Kremstal DAC

Overview

Kremstal DAC is one of Austria’s premier wine appellations, producing world-class Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from the hills surrounding the historic city of Krems on the Danube River. Established as a DAC in 2007, Kremstal shares much with neighboring Wachau and Kamptal but offers its own distinctive character—wines that balance the power of Wachau with the elegance of Kamptal. The region’s extraordinary terroir diversity, from ancient primary rock (Urgestein) to deep loess deposits, creates wines ranging from fruit-forward and approachable to deeply mineral and age-worthy.

Geography & Climate

Location: Lower Austria; Krems region; Danube Valley

Size: ~2,400 ha under vine

Elevation: 200-450m (656-1,476 ft)

Climate: Cool continental with Danube moderation

Growing Degree Days: 1,400-1,700 GDD
Rainfall: 450-550mm (relatively dry)
Danube influence: Temperature moderation

Soil Types (key to diversity):

Soil	Location	Wine Character
Loess	Terraces, lower slopes	Fruit-forward, round
Primary rock (Urgestein)	Steep hillsides	Mineral, structured
Gravel	River terraces	Fresh, lighter
Conglomerate	Some areas	Mixed character

Key Characteristic: Loess + Urgestein diversity = range of styles from one region.

Wine Styles

Grüner Veltliner (Dominant)

Character: Varies by terroir

Loess sites: Fruit-forward, white pepper, approachable
Urgestein sites: Mineral, structured, age-worthy

Styles: From fresh Klassik to powerful Reserve

Riesling

Character: Precise, mineral

Less planted than GrüVe
Excellent quality
Age-worthy

Classification System

DAC Three-Tier Structure:

Level	Requirements	Character
Kremstal DAC	11.5-12.5% ABV; fresh	Regional character
Kremstal DAC Reserve	Min 13% ABV	Concentrated, site-specific
Kremstal DAC Erste Lage	Top sites; strict quality	Grand Cru equivalent

Variety Requirements:

Only Grüner Veltliner and Riesling for DAC
Must be dry (trocken)

Notable Vineyards (Rieden)

Benchmark Sites:

Pfaffenberg (Urgestein; powerful)
Sandgrube (loess; approachable)
Kogl (structured)
Wachtberg (Riesling excellence)

Terroir Transparency: Site names increasingly important for quality wines.

History

Timeline:

Roman era: Viticulture established
Medieval: Krems as wine trade center
1980s-90s: Quality revolution
2007: DAC established
2020: Erste Lage classification added
Today: Premium Austrian white region

Krems City: Historic wine trading center; 1,000+ years of wine history.

Key Constraints & Production Notes

Viticulture:

Mix of terraced and gentle slopes
Less extreme than Wachau
More mechanization possible (loess)

Winemaking:

Stainless steel dominant
Extended lees contact (premium)
Large oak (some traditional)
Preserve terroir expression

Aging Potential:

Klassik: 3-6 years
Reserve: 6-15 years
Erste Lage: 10-20+ years

Comparison with Neighbors

Region	Character	Soil Focus
Wachau	Most powerful; dramatic	Primary rock
Kremstal	Balanced; diverse	Loess + rock
Kamptal	Elegant; fresh	Mixed

Kremstal Position: Bridge between Wachau power and Kamptal elegance.

Notable Producers

Quality Benchmarks:

Nigl (benchmark estate)
Stadt Krems
Malat
Salomon Undhof
Stift Göttweig (monastery estate)
Türk

Nigl: Defines modern Kremstal quality.

Common Challenges

Identity Between Neighbors

Cause: Wachau more famous; Kamptal similar.
Risk: Less recognition.
Response: Quality focus; terroir communication; value proposition.

References

Österreich Wein (2025). “Kremstal DAC.” Link
DAC regulations.
Robinson, J., et al. (2006). “The Oxford Companion to Wine.” Oxford University Press. Publisher Link

Last Updated: January 11, 2026
Data Sources: Österreich Wein, Kremstal DAC
Research Grade: Technical reference

Permitted Varieties