Weingut Harkamp sits on the steep hills of the Sausal region in Southern Styria near Saint Nikolai. The family estate focuses on biodynamic viticulture on high altitude slate soils. This steep topography creates a distinct microclimate where cool mountain winds balance warm breezes from the Mediterranean, shaping precise and structured wines.
What You Can Do
Visitors can participate in guided tastings that walk through the sparkling and still wine portfolio. Cellar tours reveal the sparkling wine production method where bottles rest on lees for several years. Guests can also walk through the surrounding vineyards on the Flamberg hill to examine the quartz rich slate soils firsthand.
What They Offer
The estate produces traditional method sparkling wines alongside crisp Weißburgunder, Sauvignon Blanc, and Morillon. Accommodation is available directly on the property in quiet guest rooms overlooking the vine rows. The winery includes dedicated tasting rooms, seminar facilities, and outdoor terrace seating for clear weather.
Activities
The surrounding Sausal countryside provides scenic hiking paths through forests and steep vine terraces. Electric bike rentals allow exploration of neighboring small villages and hilltop views. The local area also features regional craft shops and historical chapels within short walking distance.
Food to Eat
The on site restaurant serves regional Styrian cuisine with a focus on seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farms. Diners can enjoy traditional regional cold platters, roasted pumpkin seed preparations, and local game paired with estate wines. Outdoor dining under old trees provides direct views of the rolling countryside.
Why Visit
This estate combines focused biodynamic winemaking with quiet, unhurried hospitality. The high elevation location provides impressive regional views away from busier tourist routes in Southern Styria.
My stay at Weingut Harkamp provided an authentic look into high altitude Styrian viticulture. The sparkling wines show notable minerality, and the quiet guest rooms offer total relaxation. The restaurant service can feel slightly slow during busy lunch hours, but the high quality food and sweeping valley views easily make up for the wait.