Taste and Tour Small Organic Wineries with a Winemaker

Austria’s wine country becomes much more than a pretty backdrop when you taste with the people making the wine. On this private tour, winemaker Chris takes you from Krems to four small producers, including his own experimental Kapitel Zwei winery, where French grape varieties grow on a historic, replanted slope.

I like two things especially: you get a personal introduction to small-scale winemaking, not a brisk tasting-room stop, and the route brings together very different approaches, from long-established Grüner Veltliner vineyards to hand-harvested pét-nat. The final short walk also trades cellar walls for a wide view over the region.

One point to weigh: this is a wine-focused outing with several tastings, cellar visits and some walking, including a short vineyard hike. It is not a good fit if you have trouble with stairs, dislike compact cellar rooms, or want a tour that stays in Vienna.

• Taste at four distinct producers: Kapitel Zwei, Mantlerhof, Feldtheorie and WeinSchach each offer a different angle on local wine.
• Meet winemaker Chris: He works with vineyards himself and can explain the process from vine selection through bottling.
• Look beyond the famous grapes: Expect an introduction to Grüner Veltliner and Roter Veltliner, alongside French varieties and sparkling wine.
• Start in Krems, not central Vienna: Reach the meeting point by direct train or boat, with Chris able to coordinate a suitable pickup location.
• Allow time for cellar visits and walking: The roughly three-hour tour includes some hiking and visits to small winery spaces.
• Finish with a vineyard view: A 7 to 10-minute walk leads to a viewpoint over the wine region.

A private wine-country outing from Krems

This is a private tour for your group, led by Chris, the winemaker behind Kapitel Zwei. Rather than simply driving you between tasting rooms, he connects the wines to the people, places and decisions behind them. That makes the experience useful even if you already know a little about wine: you can ask detailed questions and follow the topics that interest you.

The route follows the Danube wine region around Krems, through parts of Kremstal and Kamptal. The listed duration is about three hours, with roughly 2.5 hours spent on the tour and about 30 minutes driving between locations. The winery visits are timed, but the private format gives the day a more personal feel than a large coach outing.

The tour costs $114.02 per person. That is a meaningful outlay for a half-day, especially before you account for getting to Krems, but the value lies in access to several small producers and a working winemaker who can interpret what is in your glass. If you are chiefly after a single quick tasting, this is more than you need. If you want context, conversation and a cross-section of local production, the price makes more sense.

Starting at Kapitel Zwei on the Kremsleithen slope

The first stop introduces you to Kapitel Zwei, Chris’s micro-winery in the Krems area. Its name means Chapter Two, and its approach is experimental: the winery grows French varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Roussanne and Sémillon organically and sustainably, then ages wine in amphora and steel tanks.

The grapes come from the single vineyard, or ried, called Kremsleithen. The site had been abandoned for decades before it was replanted in May 2022. Its name refers to a steep slope leading down toward the river Krems, and records mention the place as far back as 1266. At roughly 300 metres above sea level, its loamy, sandy soil and clay offer useful clues to the choices being made in the vineyard.

This is a particularly good place to ask how a wine develops from harvest onward. One group described tasting wines at different stages, from early fermentation through to finished wine. That is not just a lineup of bottles; it lets you compare how time and production choices shape what you taste.

The listed visit lasts about 20 minutes. That is a short introduction, so use it well: ask Chris about the vineyard’s revival, the unusual grape varieties, or why he uses amphora as well as steel. The stop is likely to appeal most if you are curious about small-scale experimentation, rather than looking only for familiar Austrian labels.

Mantlerhof’s centuries of family winemaking

At Gedersdorf, Mantlerhof brings a longer view. The family’s winemaking roots reach back to 1365, and the Mantler family has worked the estate for more than 200 years. Its 15 hectares of vineyards produce organic wines, with a focus on Grüner Veltliner and Roter Veltliner.

The setting is part of the visit. Mantlerhof sits in Brunn im Felde, where an old manor with an early classicist façade stands beside a village pond. From the surrounding area, you can see toward Krems to the west and Grafenegg to the east. The contrast with Kapitel Zwei is useful: one stop explores a newly replanted single vineyard and less familiar French grapes, while the other shows how a long-running family estate works with established local varieties.

You have about 45 minutes here, the longest winery visit on the route. That gives more room to hear about the estate’s wines and history, and to taste at a less hurried pace. The listed itinerary does not specify a fixed tasting flight, so the exact wines may vary. Come ready to ask about the differences between Grüner Veltliner and Roter Veltliner, and how organic vineyard work fits into the family’s long-term approach.

