Austria's first apricot distillery

Taste Krems Wine Masterclass ★ 4.5

A joint wine education programme run by two historic estates: Weingut Stadt Krems (since 1452) and Weingut Stift Göttweig (since 1083). The Masterclass format uses cellar setting and food pairing to teach Wachau and Kremstal wine classification in 8 comparative pours.

Tip: Book via tours@weingutstadtkrems.at; groups welcome and bespoke formats available.

Winzer Krems Sandgrube 13 Wein.Sinn Experience ★ 4.3

An eight-station immersive cellar experience at the Winzer Krems cooperative, culminating in a 4-D sensory film 'Life in the Vineyard.' Visitors learn the winemaking journey from Grüner Veltliner and Riesling vineyard through to bottle; groups and walk-ins welcome.

Tip: Available Monday to Saturday; an accessible introduction to Lower Austrian wine styles suitable for beginners and intermediate wine lovers.

Weingut Stift Göttweig Experience Cellar Tour ★ 4.5

The monastery winery Weingut Stift Göttweig offers guided cellar tours tying 900 years of Benedictine viticulture history to the current wine range. Two tour packages combine the experience cellar with comparative tastings of Grüner Veltliner, Riesling and Pinot Noir.

Tip: The farm-gate Krems shop (Stadtgraben 11) and the Göttweig abbey itself (Göttweig 1, Furth) both offer self-guided wine sales and tastings without a tour booking.

museumkrems - Weinstadtmuseum ★ 4.3

The city museum of Krems housed in a 13th-century Dominican monastery, including a historic wine cellar. Exhibits trace viticulture and the wine trade as the foundation of Krems citizenry from the Middle Ages; works by baroque painter Kremser Schmidt also displayed.

Steigenberger Hotel & Spa Krems ★ 4.5

A 5-star hotel on a vineyard rise above Krems with panoramic Wachau UNESCO views. The Smaragd bar and vinotheque, sky terrace, own vineyard and curated producer tasting programme make this the most wine-integrated large hotel in the region.

Wine focus: Smaragd wine bar and vinotheque with roof terrace; own vineyard; torch-lit vineyard hikes for guests; Vinea Wachau producer tastings arranged

Tip: Ask for rooms facing the Danube valley. The hotel arranges vineyard picnics and torch-lit evening hikes in the estate vineyard for guests. Phone: +43 2732 71010.

Steigenberger Torch-Lit Vineyard Hike ★ 4.5

An evening guided torch-lit hike through the Steigenberger Hotel's own hilltop vineyard above Krems, with views of the UNESCO Wachau valley illuminated at dusk. Wine pairings at the Smaragd bar conclude the experience.

Wein und Co Krems Evening Bar ★ 4.0

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.

Krems Wine Merchant Late-Harvest Selection ★ 3.8

The Wachau has no fortified wine tradition (no Sherry, Port, or Madeira equivalent). Selected Krems wine merchants stock rare Austrian late-harvest Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, and Eiswein from Wachau and neighbouring appellation producers, offering the closest equivalent sweet wine specialist experience in the region.

The list: Wachau and Kremstal Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese late-harvest sweet wines, plus Austrian Eiswein, available by the glass at selected Krems wine merchants. The Wachau has no fortified wine tradition; Austrian late-harvest sweet wines fill this category.

Schlumberger Sekt Tasting Room ★ 3.9

Schlumberger, Austria's largest Sekt producer, has a tasting presence in Krems where visitors can taste their range of traditional-method and Charmat sparkling wines. A contrast to the Wachau's still white wine focus, and a natural extension for visitors interested in Austrian sparkling wine.

The list: The Schlumberger Sekt (Austrian sparkling wine) producer has a presence in Krems offering tastings of their traditional-method and Charmat-method Austrian sparkling wines alongside Lower Austria still wines. A Sekt specialist in the gateway city of the Wachau.

Wein und Co Krems Sekt Selection ★ 4.0

Wein und Co's Sekt selection in Krems is among the most consistent Sekt-by-the-glass options in the Wachau gateway city, with small Austrian Sekt producers stocked alongside the dominant still-wine range.

The list: Wein und Co's Krems branch maintains a curated Austrian Sekt selection by the glass including small-producer traditional-method sparkling wines alongside the main still-wine list.