Weingut Schauer sits in the steep hills of Kitzeck im Sausal, the highest wine growing village in Austria. Located in the southern part of Styria, this estate is run by the Schauer family, who focus on traditional viticulture in a challenging landscape. The steep slate slopes define the character of the vineyards, producing wines with a distinct mineral profile. Visitors find a quiet retreat where farming traditions shape the daily rhythm.
What You Can Do
Guests can participate in guided tastings in the tasting room, which looks out over the terraced slopes. The family hosts cellar tours explaining the challenges of working on slopes with inclines of up to eighty percent. Walking paths lead directly from the estate through the vineyards, allowing visitors to explore the slate soils on foot and observe the manual labor required to maintain these high altitude vines.
What They Offer
The estate specializes in classic Styrian varieties, particularly Sauvignon Blanc, Gelber Muskateller, and Riesling. They also offer simple, comfortable guest rooms on site, decorated in a clean, regional style with wooden furniture. The rooms provide direct access to the surrounding hills and a peaceful environment away from busy tourist centers, making it easy to experience the rural lifestyle of the region.
Activities
Beyond the winery, the surrounding Sausal region is ideal for hiking and cycling. Nearby attractions include the village of Kitzeck, which features a wine museum detailing the history of high altitude viticulture. In autumn, the landscape becomes a hub for chestnut roasting and tasting fresh grape juice, a seasonal tradition that brings locals and visitors together.
Food to Eat
The estate features a traditional Buschenschank, a wine tavern serving cold platters. The food philosophy centers on regional ingredients, featuring house cured meats, local cheeses, and fresh spreads. These simple, savory dishes are paired with the estate mineral driven white wines, highlighting the culinary heritage of southern Styria in a relaxed outdoor setting.
Why Visit
Weingut Schauer provides an authentic look at mountain viticulture in Austria. It is a practical choice for wine enthusiasts who appreciate steep slope viticulture and seek a quiet, family run establishment without pretension.
The hospitality at the estate is welcoming and unpretentious, reflecting the quiet nature of the region. While the food selection in the tavern is limited to cold options, the quality of the local ingredients is excellent. The steep terrain requires some physical effort to navigate, but the clear views of the Styrian hills make the walk worthwhile.