Sattlerhof, Südsteiermark Sauvignon Blanc

Wilhelm and Maria Sattler own 35 hectares of vineyards in the Austrian village of Gamlitz, near the Slovenian border. The Sattler family have made wine at their farm since 1887, and, in the 1960s, were among the first in the region to bottle high-quality, dry white wines under their own name. Today, the family business has passed to Willi and Maria’s sons, Alexander and Andreas. While their parents still take a keen interest in the estate, Alexander is now responsible for managing the vineyards, while Andreas heads up the winemaking. The vineyards are farmed using organic and biodynamic principles, and from the 2021 vintage, all the estate wines are Respekt-certified.

Weingut Sattlerhof have vineyards in Südsteiermark, considered a world-class region for Sauvignon Blanc, from which they produce regional, village and single-vineyard wines. The regional Südsteiermark Sauvignon Blanc, vinified in stainless steel tanks, is defined by bright, elegant, and aromatic green apple and citrus notes. The ‘Gamlitz’ Sauvignon Blanc, Sattlerhof’s signature wine, spends 12 hours macerating on its skins before fermentation in stainless steel, followed by five months ageing on its fine lees. The south-facing aspect of the Gamlitz village vineyards and their sandy-quartz soils create a distinctive yellow plum and white peach-scented wine with subtle salinity on the finish.

At the top of the Sattlerhof range are the ‘Erste Lage’ and ‘Grosse Lage’ single vineyards, classified within the strict quality association, STK (Styrian Terroir and Classic Winegrowers). Made with grapes grown on the steep slopes of their highest site, planted at 550 metres above sea level, the `Ried Kapellenweingarten` Sauvignon Blanc completes the Sattlerhof range. This alpine Sauvignon Blanc is multi-layered and savoury, with notes of ripe pear fruit and lemon zest. Additionally, the ‘Ried Pfarrweingarten’ is a single-vineyard blend of mainly Chardonnay (known locally as Morillon) from 50-year-old vines, co-fermented with Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris). The grapes are sourced from the ‘Pfarrweingarten’ Grand Cru site, a small, well-sheltered, south-facing vineyard planted on coral-reef limestone soils, farmed exclusively by Sattlerhof. Aged for 20 months in 300-500-litre barrels, with around 10% being new oak, the resulting wine has fantastic tension, remarkable elegance, and intensity.

The Trockenbeerenauslese Sauvignon Blanc ranks among the best noble sweet wines in Austria. It is defined by enticing notes of peach, apricot, and gooseberry jam, with subtle nuances of green tea and preserved lemons. The palate is lusciously sweet yet remarkably fresh, skilfully balancing 215 grammes per litre of residual sugar with vibrant acidity, while finishing with a delightfully tangy finish.