Wines that reflect their origin. In different expressions. Characteristic for individual sites and wine-growing. Each of the twelve STK wine estates knows its distinctive attributes. United, they stand for an inimitable region. Vienna

Beaune Salzburg AUSTRIA A UNIQUE LOCATION The Mediterranean to the south, the Budapest Alps to the north. This describes not Graz only where the wine areas Südstei- ALPS ermark and Vulkanland Steiermark are located, but also what influences them. The wines produced here Milan thrive under contrasting climatic Venice influences. Mediterranean warmth collides with cool winds and frequent rainfall. Steep to extremely steep slopes typify the region. Conditions ADRIATIC SEA are certainly challenging, but they yield delicate wines of origin that are characterized by climate, soil and handcraftmanship.

Austria

Südsteiermark

Vulkanland Steiermark WHAT DEFINES US Steep Hills. True Characters. Keen Wine. Sunny and Mediterranean, yet also Serendipity cool and Alpine. The climate in south and southeast Steiermark is inimitable; variable weather is a persistent factor of a complex of uncertainty. Even in hot summers, it rains more frequently than elsewhere. Average annual precipitation is 1000 climate. litres per square meter. Wet weather is a great challenge for vintners. Manual canopy management enhances natural protection. Despite this, rain also has a positive side. It allows grass to grow between the vines, which vitalizes the soil and promotes elegance and fresh- ness in the wines. There are five different soil types in Südsteiermark and Vulkanland Steier- mark. Sand and gravel, limestone, marl, slate and even volcanic basalt. Plus their various combinations. An incom- parable diversity. Nearly every vineyard has different soil. The foundation reaches back millions of years. A primordial ocean covered large parts of the Steier- mark. Marine sediments and sand and gravel deposited by ancient rivers are the stylistic tools of the winegrowers. The place where vines root is instilled within them. Cultivated naturally and sustainably, the soil remains recognizable in the wines. The sandier the soil, the more delicate and fragrant the wine is. With increasing clay content, the wines become fuller and more concentrated.

Soil diversity. At elevations of 300 to 600 metres (980- 2130 ft.), grapes achieve a higher degree of ripeness. The precipitous terrain places high demands on winegrowers. The use of machines is nearly impossible. Vines are tended manually and grapes are selectively picked by hand.

Consequential topography.

Steep and extremely steep vineyards have con- sequences. The highly undulating landscape of the Steiermark offers vineyards east, south and west-facing aspects. Because the slopes are usu- ally steep, sometimes exceedingly steep, vines benefit from more solar radiation. The climate, soil and topography of Traditional southern Steiermark make it a terroir predestined for white wine. The soil diversity is advantageous for a broad grape varietal spectrum. Archduke Johann brought the grape varieties Morillon (Chardonnay) and Sauvignon Blanc to the varieties. region in 1822 for experimentation at a model winery. They are today considered local, bound in regional tradition and propagated over generations. Particularly at the family-operated STK wine estates. Some of the vines were planted by the grandparents or great-grandparents. It was the founders of the STK that declared Sauvignon Blanc as the prime variety of southern Steiermark. In addition to this, there are the varieties Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Muskateller (Muscat blanc à petits grains), Traminer, Riesling, Welschries- ling, and more rarely, red wine varieties.

Handmade quality.

The effort is extraordinary. Around 800 hours of manual labour are invested per vineyard hectare. This is due not only to the steepness, but also the STK wine estates’ demands on quality. Pruning, canopy management, selective harvesting according to grape health and ripeness. Many things must be done by hand to achieve what the STK winegrowers consider suitably high quality. That adds up. In terms of time – and enjoyment.

GROSSE STK RIED (STK Grand Cru)

DAC Südsteiermark ERSTE STK RIED and Vulkanland SteiermarkDAC (STK Premier Cru)

100 % HAND-PICKED

8 TRADITIONAL WHITE RIEDENWEIN VARIETIES (Cru Wine) Sauvignon Blanc, Morillon, Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder, Gelber Muskateller, Riesling, Traminer, Welschriesling ORTSWEIN (Village Wine) EXTRA DRY - DRY WINES

REGULATED RELEASE DATES GEBIETSWEIN (Territory Wine)

REGIONSWEIN Steiermark (Regional Wine)

