Weingut Sattlerhof

The Free Bacchus Story

Sattlerhof joined respekt-BIODYN in January 2021, which for an estate of thirty-five hectares with an established reputation is a decision to make life harder rather than easier.

It sits at Gamlitz in South Styria, run by the brothers Andreas and Alexander Sattler with their parents Maria and Willi still involved. The farm is organised around a circular economy and keeping the ground diverse, which in practice includes a flock of sheep working the vineyards. At the end of 2020 an American wine magazine put it among the hundred best wineries in the world.

South Styria is Sauvignon Blanc country, and the Styrian style of it is the reason to pay attention. The hills are steep and cool, so the wine comes out tighter and stonier than the loud tropical version that made the grape's global reputation. It sits much closer to a good white Burgundy in weight and seriousness, and it ages, which almost no one expects of Sauvignon Blanc.

If you have written the grape off on the strength of supermarket Marlborough, this is the region that argues back.

The estate is on respekt-BIODYN's published register, joined January 2021. Membership requires EU organic certification; the certificate number is not confirmed here, and no flagship bottling or price is recorded yet.