Taste and Tour Small Organic Wineries with a Winemaker

Wine country rewards curiosity. This private trip from Krems introduces you to small organic wineries, hands-on winemaking, and the fine differences between Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and less familiar French grapes. I especially like the personal access to winemakers and the chance to taste wines at several stages of production. The short vineyard walk to a Danube-region viewpoint is another fine touch. The main drawback is that you need to reach Krems yourself, and some walking plus cellar steps are involved.

Guide Chris brings an unusually personal angle because he works with vineyards himself and knows the local producers. I like that the day is built around conversation rather than a large bus and a rushed tasting room. Still, this is best for people who enjoy small wineries, compact cellars, and detailed wine talk, not for anyone seeking a quick city outing with little walking.

Key points to know before booking

• Small producers, not a factory-style wine stop: You visit boutique operations where the winemakers explain their own methods and goals.
• Austrian classics plus unusual grapes: Expect attention to Grüner Veltliner and Roter Veltliner, along with Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, Sémillon, and sparkling Pet Nat.
• Chris adds a winemaker’s perspective: He can discuss vineyards, fermentation, soil, harvest timing, blending, and bottling in practical terms.
• Krems is the base: Meet at Bahnhofplatz 2 in Krems, with direct train and boat options from Vienna.
• About three hours, with roughly 30 minutes in the car: Most of the time is spent at wineries and in the countryside.
• A little hiking is part of the deal: The final walk takes about 7 to 10 minutes and leads to a viewpoint over the region.

Why this small-group wine tour feels different

Many wine excursions around Vienna focus on a single established estate. This one gives you a wider look at the small-producer side of Austrian wine. You move through several places, meet different makers, and compare their choices instead of hearing one polished story all afternoon.

The tour is private, so your group is the only group taking part. That matters when you have questions. You can ask why a producer uses steel instead of oak, what a particular soil contributes, or why a wine comes from one vineyard rather than a blend of several parcels.

Chris is central to the experience. He is friendly, social, and deeply involved in wine production himself. His own vineyard work gives him a useful link between the visitor and the winemaker. He can explain the process from young vines to bottling without making it feel like a lecture.

The strongest appeal is the personal contact. At the small wineries, you are not simply handed a glass and pointed toward a tasting sheet. The producers explain what they are trying to make, how they work the vines, and why a wine tastes as it does.

Getting from Vienna to Krems

The meeting point is Bahnhofplatz 2 in Krems an der Donau. If you are staying in Vienna, a direct train to Krems is the most straightforward option described for the tour. The ride follows the Danube and gives you a pleasant transition from the capital to the wine country.

You can also arrive by boat from Vienna and meet Chris at the boat station. Pickup arrangements are flexible, so you can coordinate a suitable meeting place if the standard options do not fit your plans.

The important point is that this is not a Vienna hotel pickup followed by a short ride to a nearby vineyard. You need to plan the journey to Krems. That adds effort, but it also gives you a full day outside the capital and places you directly in the Kremstal and Kamptal wine regions.

The total experience lasts about three hours. Around 2.5 hours are spent at vineyards, wineries, and the viewpoint, while roughly 30 minutes goes toward driving between locations. The timing is compact enough to combine with other plans in Krems, though you should allow extra time for your train or boat connection.

Kapitel Zwei and the reclaimed Kremsleithen vineyard

The first stop takes you up from near river level through winding wine roads to Kremsleithen, where Kapitel Zwei Wine operates a micro-winery. The name means Chapter Two, a fitting label for a project that is trying something new on old ground.

The vineyard had been abandoned for decades and was replanted in May 2022. Its name refers to the steep slope running down toward the Krems River. Historical records mention the site as far back as 1266, while its current vines are very young. That contrast gives the visit a useful sense of time: an old place is being given a fresh start.

Kapitel Zwei focuses on organic and sustainable growing. The project works with French grape varieties that are less expected in this part of Austria, including Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, and Sémillon. The wines are aged in amphora and steel tanks, so this is a good stop if you want to see experimentation rather than only traditional Austrian formulas.

