Restaurant Nikolaihof

Grüner Veltliner is the last of the great European white wine grapes.” So observed Terry Theise, the esteemed US wine connoisseur. The popular wine is a highlight of its native Niederösterreich (the region around Vienna), and nowhere more so than at Nikolaihof. Tucked away near Krems, this former 12th-century monastery is Europe's first biodynamic wine estate. The organic winery would be famous simply for its Robert Parker-endorsed Grüner, were it not for the equally sensational kitchen, the beloved annual apricot harvest (fluffy apricot dumplings!) and one of the more enchanting dining spots on the continent. On a warm summer night, indulge in the finest Grüners and a spectacular meal underneath a massive, century-old Kaiser lime tree. You won't soon forget it. Plan your visit at www.nikolaihof.at.