Taste and Tour Small Organic Wineries with a Winemaker

Austrian wine country gets personal on this private tour with winemaker Chris, who takes you from Krems through the Kremstal and Kamptal areas to small producers working by hand. You taste organic wines, visit cellars, hear how each maker farms and ferments, and finish above the vineyards with views toward the Danube region.

I like the small-producer focus and the way the tour connects wine to soil, slope, family history and changing methods. I also like the flexible meeting plan: you can arrive in Krems by direct train from Vienna or by boat and arrange to meet Chris at the station or dock.

The main consideration is the pace. This is a full three hours with several stops, driving, cellar visits and a short uphill or downhill walk. You need moderate fitness and enough comfort with small rooms, uneven ground and tasting several wines in a compact time.

Key points at a glance

• Four contrasting wine stops: Visit Kapitel Zwei, Mantlerhof, Feldtheorie and WeinSchach, each with a different approach to organic or natural production.
• A winemaker as your guide: Chris explains vineyard work, fermentation, aging, bottling and the state of Austrian wine in plain, practical terms.
• An easy Vienna day trip: Take a direct train to Krems or arrive by boat, then meet at the station or another agreed location.
• Unusual wines and methods: Expect discussion of French grape varieties, amphora and steel tanks, classic Grüner Veltliner, Roter Veltliner and Pet Nat.
• A short vineyard walk: The final 7 to 10 minutes on foot lead to a viewpoint over the surrounding wine country.
• A private format: Only your group takes part, making it easier to ask detailed questions and shape the conversation around your interests.

Why this wine tour feels different from a standard tasting

Many wine outings are built around a large estate, a polished tasting room and a fixed flight of bottles. This one follows a different path. You move among small wineries and meet the ideas behind their wines, not just the finished product.

Chris brings useful first-hand experience because he works with vineyards himself. That gives the day a practical thread. You can ask how vines are selected, why grapes come from one parcel rather than several, how soil affects the final wine, or what happens between harvest and bottling.

The tour is also personal in scale. Since it is private, you are not sharing the vehicle, cellar conversation or tasting table with a large group. If you are interested in fermentation, organic farming or lesser-known Austrian grapes, you can spend more time on those subjects.

The route is not only about drinking. The Danube guides the journey, and the drive links several wine-growing areas around Krems. You get a sense of how villages, river valleys and hillside vineyards fit together, even within a short visit.

Getting from Vienna to Krems

The tour begins at Bahnhofplatz 2 in Krems an der Donau. If you are based in Vienna, a direct train is the simplest option described for reaching the meeting point. The ride follows the Danube and makes the transfer part of the day rather than dead time.

You can also arrive by boat from Vienna and meet Chris at the boat station. If neither option fits your plans, the meeting place can be coordinated in advance. Pickup is offered, but you should settle the exact time and location before the day of the tour.

Allow enough time to reach Krems without rushing. The activity operates Monday through Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. during the stated season, from November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2026. Your confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.

The tour averages about three hours. Around two and a half hours are spent on the actual wine-country route, with about 30 minutes in the vehicle between locations. The listed stop times add up to a busy schedule, so you should expect a flowing visit rather than long, leisurely stays at every cellar.

Kapitel Zwei at Kremsleithen

The first stop takes you uphill from the river area toward Kremsleithen, at roughly 300 meters above sea level. The road climbs through vineyard country, giving you an early look at the slopes that shape the region.

Kapitel Zwei, or Chapter Two, is a micro-winery built around experimentation. The project grows French grape varieties in Austria, including Chenin Blanc, Roussanne and Sémillon. The wines are aged in amphora and steel tanks, rather than following only the most familiar local methods.

The vineyard itself has an unusual story. Kremsleithen had been abandoned for decades before being replanted in May 2022. Its name refers to the steep slope running down toward the Krems River. The soil includes loam, sand and clay, and the site was recorded as far back as 1266.

You spend about 20 minutes here. That is short, but the stop can set up the main themes of the tour: small parcels, hand harvesting, organic work and the willingness to test new techniques. Since the vines were recently replanted, this is less a grand old estate than a look at a project still taking shape.

A useful tip is to treat this stop as a conversation about process. You may taste wine at different points in fermentation or compare young and finished wine, depending on what is available. The experience is most rewarding if you are curious about how a bottle develops, not only about identifying familiar flavors.

Mantlerhof and centuries of family winemaking

Mantlerhof offers a sharp contrast. The winery sits in Brunn im Felde, near the Kamp River before it joins the Danube. The family has worked the property for more than 200 years, with winemaking roots reaching back to 1365.

The estate occupies an old manor with an early classicist facade beside a village pond. That setting gives the visit a strong sense of place. You are not simply entering a modern tasting room. You are visiting a long-running family property within the village center.

Mantlerhof farms 15 hectares and focuses on long-lasting organic wines. Grüner Veltliner and Roter Veltliner are the main subjects here. Grüner Veltliner is Austria’s best-known white grape, but Roter Veltliner is less familiar outside the country, making this a useful chance to taste beyond the usual list.

The scheduled visit lasts about 45 minutes, the longest winery stop. That extra time matters. You can hear about the family operation, taste several wines and compare the two Veltliner varieties without feeling that the visit is only a quick pour and goodbye.

I would pay attention to the connection between vineyard size and style. Fifteen hectares is still small enough for a family operation, but large enough to show how organic work, harvest decisions and long aging affect a broader range of wines.

Feldtheorie in Schönberg am Kamp

At Weingut Feldtheorie, the focus shifts to a younger generation of producers. Ulrike Filp and Robert Bormuth came to wine through the natural sciences and discovered the trade while traveling in New Zealand. After internships in Germany, Australia and Austria, they bought vineyard parcels in the nearby Kamptal.

