Wine Regions

Southern Styria

Diverse and romantic

Austrian Tuscany

Rolling hills and steep slopes adorned with poplar trees—and a love for traditional winemaking, these are some of the defining characteristics of southern Styria.

Southern Styria’s wine-growing region extends from western Leibnitz up to the Mur River and produces a great variety across 2,785 hectares of vineyards. With slopes too steep for modern machinery, grapes here are picked the old-fashioned way—by hand. Add to that a distinct note of Mediterranean flair, and you’ll soon see why the South Styrian Wine Road is one of Europe’s premier wine destinations.

Wine Country & Terroir

Light, sandy and gravelly soils allow rainwater to drain quickly into underground deposits. Paired with the cooler climate, these are ideal conditions for grapes.

The winegrowing community in this area consists of about 950 growers who take great care of their vineyards, the highest of which is located 564m above sea level. But it’s not only the great variety of grapes that define the character of these fine wines, it is above all the multi-layered soils from sand and slate to marl and limestone.

Locations & Varieties

The primary grapes planted in southern Styria are Sauvignon Blanc, Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc, Morillon, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gelber Muskateller and Traminer.

Characterized by the Mediterranean climate and the long growing season, as well as cool nights, southern Styrian wines impress with rich aromatics and nuances. Wines that are particularly typical of the region are given the protected designation of origin “Südsteiermark DAC.” Good to know: almost one fifth of the area is planted with Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The expression of the terroir ranges from fragrant and fresh to discreet and elegant.

Riedenwein

Riedenweine are single-vineyard wines. Made from grapes grown on exceptionally steep slopes and picked by hand, these distinct and special wines make up the top tier of the DAC labeling system.

Ortswein

The term Ortswein refers to wines from a particular village or municipality. They have a pronounced character and are a pleasure to enjoy. Ortswein must be dry and, with the exception of the Traminer from Klöch, contain no more than 4 grams of residual sugar per liter.

Gebietswein

This is the broadest tier of the DAC pyramid. It includes young, fresh and fruity wines of all three regions, that is Southern Styria, Vulkanland and Western Styria.

Pool with deckchairs and view of the castle

LOISIUM Südsteiermark

Wine & Spa Hotel | Ehrenhausen | South Styria, Austria

Enjoy Mediterranean lifestyle in Austrian Tuscany with 102 rooms & suites, a spa club, event & meeting venues and regional coziness on steep hillside terrain.

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