Weststeiermark: Home of the Schilcher
In the Weststeiermark (West Styria) there are only 450 hectares of vineyards. But from these, wine-growers and their families create an astounding diversity of wines: the racy Schilcher, with its pronounced, fresh acidity; also, robust, tannic red wines, as well as elegant and charming sparkling wines. Yet all this stems from just one grape: the Blauer Wildbacher. Even though the origins of this grape are unknown, it has a very bright and successful future ahead.
Austria´s smallest wine-growing area, Weststeiermark, is also where the ancient Illyrians, Celts and Romans had cultivated their vines. In a long, narrow tier, vineyards stretch up to 600 meters above sea level, from the foot of the Koralpe and Reinischkogel mountains to the Slovenian border in the south. The warm days here serve as protection against rough winds. The area between Ligist, in the north, to St. Stefan ob Stainz and, further, to Deutschlandsberg and Eibiswald, consists of deep valleys and steep slopes with picturesque small cellar houses. A detour through wine villages such as Greisdorf, Gundersdorf, Wildbach or Wies offers surprising perspectives in terms of views - and wine.
The soil conditions in this area are also unusual, with mainly gneiss and shale. The so-called Illyrian climate combines the influences of southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean, plus relatively high precipitation. All these factors help explain the uniqueness of the wine. The Weststeiermark is home to the classic Schilcher wine. Its ancient grape variety, Blauer Wildbacher, is cultivated in the largest part of this wine-growing area, and forms the basis of a rosé-style wine that has become an unbelievable success story. Originally a somewhat rustic “peasant” wine with aggressive acidity, Schilcher has developed into a sought-after drink, thanks to the continual quality improvement provided by the ambitious wine-growers of the region. Schilcher makes a wonderfully fruity aperitif as well as a refined sweet wine. But the region’s red wines should not be underestimated, especially because they help enrich the range of Austrian terroir wines through their individualistic style.
Schilcher is highly successful with regard to wine tourism as well. Its appellation of origin protects against uncontrolled use of the name, as only wines made from 100% Blauer Wildbacher grapes cultivated in the wine-growing region of Steirerland may be labelled "Schilcher".
Wine Estates in the Wine Area Weststeiermark