Feldtheorie and the people behind the bottles

At Weingut Feldtheorie in Schönberg am Kamp, the story begins with Ulrike Filp and Robert Bormuth. They discovered their interest in wine while studying natural sciences and travelling in New Zealand. After completing their studies, they trained through internships in Germany, Australia and Austria before settling in the region and buying vineyard parcels in neighboring Kamptal.

Their aim is to express the character of Kamptal through their wines. That makes this stop a good chance to talk about how a winemaker’s background and choices influence what ends up in the bottle. It also adds a newer, hands-on perspective to the tour after the long family history at Mantlerhof.

The visit is listed at 30 minutes. In that time, expect a focused look at the winery and its wines, rather than an extended vineyard walk. Chris’s connections with local producers are part of the appeal here: the tour is designed to introduce you to the people doing the work, not just their labels.

WeinSchach’s hand-harvested sparkling wines

The final winery stop is WeinSchach in Langenlois, where the focus is sparkling wine. The producer works biologically, harvests by hand and disgorges its bottles. Its stated ambition is to make pét-nat that can stand alongside leading sparkling wines, while experimenting with methods and learning through trial and error.

If you think of sparkling wine as a single style, this visit may broaden the picture. The producer’s interest is in letting wine develop in the bottle and finding its own aroma and balance. The stop is listed at 40 minutes, enough time to explore the approach and taste the results.

This is a useful contrast with the earlier stops, which focus more on still wines and grape varieties. It also shows how organic production can take different forms: here, the attention is on the choices that shape sparkling wine, from harvest by hand to the final disgorging.

A short vineyard walk and a long view

The tour ends with a 7 to 10-minute walk through vineyards to a viewpoint along the Welterbesteig. The walk is short, but it gives the day a welcome change of pace after time in cellars and tasting rooms. You finish looking out over the region rather than looking down at another wine glass.

The walk is not a strenuous hike by itself, but the tour does require some walking, and the route’s vineyards and winery spaces may involve uneven ground or steps. The activity calls for a moderate level of fitness and is not recommended for anyone unable to walk down into a cellar or uncomfortable in small rooms. If mobility is a concern, ask Chris about the exact route before booking.

Getting from Vienna to the meeting point

The meeting point is Bahnhofplatz 2 in Krems an der Donau, and the tour ends back there. If you are based in Vienna, the direct train to Krems is one option; the ride follows the Danube and is described as a scenic way to reach the region. You can also arrive by boat from Vienna and meet Chris at the boat station.

Pickup arrangements are flexible, so coordinate with Chris if neither option fits your plans. The practical detail matters: this is a wine-country tour that starts outside Vienna, not an excursion with a guaranteed pickup at your hotel. Plan your connection to Krems before booking, and leave enough room for any changes to your travel schedule.

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

Who will get the most from this tasting

I would choose this outing if you enjoy wine enough to ask questions, but you do not need to be an expert. Chris’s background as a winemaker makes vineyard and cellar topics approachable, while the range of producers gives you more than one version of Austrian wine country. Solo visitors and small groups can also benefit from the private format, which makes it easier to talk and tailor the conversation to your interests.

It is also a strong pick if you want a day beyond Vienna’s city sights. The stops combine wine, local history and rural scenery, with a direct train or boat connection available for reaching Krems. The most praised parts of the experience are Chris’s personal guidance, the chance to meet small producers, and the opportunity to learn how choices in the vineyard and cellar affect the wine.

I would pass if you want a purely scenic drive, a quick stop with one tasting, or a tour that avoids walking and compact cellars. The advertised price is best judged as payment for personal access and several distinct winery visits, not just the number of pours. If that exchange suits you, this is a thoughtful, hands-on way to understand the region.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The meeting point is Bahnhofplatz 2 in Krems an der Donau. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Can I join from Vienna?

Yes. You can take a direct train from Vienna to Krems or travel by boat from Vienna. Chris can meet you at the train station or boat station, and can coordinate another location if needed.

How long is the tour?

It lasts about three hours. The tour portion is listed at around 2.5 hours, with about 30 minutes of driving between locations.

Which wineries are included?

The planned stops are Kapitel Zwei, Mantlerhof, Weingut Feldtheorie and WeinSchach, followed by a vineyard walk to a viewpoint.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How much does it cost?

The listed price is $114.02 per person.

How much walking is involved?

Some hiking is required. The final walk to the viewpoint takes about 7 to 10 minutes, and the tour also includes winery visits.

Is the tour suitable if I have difficulty with stairs or small spaces?

It is not recommended for people who cannot walk down into a cellar or who do not enjoy small rooms. The tour also calls for a moderate level of physical fitness.

When does the tour operate?

The stated operating period is November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2026. It runs Monday through Saturday, from noon to 7 p.m.