📍 Styria

Styria (Steiermark in German) is a state in southern Austria bordering Slovenia. It is a land of steep green hills, forests and village taverns, and is called the “Austrian Tuscany”. Vineyards lie on slopes at 300 to 600 metres; summers are warm, nights fresh, and rain often comes, which keeps the hills green.

Styria is divided into three wine zones. South Styria is the best known, where Sauvignon Blanc grows and makes bright, fresh wines with scents of gooseberry and herbs. Vulkanland Steiermark in the south-east lies on volcanic soils and gives fuller wines. In West Styria Schilcher is made, a rosé from the red grape Blauer Wildbacher, very sharp and fresh.

Chardonnay, locally called Morillon, is also widely grown, as are Welschriesling, Muscat Blanc and Gelber Muskateller. The regional wine with a geographical indication is called Steirerland.

For comparison with its neighbours: to the east lies Burgenland with its reds, to the north Lower Austria with Veltliner, and to the south across the border Slovenia's Podravje, where the same slopes continue under another name.