The heart of the Austrian Styria region is home to Franz Strohmeier, the legendary natural winemaker. He is known for his commitment to sustainable management, as well as intuitive and free vineyards, with a focus on terroir and minimal intervention in the cellar. With practices such as planting a tree in the place where a vine died, not pruning the vineyard, and spraying the vine with whey instead of copper, he shows that he is not afraid to experiment and take a leap into the uncharted. He believes that the vineyard is a unique organism that returns to its natural, healthy state by encouraging biodiversity, and this is a process he believes in and trusts wholeheartedly. His wines are of a free, but clear character, bestowed with a lively energy. He produces a line of wines called “Trauben, Liebe & Zeit” (meaning “Grapes, Love & Time”), which contains nothing but the above—not even sulphites. He is certainly a winemaker we recommend exploring.
Winemaker: Franz Strohmeier
Region: Styria, Austria
Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat, Blauer Wildbacher, Zweigelt, Muscaris, Savagnin Gris, Bronner.
Vineyard size: 10 ha
Yearly production: around 30000 bottles
Altitude: 450-550 meters
Soil: gneiss
Farming: biodynamic
Schmecke das Leben
“Schmecke das Leben”, meaning “Taste Life”, is an association founded by five Styrian wineries – Tscheppe, Werlitsch, Muster, Tauss and Strohmeier – at the beginning of the 21st century. They were brought together by the values they share regarding the importance of respecting nature, as well as the idea of sustainable and biodynamic agriculture. Through the community, they shared experiences, learned from, and supported each other, thus laying the foundations of natural winemaking in Central Europe. Today, their wines are recognized and appreciated around the world and adorn numerous wine lists of top restaurants and wine bars.
