Culinary Danube

From the fruit gardens along the Danube, locals produce tempting goodies such as jams, fruit-jellies, Schnapps, or cakes and sell them in their little shops or at the local farmers markets.

Winemaking can be traced back in the area around the river Danube to the Celtic times. Try one of the famous Austrian wines produced in this area such as the Riesling in one of the inviting wine-taverns or on board of your vessel whilst the scenery is passing by.

All in all, the Danube has to offer a great variety of Austrian specialities; and these are our culinary Danube highlights:

Linzer Torte
Linz is not only well known for having been Europe’s Cultural Capital in 2009, it is also very famous for its sweet temptation the “Linzer Torte.” It is considered the oldest known cake in the world, as it was already mentioned by name as early as 1653. This cake made out of shortcrust and hazelnuts and filled with tasty red current jam goes well with an Austrian coffee such as a Melange.

Most
Making a good “most” - a typical Austrian kind of juice pressed from fruit – is just as demanding as making a good wine. In the Lower Austrian Mostviertel region, pears for “Most” are picked, washed and pressed by hand. After several weeks in fermentation barrels, this precious “cuvee” of fruit wine is then bottled. Gourmets appreciate the pear “Most” for its tangy taste and fruit aroma.

Wachauer Marillenknödel…fruity filling in a sweet shell
The mild climate and fertile soil of the Wachau Valley not only produce outstanding white wines; they are also perfect for fruit-growing. When the apricots are ripe, this Lower Austrian region becomes a dumpling paradise. Apricot dumplings are traditionally made with either potato dough, cream puff pastry or curd-cheese dough, which is wrapped around the fruits. After cooking, the dumplings get rolled in browned bread crumbs and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Apricot Schnapps
In July the Wachau valley glows in deep orange hues: it is time for the apricot harvest. These apricots are used to designate many traditional types of food and drinks. The well-known Wachau apricot Schnapps can be recognised by its intensive aroma of ripe fruit. Gourmets describe this beverage as an especially fine drink.

Fish from the Danube
The Danube is famous for its delicious freshwater fish, such as the carp, rainbow trout, pike and the sturgeon. So why not having a tasty fish with a glass of Austrian wine? Along the Danube you will definitely find the appropriate atmosphere in one of numerous restaurants.

Viennese wine
Vienna is the world’s only metropolis with its own wine-growing industry, boasting some 700 hectares of vineyards. The most popular whites are “Riesling” and “Weissburgunder”, while a favourite red is “Zweigelt.” The best place to enjoy them is at the typical wine taverns called “Heuriger.”