G 1

STK STK

GROSSE STK RIED ERSTE STK RIED (STK Premier Cru) ORTSWEIN (Village Wine) ( STK Grand Cru) These single-vineyard wines are made from late-harvest Every wine village is unique in terms of location, elevation and geology. An Ortswein Exquisite single-vineyard wines grapes from outstanding STK Rieds (single vineyards). (Village Wine) reflects this perfectly. Only the most typical vineyards and the traditional from the most exceptional STK Vines must be at least twelve years old. Yields are limited grape varieties of Steiermark are considered suitable. Harvested by hand. Available from Rieds (single vineyards). to 4500 litres per hectare. Only wines that have proved May 1st following the harvest. Favoured by extraordinary themselves on the market to have the potential to mature terroir and harvested late. Vines for at least five years qualify for this classification. Earliest GEBIETSWEIN (Territory Wine) REGIONSWEIN (Regional Wine) must be at least 15 years old. release is September 1st the year after the harvest. Dry white wines with an emphasis on Regional wines with a specialty trait. Yields are limited to 4500 litres territory, made from handpicked grapes Whether a red wine or a sweet predicated per hectare. A minimum pres- RIEDENWEIN (Cru Wine) of a single variety and one region. wine, these are regional wine specialties ence of ten years on the market The potential of a Ried (single vineyard), privileged by its Conscientiously vinified and matured beyond the Ortswein (Village Wine) and guarantees exceptional quality. terroir, transformed into an expressive, unique wine. for six months in the cellar. Wines with Gebietswein (Territory Wine) categories. Earliest release on May 1st fol- The grapes are harvested selectively by hand. The earliest an elegant, fruity character that are lowing 18 months maturation. release is May 1st following the harvest. available from March 1st after the harvest. 7

Bad Gleichenberg

MUR

6

Leibnitz 4

8

MUR 1 5 3

Bad Radkersburg

2 Vulkanland

1 Gamlitz Südsteiermark Steiermark

2 Leutschach 6 Straden 7 Kapfenstein 8 Klöch

3 Eichberg 4 Kitzeck-Sausal 5 Ehrenhausen 1 2 3 4 Gamlitz Leutschach Eichberg Kitzeck-Sausal

The name of the wine village Gamlitz stems from The vineyards in Leutschach are among the most The Eichberg hills between Gamlitz and Leut- The geology of Kitzeck-Sausal was formed around the Slavic term gom, meaning hill. The undulating southerly in the Steiermark and lie at elevations schach rise from 380 to 600 metres (1250-1970 ft.), 400 million years ago. When the Paratethys Sea landscape is marked with vineyards, meadow between 380 and 570 metres (1250-1870 ft.). The exposed vineyards with high peaks typify this covered the region around 15 million years ago, orchards and small mixed woodlands. Vines grow vineyards are located predominantly in steep, community. On the highest peak, the 633-metre this mountain ridge still rose above the surface on steep slopes with elevations from 320 to 550 south-facing bowls that curve toward east or west. Kreuzberg, there is a watchtower with a viewing of the shallow sea and marine deposits were metres (1050-1800 ft.) and aspects that vary from The geographic location is influenced by warm platform that offers a spectacular view over left only on the lower slopes. The landscape is east to south to west. Some sites are located in warm rising winds that collide with cool air masses from southern Steiermark. The vineyards in Eichberg thus craggier, which is particularly evident in bowls, protected from the wind, while others are the Koralpe Mountains to the west. This results are often near cool forests and the proximity of the impressively steep slopes and numerous vine- exposed hillsides that rise above the surrounding in large temperature differences between day and the Koralpe Mountains also influences the cool yard terraces around the village Kitzeck. The landscape. The foundations are sands that were night as well as a nearly fog-free climate. The microclimates of the individual sites. The soils difference in elevation between the top and base created during a sedimentation process as the soils are predominantly Opok, a calcareous, fine- were formed in a sedimentation process similar of a vineyard slope is usually over 200 metres Paratethys Sea receded. The sands are comprised grained sedimentary marl formed from 15-million- to Gamlitz, but they have higher pebble content. (660 ft.). Most of the vineyards lie between 380 and of quartz, often mixed with mica, and provide year-old marine deposits. Pebbles are sometimes Sand and pebbles are often consolidated to gravelly 650 metres (1250-2130 ft.), which promotes good well-drained vineyard soils that are usually free interspersed. The medium to heavy Opok soils store conglomerate. Grapes that grow here have crisp vine aeration. Weathered slate and occasionally of calcium. The Steinbach and Kranach gorges are warmth and moisture, offering optimal ripening aromas and ripen comparatively late, which leads schist provide porous, well-drained soils that store striking incisions in the hilly landscape that have conditions. Combined with the great diurnal to moderate alcohol content in the wines. warmth well. The harvest usually takes place late significant influence on vineyard microclimates. temperature fluctuations, the soils promote the in Kitzeck-Sausal, which promotes cool, spicy They amplify the temperature differences between development of spicy, dark aromas in the grapes. aromas and good acid structure in the grapes. night and day, thus enhancing aroma development in the grapes.

