OUR
PHILOSOPHY
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Long-term, holistic &
elaborate
Our approach to winegrowing and winemaking is very sophisticated, as is our demand for quality. At a time when it’s usual for the squeakiest wheel to get grease, we deliberately follow a long-term, sustainable and elaborate operating principle to craft elegant wines that are characterized by composure and complexity, yet are enticing and satisfyingly profound.
CLIMATE &
GEOGRAPHY
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Warm days, cool nights
Straden is located in the Vulkanland Steiermark, in the southeast of Austria. It is influenced by an Illyric-Pannonian mixed climate that offers warm days and cool nights. The Mediterranean and Alpine impacts provide sufficient rainfall at an average of 900 mm per year, which affords a long growing season and late harvest in fall. In this challenging climatic environment, we cultivate 30 hectares under vine, distributed over numerous small, even tiny patches stretching over steep slopes and originating from formerly mixed-planted private vineyards.
SOILS &
GEOLOGY
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Calcareous sediment soils
from the Alps and the sea
The geology of these vineyards is formed by calcareous sediment soils from two different origins. On the one hand, sandstone and shell limestone go back to mudflats that covered the entire Styrian Basin until 11 million years ago and, on the other hand – to a larger extent – from Sarmat gravel coming from the Alps in the Tertiary Period and deposited here, in a river delta, while carrying along a very high portion of limestone and hornfels.
VINEYARDS &
ENVIRONMENT
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Labor-intensive steep slopes,
organically cultivated
Due to its topography, this region features small plots with their different, individual microclimates rather than extensive vineyards. Many of these plots have reached 50 years and more, some being still trained according to “stockkultur” (one single vine tied to a post). Although this involves cumbersome, sometimes uneconomical manual work, we do believe in the manifestation of this complex and labor-intensive starting point in our wines. Since 2013, we have practiced organic farming. All our efforts are supported by our long-term team.
Our vineyards
MOARFEITL
GRAND CRU STK
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High plateau facing south-southwest at an elevation of 340m
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Silt (calcareous, sandy and loamy sediments) on Sarmat gravel
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Sauvignon Blanc and Morillon (Chardonnay), planted in 1990
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2,20 ha
Moarfeitl is the oldest vineyard in family possession. It sits on a high plateau above the vineyard site Augenweide. The wines captivate by their complexity, depth and minerality, never being obtrusive and often requiring years to open up.
After a long maceration period, the Sauvignon Blanc is spontaneously fermented in large wooden barrels (500 to 2,500 liters) and aged on the lees for at least 18 months.
The Morillon is spontaneously fermented in barrels of 300 and 500 liters and then aged on the lees in large wooden barrels for 18 months.
SAZIANI
GRAND CRU STK
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Exposed gravel cone with steep vineyards facing south and west at an elevation of 380m
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Calcareous alluvial gravel from the Sarmat (lime-dolomite-marl)
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Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), planted in 1971, 1985 and 1998
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4,60 ha
Old, deeply rooted vines on this warm site produce vigorous Pinot Gris with high concentration, which are endowed with plenty of complexity and an enormous aging potential.
Spontaneously fermented in large wooden barrels and aged on the lees for 18 months.
KLAUSEN
PREMIER CRU STK
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Extensive mountain ridge stretching from east to southeast, at an elevation of 340m
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Sandstone and heavily calcareous sediments, steep slopes up to 65%
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Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Sauvignon Blanc
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7,00 ha
Spontaneous fermentation and 12 months of aging in large, old casks contribute to the characteristics of the Klausen wines: complex, yet concise fruit; focused with plenty of stuffing on the palate and salty notes on the finish.
STEINTAL
PREMIER CRU STK
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Steep southerly exposed site on the "Stradener Himmelsberg" at an elevation of 360m
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Slightly calcareous soils from fine tertiary sediments
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Roter Traminer, planted in 1971
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1,50 ha
The warm microclimate of this basin-like site yields fully ripe Traminer grapes. Spontaneous fermentation and 12 months of aging on the lees in large, old casks produce wines with the following characteristics: floral, elegant Traminer fruit leads to a firm and pointed palate; lingering, with exceptional aging potential.
BUCHBERG
ALTE REBEN / OLD VINES
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East-facing site on the "Stradener Himmelsberg" at an elevation of 360m
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Calcareous soils from fine tertiary sediments, sandstone
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Sauvignon Blanc Stockkultur, planted in 1937 and 1967
Austria’s oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines thrive here, in Straden, on the Buchberg, and the second-oldest on Klausen. Both eastern-exposed sites are defined by partially heavily calcareous soils, allowing the harvest of tiny amounts of fruit attentively caressed by hand. The vineyards can only be worked on foot, having inclinations of more than 45°!
This wine is traditionally fermented in old casks and bottled only after three years at the beginning of its drinking maturity.
