It’s this thing with “little hideaways”, that you first have to go out and really find them. It’s in a place called “In der Spitz” for instance, a place where local wine estate, Heurigen & the recently opened Boutique Hotel “WeinSpitz” join up to create a unique piece of local, Lower Austrian wine culture, that you may find yourself one such beautiful, “little hideaway”. Add to this the estate’s location facing southwest on a hillside, and you get a fairytale like residence for your next holiday right inside the vineyards.
The other one around my homeland in Lower Austria is “Alter Winzerkeller“, located in Kirchberg am Wagram, about half an hour’s drive west from Vienna: The owner, Ernst Vogel, has carefully managed to renovate the old wine cellar & press house, turning it into luxury countryside accommodation units. If I didn’t live as close, I’d very much like to stay here, and you should definitely consider to do so! Bonus: “Weritas Wagram“, the local area wine shop just nearby, offers a wide range of typical local flavours for you to try.
Welcome to Kirchberg am Wagram …
… and to this ultimately charming, local accommodation called “Alter Winzerkeller” (Old Wine Cellar) …
… talking to my host Ernst Vogel, and taking a peek round the building …
… tell me that he hasn’t been sitting still, ultimately: “My son is an architect, and I do most of the building work”, Ernst Vogel adds laughing while showing me around …
… even the design of the “Old Wine Cellar” itself is all handmade by himself.
“And you really know everything to build all of this yourself?!”, I keep asking Ernst Vogel, honestly impressed. “My father and grandfather were barrel makers around here, you know”, he smiles modestly, adding: “I take after them in enjoying to build things with my own hands. The ‘Old Winer Cellar’ would have been sold elsewhere if we had not, with the support of the Office for Antiquities and Monuments, preserved and modernised it into the beautiful, historic building it is today.” Even the furniture in the brand new lounge has “only” been covered by the furniture company; the construction of the chaises and sofas comes from the (technically) expert father-son-duo. Fantastic. Plus, there’s even a room for the creative souls, like myself in here: “Yes, I’m always doing watercolour painting classes. The art in the guest rooms is also mine”, Ernst Vogel continues to smile modestly. No wonder most of his guests are regulars – it’s easy to fall in love with such an accommodation. Check this out.
Love this brand new lounge right next to the old building …
… including a “creative room” for activities such as watercolour painting courses …
… all the way to the “Old Wine Cellar” itself, now turned breakfast and reception rooms …
… fancy staying here, anyone? …
… definitely add “Alter Winzerkeller” to your list of accommodation in Lower Austria, close to Vienna!
It’s a similar (love) story in the Wachau valley. Only another half hour west of Wagram, you may find yourself in one of the most beautiful river landscapes of Austria.
Proud to be from here, I must say, having grown up in the nearby area of Krems – Wachau – Kamptal, in central Lower Austria. And yes, I have already visited the Donabaums in Spitz an der Donau, have enjoyed their typical Heurigen wine bar & snacks, but have yet had to fall in love with their new “WeinSpitz Boutique Hotel” … it gets tricky leaving again, after you’ve landed yourself here. I mean, what a place, really …
… just like a fairytale: The view from the upper rooms of the recently opened hotel, overlooking the garden & wine terraces …
… love the view from the Heurigen, too …
… and here’s the new outdoor pool & Spa area …
… come and take a seat (sip) with the local owners at their own bar …
…. try the lovely, locally grown & made apricot juice …
… the excellent wines, notably Grüner Veltliner and Riesling varieties …
… all the local guest rooms offer a view over the surrounding vineyard landscape, the Wachau being one of Austria’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites …
… a place to feel good through and through!
Thank you for such a lovely visit, dear Donabaum family! And for sending me this cute family pic 😉 (c) Familie Donabaum
Check out all you need to know here, via the websites of both accommodation tips: “Alter Winzerkeller – Schlafen auf dem Lande“, and “Das WeinSpitz – Weingut Donabaum”.
Fancy reading even more countryside stories and / or looking for places to stay in Lower Austria on your next trip here? I have prepared an entire collection of articles for you:
- “Farm Holidays in Lower Austria: Meet the Gnant family near Vienna.“
- “Chelsea Flower Show goes (Lower) Austria: Staying at one of Austria’s top garden B&Bs.“
- “Sustainable Travel & Farm Holiday Accommodation in the Lower Austrian Weinviertel district“
- “Farm Holidays in the Lower Austrian Waldviertel: Welcome to the Besenbäck family!“
- “From foreigners to friends: Travel tales from Grandma’s house in Waldviertel, Lower Austria“
Disclaimer: I have been supported by the Austrian Farm Holiday Association of Lower Austria. All opinions are my own.