Steiermark, or Styria, is the southernmost wine producing region in Austria, based around the city of Graz and stretching out towards the border with Slovenia. The hilly terrain and the region's cool take on the MediterraneanClimate mean that viticulture here is markedly different from the rest of Austria.
Steiermark's specialties include Sauvignon Blanc, wines made from the Traminer family and Schiclher, a rustic local rosé made from Blauer Wildbacher. Hardonnay">Chardonnay (often labeled "Morillon"), Weissburgunder and Welschriesling are other important varieties grown here.
While three quarters of the grapes grown in Steiermark are white wine varieties, some good red wines are made here as well. Zweigelt, Pinot Noir and Saint-Laurent all perform admirably in the region's Terroir.
Steiermark is one of Austria's smaller wine producing regions. It is responsible for around seven percent of the national wine output, and most of the wines made in the region are consumed here as well.
Just over 4,600 hectares (11,400 acres) of Vineyard land is spread out across the DAC regions of Weststeiermark, Südsteiermark and Vulkanland (previously Südoststeiermark). The terrain here is hilly, almost mountainous, and many of the vineyards are planted on steep slopes to take advantage of sunlight and the prevailing winds.
The majority of vineyards across the wider region are planted on the sedimentary soils of the so-called Styrian Basin, formed from alpine wash flowing towards the Pannonian basin below (towards Burgenland and the Neusiedler lake). The remainder are found either on hard, apline rock or coarse alluvial deposits lower in the Styrian basin itself.
Pinot Blanc is a grape variety that originated in Burgundy, mutated from Pinot Gris. Today, it is grown in Alsace where it is called klevner when blended with auxerrois. The continental climate, with its cold winters and hot summers, is particularly suited to pinot blanc. It is resistant to frost in winter and in summer, the roots draw the minerals it needs from the warm soil. Its bunches are made up of small berries with thick skins and melting pulp that produce fruity, spicy wines, balanced between acidity and alcohol. pinot blanc is also used for crémants and sparkling wines. Pinot Blanc is also used for Crémant and sparkling wines. It is widely grown in Italy, where it covers almost 7,000 hectares, and is also found in Germany, Austria, Canada and South Africa.
sparkling wines from the region of Steirerland go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of eggs in meurette, red tuna steak provençal style or mushroom, bacon and gruyere quiche.
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