My friend and I spent a few days driving around Lower Austria and Burgenland at the beginning of…read morethis month. One of the reasons we wanted to visit Lower Austria was to taste some wine in the Wachau Valley. The Wachau Valley is 40-kilometer/25-mile UNESCO World Heritage site along the Danube River in Lower Austria, famous for its steep vineyards producing white wines, apricot orchards, castles, and more. There are lots of wineries to choose from when you visit the Wachau Valley, but decided to do a tour and tasting at Domäne Wachau. The winery dates back to the 12th century, but it has been a cooperative since the 1930s. They produce very traditional Austrian wines, and 70% of their production is Grüner Veltliner. Our private tour and tasting lasted a couple of hours, and we learned a lot about the winery's history and their wines. We were walked through the vineyard and the cellar, including their vintage room. We learned a lot about their history and the wines they make from our lovely guide. Our tasting included five wines (I think) and an apricot brandy (they also gave us water and some locally made bread). It was a great tour, and we really enjoyed learning about this special wine region and this great winery.

We visited here on a stop during a Christmas time river cruise. It was an excursion you could take…read moreoff the boat. We were in Europe with our parents who opted out of this activity because none of them really enjoy wine (weirdos I know). Either way it gave us a great opportunity to have a little date night getaway without the folks. We walked off of the cruise boat and were guided on a fun sunset walk to the winery on a small picturesque dirt road. Upon arriving we were guided down into the super cool old cellars which were deep and COLD. Saw a very old phone on the wall that reminded us of world war II times and a very cool barrel that had a family tree carved into it. We were then taken upstairs to the tasting area which is the opposite of the cellar very light bright and contemporary with light wood and windows. Beautiful spot to meet some of our fellow shipmates and discuss delicious wine from region that was new to me. All of the wines we had were fantastic and there was even bread rolls to eat so we didn't get too loopy to walk back to the ship. I especially remember loving the white wines. If we had more room in our luggage I would have bought tons more to have at home to enjoy. This place is historical, beautiful, and they have perfect wines. Do enjoy!

This vineyard is well-known for its good white wines, and the Heuriger is a very pleasant place to…read moresample their excellent Grüner Veltliner as well as other varieties including reds. The menu includes standard regional fare, including a couple of vegetarian platters. Aside from the wine, though, what really makes this place stand out is the lovely garden area, with plenty of room for children to play. During inclement weather it's possible to sit inside, but really the garden is the place to be, with blankets left at every table should guests feel chilly later in the evening. The service is prompt and friendly, making this a great choice for a casual meal in a lovely setting.

We were looking for a place to taste some local wine in an outdoor setting. We are so glad we found…read morethis place. The indoor sitting area of this restaurant is lovely, and most tastefully decorated, but on a good sunny day, you can't beat the large outdoor garden area. They have a fantastic selection of local wine. We tried 5 of them, 3 white, 2 red. All of them, but especially the white, are remarkable good. Coming from an area in California with a strong wine culture, a lot of wine snobs and outrageous prices to match, we were delightfully surprised by the high quality of wine that were incredibly well priced. We had initially planned to have a few drinks and snacks, and then go out for dinner. But we lingered, and ordered some delicious cold plates (they are not allowed to serve hot food by law), drank some more, and before long, we felt like we had a great dinner there. The atmosphere was so relaxed and inviting, the service efficient and friendly, you have to try really hard not to have a great time there.

Great excursion with Viking Riverboat to the winery that supplies 250,000 bottles of wine to the…read moreViking company. Entertaining evening with Erhard Morwald and his family and delightful tasting of red and white wines. Also, I believe a young lady born in Connecticut was our tour guide inside the winery. She was outstanding and her rapport with Erhard made the evening. A night to remember.

Erhard alone is worth the visit to the winery. If you have not heard of Grüner Veltliner, you may…read morebe missing out on a wonderful simple, light refreshing white wine. It is the dominant grape in Wachau, the small, but amazing wine region in Austria. It is millions of miles away from the glycol, methanol and sugar laden disasters of my youth. Austria got its act together. Wachau is a crown jewel. And Erhard Mörwald is the Emperor. Too bad that he hasn't figured out how to ship to the US. We went to the winery as an add-on to our Viking Cruise. It was the best add-on tour of the whole trip.

A very beautiful representation of Gruner Veltliner, the Alzinger was told to me as a perfect wine…read morefor roast chicken. However Benu decided that it would fit very well with their Japanese inspired dishes on the tasting menu. Dry, full bodied with plenty of minerality and acid. I may not know that much about Austrian wines yet, but I'm trying to learn. I do know however what I like!

We came here with a ship tour to a winery. We visited many wineries and this place really stood…read moreout. There is a very big difference between American wines and those of Europe. I truly enjoy them all. "The Mang family is deeply anchored in the Weissenkirchener history of wine-making. The family's name was first mentioned in an official document in 1287, and the current winery has been in the family's possession since 1919." (from a wine website.) My favorite wine in this area is the Grüner Veltliner. We had the oportunity to sample it at many places. The shop here was wonderful and we were well taken care of by our hostesses. I would recommend this place to anyone coming to the area. Sit back, relax and enjoy the whole winery experience. KUDO's to the team at Mang Hermenegild Heurigenschank.

Excellent pastries and delicious food with beautiful outdoor seating. The cheese pastry with…read moreapricot was my favorite bite from my trip! The apricots are so flavorful, they are unlike any other ones I have had. The smoked trout was loved by everyone in my group. The spreads are all delicious. Know that portions are generous, so over ordering is easy to do. I got some jam to go that I plan on enjoying. I wish I could go back soon!

I will say this until Im blue in the face. The sommerliers at Benu in San Francisco have never…read moredriven me wrong. Prager is amongst multiple vintages that I've had from them that have just elevated my enjoyment of wine. That with astounding food pairings, it's becoming addictive. Recently I tried the Smaragd Achleiten, and it was phenomenal. For the $50 US range this is a phenomenal wine, showing that the Austrian wines are underappreciated. Which is find by me as I can still afford them! Mineral intensity and long length are the characteristics of the wine. It is acidic and fresh when paired with certain things. The Smaragd generally refers to the lizard that shows itself in the fields and the highest wine classification in the Wachau, but this lizard may as well be a chameleon based on the different tastes this wine reveals.

This was an amazing experience. Beautiful inside and out. Service was exceptional. We ordered…read moreseveral dishes and each exceeded expectations. Reservations recommended, but we were fortunate enough to have a table for 6 available within 30 minutes. We enjoyed a wonderful bottle of Riesling while waiting.

Beautiful garden to the rear. Great indoor/outdoor seating area. Selection of premium local wines…read more Marillenknoedel to die for. Friendly service and ample of parking. A bit on the pricey side.

A tiny little wine boutique manned by the owner of the winery Wolfgang himself. He makes his wine…read morein the area and sells it at this retail outlet in town. A small number of wines including a sparkling rose and a couple of whites and one red. He also carries a bunch of locally produced condiments including a mean Chilli chutney :-) Worth a stop when in town. He is good with English and does wine tasting in the shop. Prices are good and his wines are quite good.