Wachau DAC

The Wachau is a UNESCO world heritage site and a region of great natural beauty, situated in the Danube River valley between the towns of Melk and Krems. Grape varieties Grüner Veltliner and Riesling predominate here on 1,344 hectares, partly planted in terraces arrayed on steeply inclined hillsides terraces. Top vineyard sites here produce some of the best white wines in the world, with decades of aging potential. Enhanced transparency, clearer information and an unshaking commitment to origin – these are the key benefits of the Wachau’s new DAC classification. The designation will serve as a reliable guide for consumers, supplementing the established Vinea Wachau brands: Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd. Wachau wines will now be classified as regional wines (Gebietswein), local wines (Ortswein) and vineyard wines (Riedenwein). Each category must be from 100% hand-harvested grapes. Behind every bottle carrying the Wachau label stands handcrafting. Any label displaying Wachau DAC also signifies a wine from grapes required to have been both grown and processed in the Wachau winegrowing region. This allows consumers to clearly identify the wine’s origin. The wine generates added value directly for the region. The only exception here is processing of the grapes, which is permitted in the neighbouring Kremstal and Traisental winegrowing regions under tightly controlled conditions.