A VISIT TO THE OLDEST WINERY IN AUSTRIA
Hello and thank you for stopping in today for a visit to the oldest winery in Austria: Nikolaihof.
We visited this beautiful and ancient winery as a shore excursion on our Uniworld Riverboat Cruise down the Danube River. You may recall I took you on a tour of our magnificent ship, the S.S. Maria Theresa, in this post.
We began our cruise in Budapest, Hungary and continued to our first port of call, Bratislava, Slovenia, where I took you on a tour of this lovely old town.
Today our port of call is Dürnstein, Austria which is situated in the magnificent, UNESCO World Heritage Wachau Valley in Austria. From Dürnstein we disembarked our ship and took a short bus ride for a visit to the oldest winery in Austria: Nikolaihof .
Stepping inside the old wooden gates felt like stepping back in time. In fact, the foundation of the Nikolaihof Winery dates back almost 2,000 years to 63 AD! Literally steeped in history, it has also become one of the Wachau Valley’s most renowned estates.
There was something pretty to see at every turn. The beauty of the white flowers and green vegetation, set against ancient stones was enchanting.
The centerpiece of the splendid inner courtyard is a magnificent 100-year-old Linden tree, under which tables were set for our group to enjoy a wine tasting.
We were greeted by matriarch, Christine Saahs, who accompanied us on the tour of her family’s winery. The Saahs family acquired the estate in 1894 and have been its proprietors ever since.
The estate actually has holy origins. Also situated in the inner courtyard is the Agapitus Chapel, which was built in the 11th & 12th centuries on the foundation of a Roman Basilica.
From here we entered the ancient cellars where an array of the estate’s wines were on display, along with many tools of the trade.
Nikolaihof Winery has the distinction of being the first biodynamic wine estate in Europe. This farming principle means that nature is left to its own devices as much as possible. No pesticides or fertilizers are used in the vineyards, which are regulated by a strict control system overseen by the Demeter Association.
Nikolaihof cultivates primarily Riesling, Grüner Veltliner and Neuburger grapes on old vines that are 40 to 50 years old. In 2014, David Schildknecht gave 100 points to Nikolaihof’s 1995 Riesling Vinothek. This was the first time an Austrian wine had ever scored a perfect 100 with Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
In addition to award-winning wines, other delicacies are produced such as schnapps and liqueurs.
A 350-year-old “beam” grape press is on display.
Descending an atmospheric stone staircase we arrived in the historic wine cellars that date back to Roman times when it was used as a Roman crypt.
Here the wine is stored, in some cases up to 20 years, in these old Austrian casks that contain between 2,000 to 12,000 liters of wine.
Beautifully carved oak barrels are dedicated to each of the Saahs family members. The latest generation of Saahs have taken over much of the operation today.
Son Martin has expanded the operation to include a line of skincare products, made with grapeseed oil which is apparently high in antioxidants.
One barrel is even dedicated to Saint Severin of Cologne, who retired to this spot some 1,500 years ago.
Concluding the tour of the wine cellars we headed back up the dimly lit stone staircase where we visited the small shop and restaurant.
In addition to being a dynamic one-woman sales force, matriarch Christine Saahs also runs the Nikolaihof Wine Tavern. Here she serves up what I’m told are delicious meals prepared from certified organic ingredients, much of which are also cultivated on the 50 acre farm. You can purchase her Wachau Cookbook here, written in English, and containing recipes for classic Austrian dishes. She is one very talented lady!
Daughter Elizabeth runs the nearby family Guesthouse, where visitors can spend a night or two exploring one of the most beautiful river landscapes in all of Europe.
I wish we had had more time to perhaps enjoy a night at the Guesthouse and dine at this very atmospheric restaurant.
Nikolaihof Winery can also be engaged as a venue for weddings and parties of all sizes. I wish it were in my area, as I can imagine hosting a wonderful celebration here.
If you’re planning a trip to Austria this is a spot not to be missed. Here’s where you can find them…
Nikolaihof Wachau
Familie Saahs
Nikolaigasse 3
3512 Mautern, Wachau
Austria
T +43 2732 829 01
wein(at)nikolaihof.at
If you’d like to plan a wonderful European vacation, contact my valued travel agent, Lori Seeley, who helped us make this trip an amazing one. Phone: 941-312-2584
So there you have it: A VISIT TO THE OLDEST WINERY IN AUSTRIA
Thanks so much for dropping in!
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All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are the original property of Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com and may not be reproduced without specific permission.
