Weingut Sattlerhof

And, then there was Willi... with his long goat skin lederhosen, his antler horn knife, his constant smile and his beard, cut as if it were a tradition that started at the conception of the winery, in 1887. You’d never guess that this guy who seems to have been transplanted from another century makes laser beams out of Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown on the grass covered limestone and sandstone hills of southern Austria. He’s got great kids and a wonderful wife who are all involved in their biodynamically run winery. After dinner one night at their brother’s restaurant on the property, they inspired me to buy a pair of lederhosen for myself; one of my more proud purchases. Aside from their killer wines, they make the best pumpkin seed oil I have ever had. For Sauvignon Blanc junkies, like myself, this is a must try wine.

Südsteiermark is notorious for its fresh, aromatic white wines, traditionally made from Sauvignon Blanc. Because of the region's extremely steep terrain and high humidity, vine management becomes very challenging. The soils are all over the place from sandstone and slate, to marl and limestone, which lend a variety of expressions with the common grape varieties like Sauvignon Blanc, Muskateller, Welschriesling, Traminer and Chardonnay. Because of the warmer days and cooler nights, the wines are able to reach their optimal aromatic potential while maintaining freshness and complexity.