Winzer Krems

Winzer Krems is the largest wine cooperative in Lower Austria, with about 400 member growers from the Kremstal region, and it is the most practical tasting destination in Krems for visitors without pre-arranged appointments at private estates. The winery is at Sandgrube 13, a striking modern building near the Danube, about 15 minutes on foot from Krems train station. Walk-in tastings are available across the week, covering Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from the Kremstal and surrounding appellations. Kremstal is the Wachau’s eastern neighbor and shares the same fundamental geology, loess terraces and crystalline rock, but with slightly different regulations and generally more accessible prices. The cooperative’s premium Sandgrube 13 label is worth trying separately from the standard range. Krems is an hour by train from Vienna on the Franz-Josefs-Bahn and a natural start or end point for the Wachau cycling route.