Steiermark

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• In the wine-growing region of Süd-Oststeiermark, volcanic soils, basalt soils, and sandy, heavy loam soils predominate, with a transition from the hot, dry Pannonian climate to the warm, humid Illyrian Mediterranean climate.
• Südsteiermark lies on the southern edge of the Graz Basin, bounded to the west by the Gleinalpe, Stubalpe, and Koralpe ranges and to the south by the Poßruck, with schist, sand, marl, and limestone soils.
• In the wine-growing region of Weststeiermark, gneiss and schist Urgestein soils predominate, and climatically the Illyrian climate makes itself felt with its relatively high rainfall.
• Owing to the considerable fragmentation of the growing areas and the great distances between them, the wines also differ notably from district to district.

• In the wine-growing region of Steiermark, nearly 70% of plantings are devoted to white wine, with the wines ranging — depending on site and soil — from the fresh, spritzy Steirischer Junker to powerfully crafted Lagenweinen.
• Alongside the fresh white wines and powerful single-vineyard wines, velvety red wines are also produced, grown mainly in Süd-Oststeiermark, where the climate is somewhat milder.

• The pronounced diurnal temperature variation promotes the aromatics of the wines and has a positive effect on their acid structure.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Austria

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-AT-A0225
• Official trade body site — Wein Steiermark