VINEYARD AREA: VINEYARD AREA: VINEYARD AREA: VINEYARD AREA: 693 hectares 631 hectares 355 hectares 425 hectares

GEOLOGY: GEOLOGY: GEOLOGY: GEOLOGY: sand, crystalline Opok (calcareous marl) gravel (pebbles), conglomerate slate

VINEYARD SOILS: VINEYARD SOILS: VINEYARD SOILS: VINEYARD SOILS: light soils with high quartz content medium to heavy Opok, occasionally light, sandy soils with high pebble content light, foliated slate and sometimes schist interspersed with pebbles PRIME VARIETIES: PRIME VARIETIES: PRIME VARIETIES: Sauvignon Blanc, Gelber Muskateller PRIME VARIETIES: Sauvignon Blanc, Gelber Muskateller Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling (Muscat Blanc à petits grains) Sauvignon Blanc, Gelber Muskateller (Muscat Blanc à petits grains) (Muscat Blanc à petits grains) 5 6 7 8 Ehrenhausen Straden Kapfenstein Klöch

The most south-eastern wine village of Südstei- The over 800-year-old wine village Straden and its The extinct Kapfenstein volcano and its striking The old wine village Klöch in southeast Vulkanland ermark with its pretty manor houses and prominent church sanctuary, enthroned in the middle of the 11th-century castle dominate the landscape be- Steiermark is located in a valley that opens toward castle is regarded as the entrance gate to the Süd- southern part of Vulkanland Steiermark, are visible tween Bad Gleichenberg and Fehring. The steeply the south and is flanked by extinct volcanic cones steiermark Wine Route. The vineyards are located from afar. The landscape of the area surrounding rising Kuruzzenkogel is another volcanic cone in the to the west and east. The over 600-year-old Klöch high above the historic old city centre. The mighty the village is characterized by the remains of an vicinity. To the northwest, near the Bertholdstein fortress ruin perched above the village serves as hills rise adjacent to the Pannonian Basin and the ancient gravel bed and the foothills of the extinct Castle, the landscape rises once again before it an event venue and vantage point over the hilly Mur River. The steep, mostly south-facing vineyards volcano, Stradener Kogel. The vineyards are drops to the floor of the Raab Valley, the northern landscape to the south. Basalt dominates the west open generously and lie between 300 and 530 scattered like islands on steep slopes and elevated limit of the village community. The geology of the side of Klöch, while on the east side there is more metres (980-1740 ft.). The Paratethys Sea covered plateaus around the historic market village and extinct volcanoes is predominantly basalt-tuff that tuff. Due to the high iron content, the basalt and Südsteiermark 15 million years ago. Remains of lie between 300 and 440 metres (980-1440 ft.). is interspersed with olivine gemstones. Toward tuff are reddish in colour. The Klöch microclimate coralline algae and coral reefs can be seen in ex- Vines root either in meagre soils stemming from the foot of the hills, the soils become deeper with is highly influenced by the warm Pannonian Basin posed rock faces in the vineyards. Through later calcareous marine sediments and gravel deposits increasingly clayey marine sands and river gravel. and yields powerful Traminer. This grape variety is sedimentation and erosion processes, fine-grained from the Alps, or in weathered basalt soils on the Influenced by a Pannonian-Illyrian climate, potent, the local specialty and is produced at every winery calcareous soils with high clay content were formed foothills of the Stradener Kogel. Grapes achieve harmonious grapes thrive in Kapfenstein. in styles ranging from dry to noble sweet. that provide ideal growing conditions for vines. harmonious ripeness and yield rich, well-structured Grapes achieve high ripeness with spicy aromas wines. and ripe acid structure.

VINEYARD AREA: VINEYARD AREA: VINEYARD AREA: VINEYARD AREA: 426 hectares 166 hectares 73 hectares 179 hectares

GEOLOGY: GEOLOGY: GEOLOGY: GEOLOGY: limestone (coral limestone), gravel (pebbles), sandstone, basalt basalt-tuff interspersed with olivine red basalt calcareous marl VINEYARD SOILS: VINEYARD SOILS: VINEYARD SOILS: VINEYARD SOILS: light to heavy calcareous sediments weathered tuff, clayey sand and gravel weathered basalt and tuff, calcareous, fine-grained soils with (Sarmatian gravel and sandstone), weathered clayey sand and gravel PRIME VARIETIES: high clay content basalt on the slopes of the Stradner Kogel Sauvignon Blanc, Weissburgunder PRIME VARIETIES: PRIME VARIETIES: PRIME VARIETIES: (Pinot Blanc) Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer Sauvignon Blanc, Morillon (Chardonnay) Sauvignon Blanc, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) I M P R I N T Editors and responsible for the contents: Verein der Steirischen Terroir- und Klassikwein- güter – Ratsch 45, A-8461 Ratsch a.d. Weinstraße, [email protected], www.stk-wein.at Design, concept and photography: moodley brand identity, www.moodley.at Photos inside cover: Stocksy / Dimitrije Tanaskovic, Nemanja Glumac Text: Andreas Kump, Translation: Julia Sevenich Print: All rights reserved. No liability accepted for inaccuracies or printing errors. Steiermark, March 2019 WE ARE NOT 12 WINEMAKERS. WE ARE 12 WINEGROWERS. STK-WEIN.AT F R A U W A L L N E R

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Life's hard in the mountains.