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.
Furmint is a very old Hungarian grape variety. It arrived in France in the 1800s. The bunches of Furmint are of medium size. They are compact and cylindrical. The berries are also of medium size. They are either short elliptical or rounded. Their thick skin changes from greenish white to reddish once the fruit is mature. This grape variety is known throughout the world for being part of the composition of the Hungarian Tokaj vintage. Robust, rich in alcohol and acidity, it needs light soil and a warm, dry climate to be fertile. It must also be pruned short and its budding takes place 7 days after the Chasselas. As for its maturity, it is of the second late period. This grape variety fears grey rot and erinosis. When vinified dry, Furmint produces a very fragrant, fine and highly alcoholic white wine.
white wines from the region of Steirerland go well with generally quite well with dishes of rich fish (salmon, tuna etc), shellfish or mild and soft cheese such as recipes of pasta with tuna and cream, wok of pointed cabbage with shrimps and lemongrass bo bun style or potatoes in dressing gowns.
On the nose in the region of Steirerland often reveals types of flavors of tree fruit, citrus or citrus fruit and sometimes also flavors of vegetal, microbio or non oak. In the mouth in the region of Steirerland is a with a nice freshness.
