Winery · Wachau

Domäne Wachau

Location
Dürnstein, Wachau (Lower Austria)
Founded
Genossenschaft seit den 1930er-Jahren; Name Domäne Wachau seit 2008
Vineyard area
ca. 450 (bewirtschaftet von rund 200–250 Winzerfamilien) ha

Home of Riesling editorial team · researched on 24 September 2026

Profile

The cooperative in Dürnstein traces its origins to the estate of the Starhemberg family, who sold their vineyards to their tenants in the 1930s; until 2008 it traded as »Freie Weingärtner Wachau«. Since 2005 Roman Horvath MW and cellar master Heinz Frischengruber have run the business and consistently focused it on origin and quality. Around 200 to 250 winegrowing families farm small terraced parcels, mostly tended by hand – on average less than two hectares per grower. By its own account, the Domäne is the only Wachau estate with vineyards in every renowned Ried (single vineyard).

The people

Roman Horvath MW (managing director/estate manager); Heinz Frischengruber (cellar master) – both since 2005

Voices from the estate

From third-party interviews. These quotes come from interviews and profiles in other media, not from our own conversations. The source is given with each one.

Die Wachau steht für sehr geradlinige, puristische Weine mit viel Finesse, Eleganz, Herkunftscharakter, Mineralität und Komplexität.
Roman Horvath MW, managing director · from a third-party interview at wolfgangstaudt.com
With a good concept and great people out there, you can do the same high quality wines as any top estate
Roman Horvath MW, managing director · from a third-party interview at thedrinksbusiness.com

Wines in the magazine