Styria/Steiermark

Wine-growing region in Austria, one of three in the federal state of Styria (Steirmark) in Austria.. The vineyard area totals 1.115 hectares, divided up among 2.254 grape growers. This region is also known as the “country of castles and palaces”, and is located close to the borders with Slovenia and Hungary, as well as to the federal state of Burgenland. A total of four wine routes leads the visitor through an extremely beautiful countryside, characterised by gentle rolling hills. Viticulture is mostly practised as a side-line, the average size of an operation is only half a hectare. Most of the wine is sold in around 300 Heurigen wine bars attached to wineries. The most important wine-growing towns and villages are Bad Radkersburg, Feldbach, Gleisdorf, Hartberg, Kapfenstein (An der Kapelle, Hinteregg, Rosenleiten sites), Klöch (Klöchberg site), Riegersburg (Brunnenfeld, Festungsmauer, Turnierplatz sites), St. Peter, Straden (Buchberg, Klausen sites) and Weiz. The highest vineyards in Austria are located in the north of this region, on the Ringkogel mountain nearHartberg, these go up to an altitude of 650 metres above sea level. The wine-growing region is located in a transitional zone between a hot, dry Pannonian and a warm, humid Mediterranean climate. The vineyards are located on decomposed granite, clay, sand, basalt and volcanic soils. Traminer vines flourish particularly on volcanic soils. Among the best-known producers are: Frauwallner, Frühwirth, Gießauf-Nell, Krispel, Neumeister, Platzer, Ploder-Rosenberg, Prünte, Thaller and Winkler-Hermaden. Grape varieties planted (as per 2000):
Variety Synonyms, variants Colour Hectares % share
Welschriesling - White 293 26,3
Chardonnay
Morillon
Pinot Blanc Feinburgunder
Chardonnay
Weißburgunder, Klevner White 209 18,7
Zweigelt Rotburger Red 148 13,3
Müller-Thurgau Rivaner, Riesling x Sylvaner White 141 12,6
Scheurebe Sämling 88 White 71 6,4
Goldburger - White 45 4,0
Traminer Roter Traminer, Gewürztraminer White 31 2,8
Blauer Wildbacher Schilcher Red 27 2,4
Sauvignon Blanc Muskat-Sylvaner White 27 2,4
Riesling Rheinriesling White 26 2,3
Pinot Gris Grauburgunder, Ruländer White 21 1,9
Gemischter Satz - White 16 1,4
Blauburger - Red 13 1,2
Muskateller Gelber Muskateller, Roter Muskateller White 7 0,6
Blaufränkisch Blauer Limberger, Limberger Red 4,2 0,4
Veltliner Grüner Veltliner, Weißgipfler White 3 0,3
Cabernet Sauvignon - Red 3 0,3
Pinot Noir Blauburgunder, Blauer Spätburgunder Red 2,2 0,2
Muskat-Ottonel Feinschmeckerter White 2 0,2
Silvaner Sylvaner, Grüner Sylvaner White 1,4 0,1
Merlot - Red 1,1 0,1
Bouvier - White 1 0,1
St. Laurent - Red 0,8 0,1
Neuburger - White 0,3 -
Cabernet Franc - Red 0,1 -
Blauer Portugieser Portugieser Red 0,1 -
White varieties 912 81,8
Red varieties 203 18,2
TOTAL 1.115 100