Styria - World-Class White Wines from Europe's Steepest Vineyards

Summary / At a Glance

Styria is Austria's sun-drenched south and one of the world's most exciting white wine regions. Here, on sometimes absurdly steep slopes (gradients of over 100%!), Sauvignon Blancs grow that rank among the absolute world elite. The region is divided into three DAC zones: the celebrated Südsteiermark (South Styria) with its elegant wines, the volcanic Vulkanland Steiermark with its mineral power, and the Weststeiermark (West Styria), home of the unique Schilcher rosé wine.

Quick Facts:

Location: Southern Austria, border with Slovenia
Size: 5,096 hectares of vineyards
Climate: Mediterranean influence, warm, sunny
Main grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc (20%), Welschriesling (17%), Weißburgunder, Morillon (Chardonnay), Schilcher (Blauer Wildbacher)
Wine styles: Fresh, mineral whites, Schilcher rosé
Special feature: Europe's steepest vineyards (gradients over 100%), three DAC zones, world's finest Sauvignon Blancs

Geography and Climate

Styria lies in the far southeast of Austria, directly on the Slovenian border. The three wine-growing zones extend over roughly 70 kilometres from west to east and benefit from a unique climate: Mediterranean warmth from the south meets cool Pannonian influences from the east and Alpine freshness from the north. The result: hot days, cool nights and enormous diurnal temperature swings – perfect for aromatic white wines with freshness and substance.

South Styria (Südsteiermark) is the most famous sub-region. Dramatically steep hills with average gradients of up to 70% dominate here – around Kitzeck im Sausal there are sites with gradients exceeding 100% (equivalent to 45°!). The vineyards reach up to 600 metres above sea level. The soils are predominantly calcareous Opok marl (a sandy mudstone) that stores water and imparts minerality.

Vulkanland Steiermark (formerly Südoststeiermark) lies further east and is flatter. Volcanic soils of basalt and tuff shape the wines here – they are more powerful, spicier, with more body than the delicate South Styrian wines.

West Styria (Weststeiermark) is the smallest and coolest zone. Here almost exclusively the Blauer Wildbacher thrives for Schilcher – a fresh, piquant rosé wine produced nowhere else.

Grape Varieties

Sauvignon Blanc

With 20% of the planted area, Sauvignon Blanc is the queen of Styria. Styrian Sauvignons rank among the absolute world elite – five Styrian estates (Tement, Sattlerhof, Gross, Wohlmuth, Neumeister) made it into the top 10 of the world's best Sauvignon Blancs! The wines are crystal clear, mineral, with aromas of gooseberry, green pepper, elderflower and a racy acidity. In contrast to New Zealand Sauvignons, they are more refined, less expressive, but more precise and terroir-driven.

Welschriesling

Welschriesling occupies 17% of the area and is Styria's traditional variety. The wines are fresh, light, with green apple, citrus and a crisp acidity – perfect terrace wines and Heuriger classics. In Vulkanland, more powerful, oak-aged interpretations of Welschriesling are also produced.

Morillon (Chardonnay)

In Styria, Chardonnay is traditionally known as "Morillon". Styrian Morillons are elegant, fruity, often aged in large oak barrels or barriques. They have less weight than Burgundian Chardonnays, but more finesse and drinkability.

Weißburgunder and Grauburgunder

Weißburgunder and Grauburgunder play an important role, especially as village wines and single-vineyard wines. The wines are creamy, nutty, with pear, apple and a pleasant fullness.

Riesling

Riesling also thrives in the cooler, higher-altitude sites of Styria – especially in South Styria. The wines are fresh and mineral, with aromas of green apple, peach and citrus.

Schilcher (Blauer Wildbacher)

Schilcher is THE speciality of West Styria. This fresh, piquant rosé wine is made from the indigenous variety Blauer Wildbacher. Schilcher is pale pink to onion-skin in colour, with aromas of strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb and a characteristic acidity. It is light (usually 10–12% alcohol), refreshing and perfect for hot summer days.

Wine Styles

Styria stands for crystal-clear, mineral white wines with freshness, precision and elegance. The three DAC zones have had clear quality pyramids since 2018:

Gebietswein (Regional Wine)

Entry-level wines from the respective DAC region
Uncomplicated, fresh, varietal
Usually aged in stainless steel

Ortswein (Village Wine)

Site-specific wines from defined communes
Higher minimum quality, more character
Often aged in large oak barrels or partly in barrique
Permitted varieties: Welschriesling, Weißburgunder, Morillon, Grauburgunder, Riesling, Muskateller, Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer
In West Styria also Schilcher

Riedenwein (Single-Vineyard Wine / Große STK-Lagen)

Top wines from defined individual vineyards
Strict yield limits, hand-harvesting, longer ageing
STK = "Steirische Terroir- und Klassikweingüter" – an association of 15 top estates
These wines are terroir-driven, long-lived and complex

Typical of Styria is the fresh, unadorned style: the wines are often aged on the full lees; many estates work with spontaneous natural yeasts; many are organically or biodynamically certified.