The vineyard sits at about 300 meters above sea level on loamy, sandy soil mixed with clay. You may not become a soil expert in 20 minutes, but you will get a clear idea of how site, slope, grape choice, and cellar work all connect.

The tastings here can be especially instructive. One account describes tasting wine at stages ranging from early fermentation to finished bottles. That lets you compare a young, unsettled wine with the completed product, a rare chance to understand how much changes before wine reaches a table.

Mantlerhof, a family winery with centuries of roots

The next stop is Mantlerhof in Gedersdorf, near the Kamp River before it meets the Danube. The setting includes the village center of Brunn im Felde, an old pond, and a manor house with an early classicist facade. The winery operates from this historic property, which has been worked by the Mantler family for more than 200 years.

The family traces its winemaking tradition to 1365. That date is not just decoration. It helps explain why the visit feels rooted in local practice, even as the winery works with modern organic methods.

Mantlerhof farms about 15 hectares of vineyards. Its main focus is Grüner Veltliner and Roter Veltliner, two grapes that give you a chance to explore Austria beyond the most familiar bottle on a restaurant list.

Grüner Veltliner is the better-known name internationally, but Roter Veltliner is less common and makes this stop more distinctive. The winery produces long-lasting organic wines, so the conversation may turn toward aging and structure rather than only fresh, easy-drinking bottles.

You get about 45 minutes here, the longest tasting stop on the planned route. That extra time matters. It allows the host to explain the estate, pour several wines, and answer questions without forcing everything into a hurried succession of sips.

Feldtheorie in Schoenberg am Kamp

Feldtheorie offers a younger and more personal view of Kamptal winemaking. Ulrike Filp and Robert Bormuth run the winery with help from friends and family. Their route into wine began during studies in natural sciences and a trip to New Zealand, followed by internships in Germany, Australia, and Austria.

After gaining experience abroad, they bought vineyard parcels in neighboring Kamptal. Their stated aim is to express the character of the region through their wines. That makes this a useful contrast with Mantlerhof: one stop connects you to a long family lineage, while another shows a newer generation building its own approach.

The visit lasts around 30 minutes. You should expect a focused introduction rather than a long estate tour. The value is in meeting the people behind the wine and hearing how scientific training, international experience, and local vineyard work shape their decisions.

This is also a stop for people who like the human side of wine. You see how friends and family can form the working structure of a small winery. That kind of operation is far removed from a generic tasting room where the person pouring may know little about the vineyard.

WeinSchach and Austrian Pet Nat

The final winery visit is in Langenlois at WeinSchach, a sparkling wine producer with an experimental streak. The team believes nature supplies what an excellent wine needs, then gives the wine room to develop in the bottle.

The main goal is Pet Nat, short for pétillant naturel. The style is made through a natural continuation of fermentation in the bottle, producing a lightly sparkling wine with a less polished and often more individual character than conventional sparkling wine.

WeinSchach works biologically, harvests by hand, and disgorges its bottles. Disgorgement removes sediment after the wine has settled, a hands-on step that shows the care involved in small-scale sparkling production.

The winery is not presenting one fixed formula. It experiments, sometimes returning to the beginning when an approach does not work. That willingness to test methods is part of the appeal, especially if you want to see how small producers try to improve their wines rather than simply repeat a set routine.

You spend about 40 minutes here. This is a strong finish for anyone who enjoys sparkling wine or wants to understand how a small producer approaches a style that is still gaining attention. It also adds variety after the mainly still-wine tastings earlier in the day.

The vineyard walk and Danube views

The tour finishes with a short walk through vineyards to a viewpoint along the Welterbesteig. The walk takes about 7 to 10 minutes, with about 20 minutes set aside for the stop.

