Austria's southernmost wine region and home to some of the world's finest Sauvignon Blanc — the Styrian Sauvignon Blanc from Südsteiermark (South Styria) is widely regarded as the benchmark of the variety outside of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. The steep slate, schist, and volcanic Opok soil terroirs of Südsteiermark's Sausal and Gamlitzer subzones produce wines of extraordinary mineral precision, vibrant acidity, and tropical-citrus aromatics with a distinctive mineral intensity. Welschriesling, Chardonnay (locally called Morillon), and Gelber Muskateller are additional key varieties. Steiermark DAC established in 2018 formalises the appellation's precision and diversity. The wines are among Austria's most internationally sought-after and are prized on fine dining wine lists worldwide.
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 90 | Warm, consistent Steiermark vintage delivering approachable Sauvignon Blanc with generous fruit and early accessibility. Less mineral tension than 2021 but excellent quality across the appellation. Drink 2023-2026. |
| 2021 | 92 | Classic Steiermark vintage: cool, long growing season with excellent preservation of aromatic precision. The Sauvignon Blanc shows the characteristic fennel, citrus, and stony mineral character at their most defined. Excellent medium-term cellaring potential (5-8 years). |
| 2019 | 93 | An outstanding cool-climate Steiermark vintage — the extreme day-night temperature variation produced Sauvignon Blanc and Morillon of pristine acidity and mineral precision. The Opok soils delivered maximum mineral expression. Tement, Polz, and Gross produced exceptional single-vineyard wines of 10+ year aging potential. |
| 2017 | 91 | A warm, early Steiermark vintage — the high altitude and extreme day-night temperature variation maintained the characteristic acidity of Styrian Sauvignon Blanc despite the heat. The wines show richer, more tropical fruit than cooler vintages. Best drunk 2019-2024. |
| 2015 | 95 | The greatest Steiermark vintage of the modern era: perfect continental conditions with warm days and cold nights delivering the ideal balance of ripeness and acidity for Sauvignon Blanc and Morillon. Tement Zieregg 2015 is considered one of the finest Styrian Sauvignon Blancs ever produced. Exceptional aging potential — the great wines from this vintage will drink well through 2030+. |