Their story gives you a useful look at how new winemakers enter a traditional industry. They work with friends and family in the vineyards and cellar, aiming to express the character of the Kamptal through their wines.

The visit lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough time for an introduction to the estate and its working philosophy, though it may not allow the same lingering pace as Mantlerhof. The variety is the point. After the established family winery, you see a newer operation shaped by travel, science and a desire to make wine on its own terms.

If you are interested in the people behind Austrian wine, this is one of the more revealing stops. It shows that tradition here is not frozen. A long-established property and a young, self-directed winery can operate within the same regional culture.

WeinSchach and the challenge of Pet Nat

The final winery is WeinSchach in Langenlois, where sparkling wine takes center stage. The producers work biologically, harvest by hand and disgorge the bottles themselves.

Their goal is to make Pet Nat, or naturally sparkling wine, with the seriousness and staying power associated with top sparkling wines. Pet Nat is bottled before fermentation has fully finished, allowing carbon dioxide to form naturally in the bottle. The method can produce lively, less polished wines, but careful work is needed to keep them balanced.

WeinSchach describes its approach as experimental. The producers test possibilities, learn from failures and sometimes return to the beginning. That mindset gives you a different view of organic wine production. It is not only about avoiding certain inputs. It is also about allowing the wine to develop with fewer interventions while keeping a close eye on the result.

The scheduled visit lasts about 40 minutes. For many people, this may be the most distinctive tasting of the day because it moves away from the familiar still whites of the region. If you like sparkling wine or enjoy seeing how a producer solves technical problems, give this stop your full attention.

The final vineyard walk and Danube-region view

The tour ends with a short 7 to 10 minute walk through vineyards to a viewpoint along the Welterbesteig. The walk is brief, but it changes the rhythm after several cellar visits.

From the viewpoint, you look across the surrounding wine country. This is a good moment to connect the wines in your glass with the slopes and river corridors you have been passing. The tour begins with the Danube as a guide and ends by looking back across the region from above.

The walk does require some ability to manage vineyard paths. The activity asks for moderate physical fitness and includes hiking, as well as access to cellars. It is not a good match if you cannot walk down into a cellar or dislike confined rooms.

What the $114.02 price gets you

At $114.02 per person, this is not a bargain transportation outing. The value comes from the private format, the number of small producers and Chris’s role as both guide and winemaker.

You are paying for more than a standard tasting flight. The route includes four wineries with different stories and methods, time in a historic family setting, a look at a recently replanted vineyard, a sparkling-wine specialist and a final viewpoint.

The price makes the most sense for a small group that would otherwise need to arrange several winery appointments, find transportation and explain its interests at each stop. It also suits anyone who wants a conversation about Austrian wine rather than a simple list of pours.

I would be less likely to recommend it to someone who wants a slow lunch, a large scenic estate or a single long tasting. Three hours is compact, and the schedule has several transitions. You should also confirm how many wines will be poured on your date, since the exact selection can depend on what each producer has available.

Who will enjoy this most

You will get the most from this tour if you enjoy asking questions. The format rewards interest in grape varieties, organic farming, fermentation, cellar work and the business of small-scale wine production.

It is also a strong choice for a couple, solo visitor or small private group staying in Vienna who wants a day outside the city. The train and boat options make the trip possible without arranging a rental car, and meeting in Krems keeps the route focused on wine country.

Wine professionals and serious enthusiasts may appreciate the chance to taste wines from single vineyards, compare current releases with older bottles and discuss barrel or cellar samples when available. Beginners are welcome too, but the experience is less about a scripted introduction and more about direct conversation.

You should reconsider if you dislike confined cellars, walking on vineyard paths or tasting several wines in a short period. The tour also may not suit someone looking for nightlife, a big group atmosphere or a formal meal.

Booking, timing and cancellation details

The experience is offered in English and is a private activity for your group only. Pickup can be arranged, but you need to coordinate the location with Chris, especially if you are arriving by train or boat.

It is often booked well ahead, with an average booking time of about 55 days. If your schedule is fixed, reserve early and wait for confirmation, which is provided within 48 hours subject to availability.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made later are not accepted for a refund. The cutoff follows local Austrian time.

Should you book this Krems wine tour?

Book it if you want Austrian wine explained by someone actively involved in winemaking, and if small organic producers interest you more than grand estates. The mix of Kapitel Zwei’s experimental French varieties, Mantlerhof’s long family tradition, Feldtheorie’s new direction and WeinSchach’s Pet Nat gives the afternoon real range.

I especially like the way the tour links wine with place. You travel along the Danube, climb through vineyard roads, enter working cellars and finish with a view over the same country that produced the bottles.

Skip it if you need a leisurely meal, guaranteed access to one particular wine or an easy, completely flat outing. For the right visitor, though, the private format and hands-on focus make the $114.02 fee a fair price for a compact introduction to the small-winery side of Austrian wine.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

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

Can I reach the meeting point from Vienna by train?

Yes. You can take a direct train from Vienna to Krems, with the route following the Danube, and meet Chris at the train station.

Can I arrive by boat from Vienna?

Yes. You can arrive in Krems by boat from Vienna and arrange to meet Chris at the boat station.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered, and the meeting time and location can be arranged with Chris. The stated meeting point is the train station area in Krems.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours. About two and a half hours are spent on the wine-country portion, with roughly 30 minutes of driving between locations.

What wineries are included?

The planned stops are Kapitel Zwei Wine in Kremsleithen, Weingut Mantlerhof, Weingut Feldtheorie in Schönberg am Kamp and WeinSchach in Langenlois. The tour also includes a short walk to a viewpoint along the Welterbesteig.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Do I need to be physically fit?

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness. Some hiking is required, and the tour is not recommended if you cannot walk down into a cellar.

What is the cancellation policy?

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