Between the historic towns of Melk and Krems, the Danube Valley cultivates some of the best Riesling and Grüner Veltliner wines, known and appreciated worldwide.

Probably, as in many other parts of Europe, the Romans were the ones who started the long journey of winemaking in this region of Lower Austria. The first mention of Wachau in written sources dates back to 830 AD. During the Middle Ages, Bavarian monks built stone terraces of gneiss and marble, constructed without mortar, which still crown the steep slopes of Wachau today and are part of the cultural heritage under the auspices of UNESCO.

In 1983, the foundations of Vinea Wachau (Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus) were laid – an association of over 200 winemakers focused on achieving the highest quality. They are credited with creating a classification of vineyards and plots according to their soils and microclimate, as well as dividing wines into three different categories based on their style and quality.

The Steinfeder category refers to the lightest dry and fruity wines with a maximum alcohol content of 11.5%. The Federspiel category is reserved for more concentrated dry wines with an alcohol content of up to 12.5%. The highest category of wines is called Smaragd and it includes only the most complex wines that have the potential to age for years in the bottle.

Stretching for 33 km along the Danube, the region today has a total of 1,344 hectares of vineyards, 40% of which are steep terraces built in the Middle Ages and meticulously maintained by today's owners. Since 2020, Wachau has been part of the DAC family.

Vinification:
Grapes are hand-picked on the steep slopes of Wachau, as mechanization is impossible due to the topography of the area. Many of the wines are produced in a light, fresh style, ready for immediate consumption after bottling in some of the numerous restaurants or in the wineries themselves, open to the many tourists who visit Wachau. The top wines ferment and age in neutral stainless steel tanks or in large wooden barrels, and even with them, spicy oak aromas are not found, as the goal is always to create a clean style characteristic of its origin.

Soils:
The steep slopes of Wachau are covered with gneiss with a very thin layer of humus, and these relatively infertile warm soils with good drainage are extremely suitable for growing first-class Riesling. The eastern parts of the slopes have loess deposits. Here, Grüner Veltliner finds the most suitable conditions for growth.

Climate:
Generally, the area around the Danube has a moderate continental climate, with the river having regulatory functions over it. Summers are hot and relatively dry, winters are cold. However, it should be noted that Wachau has very pronounced and diverse microclimates, determined by soils (or the presence of terraces), exposure, and altitude. The highest plots are located at about 450 m above sea level, which is why there are significant temperature fluctuations between day and night. Cool, humid breezes also come from the Waldviertel region to the north.

Browse our collection of wines from the Wachau region: Domaine Wachau winery and Jamek winery.