WHERE TO STAY
Vienna Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design
could hardly be more perfect, in terms of its central location and furnishings. A historic townhouse in Josefstadt puts the focus on both wine and design, where each of its 39 rooms feature an Austrian vintner along with design touches. Be sure to snag the only Junior Suite, a 35 sq m retreat outfitted by Scandinavian Design House with an incomparable Hästens box spring bed and the best city view on the top floor. Its dedicated wine bar features over 400 wines, with a vintner focus each month.
Start your day right with the full Viennese breakfast. Coffee and kipferl (a croissantlike morning bun) is de rigeur, but don’t miss the regional cheeses, pastries and sweet homemade pies and jams. The hotel can also organise day tours to nearby wineries. Lange Gasse 13A, 1080 Vienna. Tel: +43 1 400 1122
Sudsteiermark
Settle into the no frills but well designed winemaker rooms at Skoff Original – Walter Skoff, and be spoilt by exuberantly regional cuisine. Of the six, be sure to get one with balcony views overlooking the vineyards. There’re five wines at the breakfast spread, a wellstocked cellar door next door, along with a restaurant, Skoff Original Gastlichkeit, not to be missed. Eckberg 16, A-8462 Gamlitz. Tel: +43 0 3453/4243
Burgenland
There are four simple but comfortable hospitality rooms at Weingut J. Heinrich, which are available when the winery is not too busy. Of these, the Goldberg room sits immediately adjacent to the winemaking area, with all the smells and sounds of an authentic wine vacation. Karnergasse 59, 7301 Deutschkreutz. Tel: +43 0 2613/89615