This is not a major hike, but it is still part of the experience. You should wear shoes suited to uneven paths and be ready to walk downhill into a cellar during the winery visits. The tour is not recommended if you cannot manage cellar steps or dislike small rooms.

The viewpoint gives you a broader sense of the area you have just tasted. Instead of seeing wine as a collection of labels, you can look over the river corridor, slopes, vineyards, and towns connected to the wineries. The Danube guides much of the route, so the final view ties the day together nicely.

The scenery is one of the tour’s most praised features, particularly the views from Chris’s vineyard. It is a simple ending, but a smart one. After several indoor tastings, a brief walk outside clears your head and puts the vineyards back at the center of the story.

What the $114.02 price gets you

At $114.02 per person, the price is fair if you value access and explanation rather than just the number of pours. You are paying for a private tour, transport between the rural stops, a guide with direct vineyard experience, several winery visits, and tastings hosted by small producers.

The value is strongest for people who want to ask questions and compare methods. You may taste wines from fermentation, newly made wines, single-vineyard bottles, aged Grüner Veltliner, and sparkling Pet Nat, depending on the day and what each producer has available.

There are limits. This is not a full-day vineyard expedition, and the listed schedule allows only 20 to 45 minutes at each stop. You will get an introduction to several producers, not an exhaustive study of every winery in the region.

Wine availability can also change. Some highly sought-after bottles may be sold out, and the exact producers visited may vary. That is normal for small wineries, where stock and winemaker schedules are less predictable than at large estates.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would choose this tour if you enjoy wine but do not want a formal, impersonal tasting. It suits curious drinkers, serious wine fans, and people who want a better grasp of Austrian varieties and organic production.

It is also a good fit for solo visitors or small groups. The private format makes it easier to talk with Chris and the winemakers without competing with a coachload of people.

You do not need to be a sommelier. Several people with very different levels of wine knowledge have enjoyed the chance to ask basic questions about vines, fermentation, blending, soils, and harvest dates. The hosts respond to your interests, so you can keep the discussion simple or get technical.

I would think twice if you want a relaxed ride with almost no walking. The route includes vineyard roads, some hiking, cellar access, and small rooms. The three-hour schedule is also focused on wine, so anyone hoping for a long meal or broad sightseeing program should choose a different outing.

The tour runs Monday through Saturday, from noon to 7 p.m., during the stated operating period from November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2026. Confirmation arrives within 48 hours, subject to availability. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.

Should you book the Krems wine tour?

Book it if you want authentic small-winery contact, a private setting, and a guide who can connect the vineyard to the bottle. The combination of organic production, unusual grape varieties, classic Austrian wines, and sparkling experimentation gives you a broad taste of the region in a short time.

The best reason to go is not simply the tasting. It is the chance to see how different people work with the same broad wine country. Mantlerhof carries centuries of family tradition, Feldtheorie brings a newer scientific and international outlook, Kapitel Zwei is rebuilding an abandoned site, and WeinSchach tests the limits of Pet Nat.

Skip it if reaching Krems is inconvenient, if cellar steps are a problem, or if you prefer a large estate with a fixed schedule and predictable wine list. For everyone else, this is a strong choice for a half-day outside Vienna, especially when you want the countryside, the people, and the production methods to matter as much as the glass in front of you.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is Bahnhofplatz 2, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria.

Can I join the tour from Vienna?

Yes. You can take a direct train from Vienna to Krems, or arrive by boat from Vienna. The guide can meet you at the train station or boat station.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered, and the meeting time and location can be flexible. You should coordinate the details with the provider.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours. About 2.5 hours are spent visiting wineries and vineyards, with around 30 minutes spent driving between locations.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How many wineries are included?

The planned route includes Kapitel Zwei Wine, Mantlerhof, Feldtheorie, and WeinSchach, followed by a vineyard walk to a viewpoint.

Is walking required?

Yes. Some hiking is required, including a 7 to 10 minute walk through vineyards to the final viewpoint. You may also need to walk down into a cellar.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in this private activity.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.