On my wine hiking route in Kitzeck in Styria, the highest wine-growing region in Europe, I pass Stefanie’s winery and Buschenschank. Unfortunately is not open today. In the courtyard I see a hard-working man who is just cleaning the wine press to a sparkling finish: “The boss is upstairs anyway,” he says to me.
Actually, Stefanie, that’s the name of the young boss, who gives me a warm welcome and serves me a delicious Pinot Blanc and a refreshing glass of water on the beautiful terrace. This is the custom here, hospitality is very important and there is always a glass of refreshing water with the wine.
The Weißburgunder tastes excellent and the view from the terrace of the southern Styrian wine region is wonderful. Despite the locking hour, Stefanie takes her time and we talk about viticulture and the special features of this wine region. That’s how hospitality works! Once again I have discovered a GerneWieder-Heurigen or Buschenschank.
I was reluctant to decline the invitation to the grape harvest the next day. Finally, I have planned two more vineyard hikes in southern Styria. The wine press is now clean and ready for the new wine, which will definitely taste as good as Stefanie’s Pinot Blanc.