Top Wineries in Styria

5-Star Estates (Falstaff)

Familienweingut Tement (South Styria)

Address: Zieregg 13, 8461 Berghausen
Website: tement.at
Speciality: Sauvignon Blanc "Zieregg", world's finest Sauvignon Blancs
Awards: Falstaff 5 stars, top 10 worldwide for Sauvignon Blanc
The Tement family is the benchmark for Styrian Sauvignon Blanc. The wines from the Zieregg vineyard are legendary – precise, mineral, world-class.

Sattlerhof (South Styria)

Address: Sernau 2, 8462 Gamlitz
Website: sattlerhof.at
Speciality: Sauvignon Blanc, Morillon, STK single-vineyard wines
Awards: Falstaff 5 stars, top 10 worldwide for Sauvignon Blanc
Willi Sattler is a Styrian winemaking legend. His Sauvignon Blancs are benchmark wines – clear, precise, with enormous depth.

Weingut Gross (South Styria)

Address: Nussberg 54, 8461 Ehrenhausen
Website: weingut-gross.at
Speciality: Sauvignon Blanc, Weißburgunder, Morillon
Awards: Falstaff 5 stars, top 10 worldwide for Sauvignon Blanc
Alois Gross is a perfectionist. His wines are concentrated, mineral, long-lived – absolute top class.

Weingut Erwin Sabathi (South Styria)

Address: Pössnitz 48, 8463 Leutschach
Website: weingut-sabathi.at
Speciality: Sauvignon Blanc, Morillon, Pössnitzberg sites
Awards: Falstaff 5 stars
Erwin Sabathi makes classically elegant Styrian wines with finesse and precision.

Weingut Lackner-Tinnacher (South Styria)

Address: Steinbach 82, 8462 Gamlitz
Website: lackner-tinnacher.at
Speciality: Sauvignon Blanc, Morillon, biodynamic viticulture
Awards: Falstaff 5 stars
Fritz Lackner works biodynamically and makes uncompromising, terroir-driven wines.

Further Top Estates

Weingut Wohlmuth (South Styria)

Address: Fresing 24, 8333 Kitzeck im Sausal
Website: wohlmuth.at
Speciality: Sauvignon Blanc from the steepest sites, top 10 worldwide
Gerhard Wohlmuth cultivates some of Styria's steepest vineyards.

Weingut Neumeister (Vulkanland Steiermark)

Address: Bocksdorf 78, 8333 Straden
Website: neumeister.cc
Speciality: Vulkanland wines, Welschriesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Awards: Top 10 worldwide for Sauvignon Blanc
Christoph and Albert Neumeister make powerful, spicy wines from volcanic soils.

Weingut Polz (South Styria)

Address: Grassnitzberg 54, 8471 Spielfeld
Website: polz.co.at
Speciality: Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling wine, Rosé Sekt (95 points!)
Erich and Walter Polz are pioneers of Styrian sparkling wine.

Weingut Frauwallner (Vulkanland Steiermark)

Address: Kapfenstein 101, 8353 Kapfenstein
Website: frauwallner.at
Speciality: Vulkanland wines, Welschriesling, Traminer

Weingut Winkler-Hermaden (South Styria)

Address: Kapellen 10, 8182 Puch bei Weiz
Website: winkler-hermaden.at
Speciality: Biodynamic viticulture, Traminer, Sauvignon Blanc

Sub-regions – The Three DACs

Südsteiermark DAC

Size: Approx. 2,700 hectares
Character: Steepest vineyards, Opok soils, most elegant wines
Main villages: Gamlitz, Leutschach, Ehrenhausen, Kitzeck im Sausal
Wine style: Fine, mineral, precise, Burgundian character
Special feature: Home of the world's finest Sauvignon Blancs, STK Grand Crus

Vulkanland Steiermark DAC

Size: Approx. 1,800 hectares
Character: Volcanic soils (basalt, tuff), powerful wines
Main villages: Straden, Klöch, Kapfenstein, St. Anna am Aigen
Wine style: Spicy, full-bodied, mineral, more body
Special feature: Unique volcanic soils, powerful Welschriesling interpretations

Weststeiermark DAC

Size: Approx. 600 hectares
Character: Cooler, higher elevation, almost exclusively Schilcher
Main villages: Deutschlandsberg, Stainz, Eibiswald
Wine style: Fresh, piquant Schilcher rosé
Special feature: The only growing area for Schilcher in the world

Wine History

Viticulture in Styria dates back to Roman times. In the Middle Ages it was primarily monasteries that drove winemaking forward. Styria was a significant wine region for centuries – until the phylloxera catastrophe at the end of the 19th century, which destroyed 90% of the vineyard area.

