Region Profile
Austria : Styria
Styria, sometimes known as the “Tuscany of Austria”, is truly as beautiful a wine country as can be found anywhere in the world. Divided into 3 areas, Western Styria (Weststeiermark), Southeastern Styria (Sud-oststeiermark), and Southern Styria (Sudsteiermark) of which the last is perhaps the best known.
The 4700 acres of Southern Styria borders Slovenia, where the cultivation of vines has been going on almost uninterrupted since Imperial times. It enjoys a climate like that of the rest of Southern Europe and is planted almost exclusively with white varietals. Of those, it is most famous for its Sauvignon Blancs which have a structure and fruitiness which rivals the best of what the New World has to offer.
For more than one hundred years they have been making Chardonnay, which they call Morillon, which is for the most part the opposite of the often over-oaked California version. Here you can taste the fruit in this wine. You will also find crisp Pinot Gris, exciting Pinot Blancs, as well as other “lesser known” varietals.
In Western Styria there is a truly regional rose wine being made from the Blauer Wildbacher grape called Schilcher. To the uninitiated palate it is almost undrinkable for its high acid content, and it is said to make one extremely aggressive. Here they don’t worry about exporting, as the majority of the small amount produced is all but totally consumed in the local heurigers (wine gardens).
Styria Wine Estates
Our most popular wines from Styria
- Tschermonegg Oberglanzberg Sauvignon Blanc 2002
- Jaunegg Classic Sauvignon Blanc 2003
- VIN’O Tscheppe Pinot Gris Reserve 2001
- Sabathi Possnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc 2003
- Sabathi Poharnig Sauvignon Blanc 2004
Map Information
Hover over map to magnify, click on map to view larger map.
