A new day and a new post. Today Süd-Steiermark.
This is region is next to Wachau one of the most famous wine regions in Austria. This hasnt always been this way. After WW I Steiermark lost 30.000 hectare of wine producing land to Yugoslavia. The so called Untersteiermark. What was left is 10% and is nowadays called Süd-Steiermark. The governor of Steiermark made one of the first wine roads in 1955 which created the first opportunity to reach a lot of vineyards. In 1982 there was still no track of prosperity and wealth in the region. This was also the case because you could earn more money with trade of grapes from Burgenland and Niederösterreich than with work in the vineyard. Most vineyards had a mixed farm of cattle, fruit and wine. In the 90's things started to change and Polz, Tement and Gross and Sattler had made name with wines from their own vineyards and they mostly didnt have enough wine in their still small wine cellars. Vineyards started to grow and because of EU-support a lot of winegrowers got more money to invest in cellar technique.
In the 80's typical Styrian wine was sweet, broad and to strong on alcohol. Nowadays a typical Southern Styrian wine is fresh, fruity, light in alcohol and an acidic taste. In the 80's the first trial and error took place with wooden barrels and it didnt take long until the winemakers found out how much wood was needed. They also started to make wines from one typical Lagen (Appellation). These Lagen-weinen soon became a synonym for excellent wines.
Photo: Manfred Zweimueller
There's plenty of different grapes grown in the area. Red wines are Zweigelt, Blauer Wildbacher and Pinot Noir which arent top class, but there are some good producers. Be aware that these wines aren't of concurrence with the Burgenland, Carnuntum and other region red wines. They are easy drinking wines in a price range up to a maximum of Euro 15,- With white wines it's a whole different story. Welschriesling, Scheurebe, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder, Gelber Muskateller, Sauvignon Blanc, Morillon, Traminer. Plenty of choice. The first 3 is what we call bread and butter wine (20% of all vineyards in Styria are Welschriesling), the other ones are probably more interesting to buy and try when you don't visit the region and you're looking for more interesting wines.
Theres heaps of good smaller vineyards in the Südsteiermark. Some of them are Sattlerhof, Erich und Walter Polz, Manfred Tement, Brolli-Arkadenhof, Elsnegg, Hannes Harkamp, Jaunegg, Lackner-Tinnacher, Maitz, Repolusk, Erwin Sabathi. Tschermonegg, Riegelnegg-Olwitschhof
Photo: Manfred Zweimueller
My favorite vineyards in this region are:
Franz Strablegg: (no homepage, Location: 8454 Eichberg-Trautenburg 54)
The only thing this winemaker cares for is making wine. No marketing at all and the product needs to speak for itself. You can't find him online or in guides like Fallstaff (Austrian Wine and Food Guide). Even though there's no marketing, his wines are sold out way to early. Especially try his Sauvignon Blanc and Grauburgunder.
Gross: (
http://www.gross.at)
Gross is one of the bigger vineyards in the Südsteiermark with about 36 hectares of vineyards. If you like oak whites try his wines from the Lagen: Ratscher Nussberg, Perz, Sulz and Kittenberg. His Klassik wines (Klassik wines in Styria always come from steel-tanks) are also excellent of taste.
Potzinger: (
http://www.potzinger.at)
Potzinger makes exellent Klassik wines. One of my favorite vineyards for Klassik wines in the Südsteiermark. Definately try his Klassik Weissburgunder, Sauvignon Blanc and Gelber Muskateller.
Riegelnegg-Olwitschhof: (
http://www.riegelnegg.at)
Another favorite vineyard for Klassik wines. In my opinion this vineyard makes the best Klassik Gelber Muskateller (Muskateller Aperitif) in the Südsteiermark. He also creates one of the best Styrian reds: Roter Sernauberg, which is a cuvee of Zweigelt - Merlot - Blauer Wildbacher
My favorite restaurants in the Südsteiermark are:
Schloss Gamlitz: (
http://www.melcher.at) Excellent vineyard as well.
The small château offers cold cuts and their own wine (called a Buschenschank in Styria). Very nice inner courtyard to relax and enjoy the local qualities.
Photo: Melcher Schloss Gamlitz: (
http://www.melcher.at)
Restaurant Zur Hube: (
http://www.zurhube.at)
Top of the notch restaurant. Used to be an insider restaurant for friends and relatives, but grew out to a proper restaurant. There's only 20 seats in the whole restaurant, so be sure to make a reservation in advance. It's a 300 year old Styrian house in the middle of the hills in Sausal. (Combine this restaurant visit with a trip to vineyard Strablegg-Leitner).
Photo: Zur Hube: (
http://www.zurhube.at)
Weingut Maitz: (
http://www.maitz.co.at)
Also an excellent vineyard in the Südsteiermark. This vineyard is close to Gross, Melcher - Schloss Gamlitz, Potzinger and Riegelnegg-Olwitschhof. One of the most beautiful spots in the Südsteiermark to go for lunch. Astonishing view over the vineyards.
Photo: Manfred Zweimueller