The benchmark of Styria: Sauvignon Blancs by Sattlerhof Winery win top scores by Falstaff Austria
Sattlerhof Family Winery, the WTA 2023 nominee in the Visiting Card of the Country / Must Visit category, is one of the leading wine producers of South Styria, Austria’s famous wine region. Sattlehof are famous for their benchmark Styrian whites: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc.
Sattler family based in the village of Gamlitz has been cultivating grapes and producing wines since 1887. They have been bottling and selling their high quality dry white wines under their own name in the 1970s. Sattlerhof Winery is an active member of STK (Steirische Terroir & Klassikweingüter — Styrian Terroir and Classic Winegrowers), a prestigious professional association which applies very strict quality standards and vineyard classification.
Willi Sattler, the vinegrower and winemaker, has grown the estate to 40 hectares of organically farmed vines. The family currently owns some of the region’s most famous vineyards including Grand Cru plots, such as Kranachberg and Pfarrweingarten. The Sattler vineyards are centered around the village of Gamlitz, located less than 10km from the Slovenian border. They have been practicing biodynamic viticulture for several years — it was introduced by Andreas and Alexander Sattler, the sons of Willi, the winemaker, and his wife Maria, who is also working at the estate.
With up to 55-year-old vines, the Sattlerhof vineyards are growing on extremely steep slopes, on the soils rich in quartz, limestone and pebbles. The combination of the sustainable viticultural methods introduced by the younger generation of the Sattler family and the classic experience of their parents brings perfect results. The wines of the Sattlerhof Family Winery are fairly considered to be the Styrian treasure.
Falstaff, an influential Austrian wine guide, has given several wines by Sattlerhof Family Winery very high scores during the 2023 / 2024 tasting. We are glad to quote the tasting notes and scores for three top Sattlerhof Sauvignon Blancs in the collection submitted for this season’s Falstaff tasting, provided by Peter Moser, the wine guide’s prominent wine expert, taster and critic.
2021 Sauvignon Blanc Southern Styria DAC Ried Alter Kranachberg GSTK (97-99 points)
Category: white wine.
Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc.
Ageing: 12 months in steel tanks.
Tasting from July 10th, 2023: Peter Moser.
Colour: light yellow-green, silver undertones. Nose: dry spice herbs, grapefruit zest, fine white tropical fruit, nuances of peach and mango, combined with minerality. Palate: complex, full-bodied, fine white apple fruit, good structure, richness and fitness, with a pleasant acidity. Finish: salty, persistent, with tones of cassis and lime. Good ageing potential. General impression: an extremely multifaceted accompaniment to various types of food.
2021 Morillon Südsteiermark DAC Ried Pfarrweingarten GSTK (96 points)
Category: dry white wine.
Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc.
Ageing: 12 months in steel tanks.
Tasting from July 10th, 2023: Peter Moser.
Colour: green-yellow, silver undertones. Nose: ripe oranges, a hint of yellow ringlets and herbs, dark minerality. Palate: full-bodied, fine fruitiness, nuances of peach, juicy core, fine acidity. Finish: lengthy, salty, tones of lime. General impression: delicate style, definite potential for development in a bottle.
2021 Sauvignon Blanc Südsteiermark DAC Ried Pfarrweingarten GSTK (95 points)
Category: white wine.
Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc.
Ageing: steel tank.
Tasting from July 10th, 2023: Peter Moser.
Colour: light green-yellow. Nose: a hint of lemon balm, grapefruit zest and fresh gooseberries, underlaid with a little cassis. Palate: full-bodied, juicy, elegant, fine fruit sweetness, pleasant acidity. Finish: persistent, with subtle aftertaste of honey. Very good ageing potential.
Sattlerhof Family Winery team offer their guests a stay at a comfortable private hotel, fine dining in a gourmet restaurant and, of course, tastings of their amazing high-scoring wines, demonstrating the best features and high quality of Styrian terroirs.