Summary

Wine growing in and around Krems can be traced back more than 2,000 years. Due to the mild climate, the quality of the soil and the local wine growers' hard work, Krems and the Wachau developed into Austria’s best wine growing regions.

The first quality grapes were harvested in the 3rd century AD under the Roman emperor Probus (276-282). According to the "Vita Sankt Severini", Saint Severin, who lived in Krems and Mautern, retired "ad vineas", into the vineyards.

In the 11th century, the origin "Kremser Sandgrube", renowned for their Grüner Veltliner, was mentioned for the first time.

The period after the great migration saw an upswing in vine cultivation, brought about by Frankish and Bavarian monks. Today, more than 40 Central and Western European monasteries still own vineyards in and around Krems.

At a time when farmers all over Europe were oppressed by their feudal lords, wine growers in Krems were conceded a social status equal to that of the bourgeoisie. The guild "HAUERINNUNG KREMS und STEIN", founded in Krems in 1442, was held in high regard. The climax of viniculture, social and religious meetings of people from all social classes lead to an intense, highly cultured and sophisticated form of communal living.

In 1305, Krems was granted a charter and officially became a town with the argument, that its honour lay in its vineyards.

The guild of the wine growers of Krems and Stein and their head, the "Hauervater", still live and work in accordance with their old traditions and cherish the heritage of wine growing. The initiation ceremony requires every young vintner to make a vow: "I promise to be a good wine grower." He knows that only dedication and hard work in the vineyards and the cellars will guarantee the growing of superior wines.

In 1938, responsible members of the guild founded WINZER KREMS. The present "Hauervater", Eduard Felsner, was chairman of the board of WINZER KREMS until 2005. Today, the chairman Franz Bauer controls, together with 19 members of the board, the destiny of Austria’s largest wine producers. The heritage of wine growing in Krems is deeply rooted in the old traditions, thus guaranteeing connoisseur of superior quality - vintage after vintage.
The whole harvest will be carried out by hand. The grapes are separated according to the variety, the different qualities, and the particular locations of origin, so that a wide range of individual wine qualities and specialities can be bottled.

Once harvested, the grapes are brought as quickly as possible to the cellar. Here, every container of grapes is subjected to a strict quality control. Only fully ripe grapes - harvested by hand and undamaged - are fed to the press.

The grapes are gently pressed to extract the juice in the whole cluster pressing. This process ensures that the quality produced in the vineyard is also maintained in the wine. Although high technology is used, the process is carried out in the same way as with the traditional old wooden press.

The juice is then fed into stainless tanks and fermented in a temperature-controlled process. Every stage of maturation is constantly monitored and tested by experience oenologists and the winemaker. Even the bottles are subject to stringent controls. Only perfect bottles with the necessary quality features are marketed.

This makes every bottle from Winzer Krems an event in itself, filled with the affinity between the land and the vine.