Austria: A food and wine journey through Southern Styria and Wachau

In 2025, Austria steals the scene with its country-wide culinary offerings. If you’re really looking to indulge, include Southern Styria and Wachau on your itinerary.

In the heart of Europe, Austria quietly dazzles with its beguiling union of alpine charm, imperial history and – perhaps most seductively – its world-class wine and culinary scene. While ski slopes and classical music have long dominated the itinerary, a new era of indulgence is capturing the imagination of global gourmands. With the return of the Michelin Guide to Austria in 2025, the country’s epicurean evolution is firmly in the spotlight – and nowhere is this more enchanting than in the wine-rich regions of Southern Styria and the Wachau.

A true (and tasty) culinary comeback

The reinstatement of the Michelin Guide Austria in 2025 is about more than just stars on doors – it’s about celebrating a nation’s culinary heritage and vision for the future. From experimental degustations in Vienna to terroir-driven cuisine in countryside inns, Austria’s culinary scene is now as exciting as it is tasty.

Southern Styria and Wachau, in particular, embody this refined synergy of food and wine. Restaurants across the regions not only showcase the bounty of the land, but also the deep-rooted traditions of craftsmanship, sustainability, and storytelling. Whether it’s a vineyard lunch overlooking the Styrian hills or a candlelit dinner beside the Danube, each moment invites you to slow down and savour the details.

Southern Styria: Austria’s ‘Tuscany’ with a twist

Southern Styria, often dubbed the ‘Austrian Tuscany,’ is all rolling vineyards and sun-kissed hills. Here, the landscape is more than just a postcard-perfect backdrop – it’s part of the region’s culinary identity. Wine roads weave through family-run estates where sauvignon blanc is king, celebrated for its mineral-driven complexity and zesty finesse.

At the heart of Southern Styria’s allure is its focus on the connection between terroir and table. Local taverns serve regional dishes such as pumpkin-seed-oil-dressed salads (a speciality), wild game, juicy roast pork and creamy cheeses – each bite perfectly paired with a crisp glass of regional white. For those seeking stars, restaurants such as Saziani Stub’n in Straden – a new addition to the 2025 Michelin Guide – transform local produce into elegant, seasonally driven plates paying tribute to the region’s bounty.

Wachau: Where Danube elegance meets vinous excellence

To the north, the Wachau Valley offers a different yet equally tasty foodie journey. This UNESCO-listed stretch of the Danube is known for its terraced vineyards and baroque charm, producing some of the world’s finest grüner veltliner and riesling. The microclimate, shaped by river mists and granite soils, means that wines here have a vibrancy that will have you reaching for another glass.

Wineries like Domäne Wachau and Weingut Knoll blend tradition with innovation, offering tastings that are as much about storytelling as they are about flavour. And with the Michelin Guide’s return, the region’s polished culinary landscape is firmly in the spotlight. In the medieval town of Dürnstein, Landhaus Bacher – helmed by the legendary Lisl Wagner-Bacher and her son Thomas Dorfer – continues to define gourmet excellence, earning accolades for its contemporary takes on Austrian classics.

An invitation to indulge

For gourmet travellers, Austria delivers a dining scene where every sip and bite tells a story: where culture is poured into a glass and plated with precision. It’s time to look beyond the ski resorts and symphonies – and let the vineyards and kitchens of Southern Styria and the Wachau introduce you to Austria’s most delicious secret.

So raise your glass to the unexpected – and discover a side of Austria you’ll taste long after the journey ends.

Discover v more about Austria’s vibrant culinary scene today.