Ried Grassnitzberg Riff Sauvignon Blanc Erste STK Lage 2022

Wine Description for Ried Grassnitzberg Riff Sauvignon Blanc Erste STK Lage 2022 from Tement

Character

Weingut Tement ranks among the pioneers of Austrian Sauvignon Blanc and has significantly shaped Südsteiermark as a quality region. The Grassnitzberg Riff from the Erste STK Lage represents the pinnacle of this work – a wine of crystalline precision and mineral depth. The STK classification (Steirische Terroir- und Klassikweingüter) guarantees strict quality standards and site-specific expression. At 13% alcohol, the 2022 vintage displays Tement’s signature balance between concentration and elegance.

Terroir & Origin

The Ried Grassnitzberg lies in the heart of Südsteiermark, where steep slopes and Opok soils – a calcareous marl – define the terroir. This geological formation gives Südsteiermark Sauvignon Blancs their characteristic minerality and tension. The Pannonian climate with its warm days and cool nights enables a long growing season, which favours physiological ripeness with vibrant acidity. The 2022 vintage benefited from a warm, dry summer with ideal conditions for aromatic complexity.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Sauvignon Blanc finds in Südsteiermark a European counterpart to the finest sites of the Loire. Tement vinifies its Erste Lage wines with uncompromising care: selective hand-harvesting, gentle pressing and controlled fermentation preserve the varietal aromatics. Maturation takes place traditionally in stainless steel tanks and large wooden casks to preserve the fruit whilst building structure. The result is a wine of international class with unmistakable Austrian identity – less tropical than New Zealand variants, more focused and mineral than many French interpretations.

Food Pairing Recommendations

This Sauvignon Blanc calls for regional cuisine at an elevated level: Styrian Backhendl, pumpkin seed oil salads or pumpkin dishes. Internationally, it pairs beautifully with goat’s cheese, asparagus, seafood and Asian dishes with lemongrass. The mineral structure makes it an ideal companion for oysters or sushi.