Wachau
Cool continental, river-moderated
A World Heritage stretch of the Danube with terraced vineyards of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, ranked by ripeness into Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd.
Overview
About Wachau
The Wachau is a 36-kilometre stretch of the Danube between Melk and Krems, where steep stone-walled terraces climb above the river. The landscape was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000. It makes some of Austria's most admired Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, and both are dry.
In 1983 its growers created the Vinea Wachau association, with its own three ripeness categories, named Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd, which appear on the labels.
Wachau is marked on the map.
Austria
Shaded: Niederösterreich. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Cool continental, river-moderated
Warm Pannonian air from the east and cool air from the Waldviertel plateau in the north meet along the Danube, giving hot days and cold nights, and a long growing season.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Terraces of primary rock, gneiss and granite, near the river, with loess on the lower slopes and the eastern end.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
The growers of the Vinea Wachau classify their wines by the natural alcohol level, and so by how ripe the grapes were.
Smaragd
The ripest, fullest wines, at least 12.5% natural alcohol. The name is from the emerald lizards that sun themselves on the terraces.
Federspiel
Medium-weight wines, between 11.5% and 12.5% alcohol.
Steinfeder
The lightest wines, up to 11.5% alcohol, named for a local grass.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.