The student Leopold wants to marry blonde Kathrein, the landlady of the "Golden Goose" in Wurzburg. To discourage Leopold, Kathrein's aunt Minna writes to Leopold's father Valentin, whose been known as "Krambambuli" since his student days. When Leopold's parents arrive on the scen, his father speaks to Kathrein and realizes that she is in love with Stefan, the Kellermeister at the Golden Goose. But Leopold's mom has already told Stefan, that Leopold will marry Kathrein and, because of this, Stefan now wants to leave the Golden Goose.