The Domäne Wachau has often been called the world’s best wine cooperative. Since taking over management of Domäne Wachau, Roman Horvath MW and oenologist Heinz Frischengruber have not only put together a young and competent team, they have managed to integrate all of the member growers into their mission of producing some of Austria’s very finest white wines. This is important for the region because with 440 hectares of vineyards they cultivate 30% of the prestigious Wachau vineyard area and play a significant role in protecting a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
In addition to caring for a protected landscape, the Domäne Wachau is also in possession of an exquisite regional landmark, the Baroque “Kellerschlössel” or “Cellar Palace”. The palace originally served as an entertainment residence for the Dürnstein abbot, Hieronymus Übelbacher. The Abbot had the inner walls adorned with satirical etchings, as well as a copy of his doctoral thesis on the Last Supper. On another wall is a poem with his last will and testament stating that he did not want to be buried after he died. He said that would be a shame because he drank so much good wine in his life – he would prefer to be distilled! The Cellar Palace has hosted many gatherings and celebrations over the course of history. The Foreign Minister Leopold Figl was a great fan of the wines of Wachau and used the Cellar Palace frequently for meetings during negotiations for the Federal Treaty after WWII.
I recently had a chance to personally experience the hospitality of the Domäne Wachau. Dear friends were visiting from Willamette Valley, Oregon and I was looking for something special to do with them when Roman Horvath called. I conduct English PR and communication workshops for the Domäne Wachau staff and we needed to schedule the next one. When Roman heard I had visitors, he said, “Let’s have a barbecue party at the Cellar Palace! Bring Nancy and Steve along and we can give them a tour of the Domäne Wachau and we can practice our English communication skills! After the tour, we’ll do a little tasting and explain the Wachau wine classifications Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd. Then we’ll have the barbecue party.” What a perfect idea. Nancy and Steve lived in Austria for a short time years ago before the wine scandal and Austria’s subsequent climb to be among the world’s elite wine producing countries. And the two of them are always keen for a party.
While working out the details for the staff workshop with Kerstin Klamm, the export manager at Domäne Wachau, I told her that Nancy, Steve, and I would be contributing a bit of Americana to the barbecue. We would bring the dessert and provide some entertainment.
When we arrived, the Domäne Wachau team divided into three groups and each took one of us “Amis” with them. The tour and the tasting went fabulously, except that I think my very brash and irreverent friend Nancy may have taught her group some words they probably shouldn’t use! The barbecue was delicious – salad with sautéed wild chantrelles that Kerstin had found in the Wachau forest, grilled tomatoes with local fresh goat cheese, roasted rosemary potatoes and prime rib. Then came our American desserts! Rootbeer floats and brownies. Europeans do not typically know the American soft drink flavoured with the sassafrass root and they found the taste very strange indeed! Michael Linke, the wine shop manager, was the only one who really seemed to find any enjoyment with that. Thank goodness our brownies – complete with little fireworks fountains – were more successful.
For entertainment we played a few American picnic games. Franz Hofbauer (marketing and sales) and Veronica Ambrosz (sales director Vienna) turned out to be unbeatable in the three-legged-three-headed race. Melanie Topp (events) was a high-scoring talent with the “hang it on the grape vine” ball game.
We had a fantastic time there and I can truly recommend a visit to Domäne Wachau when wine touring in Austria. They have several different venues for different sizes and kinds of events. There is tasting room in the atrium above the wine shop as well as in the house distillery. A modernly equipped seminar room is also available. A tour of the famous Wachau vineyards by ship is possible as is a guided hike on the steep vineyard terraces. The Cellar Palace would be a perfect setting for a fun, yet elegant wedding in the vineyards. I’ve watched the team as they have built up the competence of Domäne Wachau, not just as a top wine producer, but as a top tourist destination and ambassador for Austrian wine and culture.