The Hotel Pfeffel is ideal for a holiday in the Wachau
We stay overnight in the Hotel Pfeffel in the Wachau on the Danube. On our Wine journey through Austria a day of indulgence for wine and wellness lovers awaits us. We almost missed the entrance to the wellness hotel in the Wachau. From the street it looks like a gateway. Hotel Pfeffel in Dürnstein in the Wachau itself can hardly be missed from the Donaustrasse. It is clearly visible on the outskirts of the town of Dürnstein on the Danube. The vineyard next to the hotel building shows that the hotel is also a Wachau winery. Leopold Pfeffel grows Wachau wines such as Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Gelber Muskateller, Muskat Ottonell, Neuburger and Zweigelt there. Among other things, it is famous for its baroque church and the fortress on the hill behind the town. Hadmar von Kuenring once held Richard the Lionheart prisoner there for months.
Gourmet room in the Hotel Pfeffel in the Wachau
Since our time is limited, we dedicate ourselves to the hotel and its surroundings. Well worth it as it turns out. We spend the night in one of the hotel's gourmet rooms, a 45 m² room. It is more reminiscent of an apartment with its alcove with built-in wardrobes and storage space for suitcases. Next to it there is a bathroom, a toilet and a corner of the room for the bed. This is separated by columns from the living room with its seating area and sofa. There is more than enough space in this room. We immediately feel comfortable in the wooden and upholstered furniture. The window front, which extends across the width of the room, opens onto the balcony. From here we have a view of the Danube and the hills that rise behind it.
The Hotel Pfeffel offers alternative room types such as the "Steinfeder" apartment, the "Federspiel" or "Smaragd" double rooms. All of these room types are spacious and offer plenty of space. The double room "Himmelsstiege" is also exceptional, in which the bathing area is separated from the sleeping and living area by a staircase. These rooms are particularly popular with bridal couples, Mrs. Pfeffel tells us during our tour of the house.
The spa at Hotel Pfeffel in the Wachau
We visit the spa on the top floor of the hotel and almost have it to ourselves. Some guests sunbathe here during the week on the sun terrace. This looks almost Mediterranean with its plant decorations, the view of the Danube and Dürnstein. The pool lures in the late summer temperatures for a dip in the pool. Then we have a choice. We can dry ourselves in the sun in one of the sun loungers. Or do we prefer to relax on one of the loungers in the spa? We prepare a cup of orange tea in the samovar. Then we get a massage in the wellness area of the hotel. This is how we spend our afternoon in the Garden hotel and winery Pfeffel *.
Relax in the saunas at the Pfeffel Wellness Hotel in the Wachau
If it's already cooler outside, you can also relax in one of the saunas or in the steam bath in this wellness hotel in the Wachau. The choice is large: the wellness area in the Hotel Pfeffel includes a heated outdoor pool, relaxation areas, laconium bench, infrared sauna, Finnish sauna, bio sauna, steam bath and solegrote.
After the sauna or steam bath you can enjoy the view of the Danube in the relaxation room of the Pfeffel Wellnesshotel Wachau.
The wines of the Pfeffel family
At dinner, we learn that the Pfeffel family still grows wine next to their hotel. With each course we are served a glass of wine from the family winery. The wines are impressive! Grüner veltliner, Riesling, Zweigelt, Neuburger Smaragd and Muskateller complement our dinner. This consists of five courses. These are light and digestible. No wonder, since they consist mostly of vegetables and fruit. Chicken is only for the main course.
Wachau wine at the Wachau Weingut Pfeffel
The next morning we join the vineyard hike led by Alexander Pfeffel. The hotel boss is also a winemaker. He runs the hotel together with his sister. The father still helps everywhere. His favorite place is the Wachau winery right next to the hotel. We meet him again and again during our stay at the Hotel Pfeffel in the Wachau. We also see him on our hike to the family winery. He drives up into the vineyard in his electric vehicle to keep an eye on the harvest of the wine.
His son is now explaining to us what viticulture in the Wachau is all about. We learn why the terrace cultivation in the Wachau has proved so successful. He shows us the stone terraces on which the vines grow. Then he tells how his brother-in-law simplified the work in the vineyard with new methods of spraying the vines against pests.
At a wine tasting, Leopold Pfeffel explains to us that the family bought the last two stone terraces above his old winery. "The best wines grow there," he reports. "You also have in the Autumn enough sun. This gives them the sweetness and minerals that wine needs to develop its character.” We can then try for ourselves how good the Wachau wines from the Wachau Weingut Pfeffel are.
We feel at home in the Pfeffel family's hotel
We notice the solidarity of the family not only in the winery. During our stay at the Gartenhotel and Weingut Pfeffel, this can be felt everywhere. Here you can feel completely comfortable here.
Garden hotel and winery Pfeffel
To the sky stairs 122
3601 Dürnstein
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Excursion tips in the area
Travel Arrangements:
Arrival by plane, public transport or car
Arrival by plane, bus or train*. The nearest airport to the Hotel Pfeffel is Dürnstein Wachau Vienna Schwechat. From there you can travel by rental car or public transport to the Hotel Pfeffel Wachau. Train stations are in Krems as in Dairy.
Train:
from mid-March to the end of September the Wachau railway
Car Rentals:
Cheap rental cars - book here! *
Accommodation:
Book yours here Accommodation in the Wachau *
Stay in wineries in the Wachauwhere you can experience wine
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Source Hotel Pfeffel in Dürnstein in the Wachau: Research on site. We would like to thank the Hotel Pfeffel Wachau in Lower Austria for the invitation.
Text in Hotel Pfeffel Dürnstein Wachau: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Photos Wachau Winery and Hotel Pfeffel: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