The rebuilding focused on quality over quantity. In the 1980s the "Styrian wine revolution" began: pioneers like Manfred Tement, Willi Sattler and Alois Gross introduced Burgundian philosophy – hand-harvesting, yield reduction, spontaneous fermentation, extended lees ageing. The founding of the STK (Steirische Terroir- und Klassikweingüter) in 2003 was a milestone: 15 top estates defined grand cru vineyards, set strict quality standards and made Styria internationally known.

The introduction of the three DACs (2018) was the next step: at last there are clear designations of origin and quality pyramids.

Challenges and Future

Steep-slope viticulture: The extreme gradients make the use of machinery impossible – almost everything is done by hand. This is expensive, time-consuming and physically demanding. The shortage of young people entering the profession is a genuine challenge.

Climate change: Styria has so far benefited from climate change. The warmer temperatures ensure perfect ripeness, even for demanding varieties like Sauvignon Blanc. However, extreme weather events are increasing – hail, heavy rain and late frosts.

Sustainability: Styria is a pioneer in organic and biodynamic viticulture. Many top estates work with organic certification or according to biodynamic principles. The steep slopes already require hand work, which facilitates natural cultivation.

Internationalisation: Styrian Sauvignon Blancs are in demand internationally. The challenge: maintaining the balance between demand and limited production volumes. Prices are rising – good for the winemakers, but a challenge for accessibility.

Tourism: The "Südsteirische Weinstraße" (South Styrian Wine Road) is one of Europe's most successful wine tourism regions. Wine hikes, Buschenschanken (Heurige), gastronomy hotels – Styria combines wine, cuisine and landscape perfectly.

My Personal Recommendation

Styria is my absolute favourite region for white wine – nowhere else is there this combination of quality, landscape and joie de vivre!

My favourite estate: Sattlerhof is a must! Willi Sattler is a legend; his Sauvignon Blancs are world-class. The tastings are family-run, warm and unpretentious. My tip: the "Sernauberg" Sauvignon Blanc is a price-quality wonder – precise, mineral, complex, but not overpriced.

Steep-slope experience: Visit Weingut Wohlmuth in Kitzeck im Sausal. Here you see Styria's steepest vineyards – a visit to the sites is breathtaking (and sweaty!). The wines are brilliant, the view spectacular.

Vulkanland discovery: In Vulkanland I recommend Weingut Neumeister. The wines are more powerful and spicier than in South Styria – a great complement. The Welschriesling "Edelschuh" is sensational!

Schilcher experience: In West Styria you absolutely must try a Schilcher! Weingut Krispel in Stainz makes excellent Schilcher – fresh, piquant, perfect with fried char or trout. In summer on the terrace of a Buschenschank, Schilcher is unbeatable!

Wine hike: The Südsteirische Weinstraße is a dream! My favourite route: start in Gamlitz, hike over the Kranachberg (approx. 3–4 hours), stop at Sabathi or Lackner-Tinnacher, continue to Leutschach. The landscape is spectacular – gentle hills, vineyards as far as the eye can see, the Slovenian Alps in the background.

Insider tip: Weingut Winkler-Hermaden is still a secret tip. Georg Winkler works biodynamically and makes incredibly vibrant, characterful wines. The Traminer in particular is outstanding – floral, spicy, complex.

Food tip: Styrian white wines pair perfectly with regional cuisine: pumpkin seed oil salad, Backhendl (Styrian fried chicken), trout from local streams. My favourite pairing: Sattlerhof Sauvignon Blanc with fried char with pumpkin seed oil and green beans – brilliant!

Best time to visit: September and October are ideal. The vineyards glow golden, the harvest is underway, and everywhere there are estate festivals and Sturm (fermenting grape juice – a Styrian experience!). Temperatures are mild and the landscape is breathtaking.

Buschenschank experience: You absolutely must visit a traditional Buschenschank (Heuriger)! Here the winemakers pour their own wine, accompanied by cold platters, cheese and bread with pumpkin seed oil. Pure atmosphere! My tip: Buschenschank Tement in Berghausen – family-run, authentic, outstanding wines.

Styria is joie de vivre in bottle form: crystal-clear white wines, steep vineyards, warm-hearted people and a food culture without equal. Styrian Sauvignon Blancs can hold their own against Sancerre, Marlborough and Napa – but they have something the others do not: Styrian Gemütlichkeit!