Südsteiermark​ or South Styria is the southernmost wine region of Austria. This area of Styria is known for Sauvignon Blanc with a recent shift here from copycat Sauvignon Blanc to wines with more individuality. The region has many family owned estate

History: Archduke Johann of Austria pioneered and actively promoted viticulture in the region.

Main towns: Berghausen. | Ehrenhausen. | Gamlitz. | Kitzeck. | Leutschach. | Ratsch. | Sankt Nikolai. | Sausal. | Spielfeld.

Vineyard area: 2,563 hectares (6,330 acres). 

Main grapes: Südsteiermark is best known for Sauvignon Blanc. Also grown are Welschriesling, Chardonnay (’Morillon’), Gelber Muskateller and Traminer.

Terroir: The vines lies either along the Styrian-Slovenian border, or up towards the Sausal region, west of the main town of Leibnitz. Challenging terrain, because most of the vineyards are planted on extremely steep inclines.

Soil: Varied, sandstone, slate (shale, schist), marl, limestone.

Single vineyard sites: Czamillonberg. | Grassnitzberg. | Kittenberg. | Nussberg. | Obegg. | Sernauberg. | Kranachberg or Zieregg.

Wine styles: Junker wines are the first-released wines from the new vintage. Klassik wines are the regular wines. Lagen or reserve wines come from single sites (see above).

Wineries

Certified Biodynamic: Franz Muster (Leutschach). | Karl Schnabel (Gleinstätten). | Weingut Maria & Sepp Muster (Leutschach). | Weingut Rebenhof (Ratsch an der Weinstrasse). | Weingut Tauss (Leutschach). | Weingut Warga-Hack (St Andrä-Höch). | Weingut Werlitsch (Leutschach).

teiermark Organic & Biodynamic wine data: See here.

See also: Styria. | Weststeiermark.