Southern Styrian Sauvignon Blancs

Southern Styria, or Südsteiermark, is the southernmost wine region of Austria and borders on Slovenia. (See Austria invades Slovenia for Manfred Tement's new venture in this direction.) And the wines and the landscape can be dramatically beautiful – absolutely worth the long drive south from Vienna. Many vineyards are on steep slopes and marked by a wide diurnal temperature variation thanks to the cool night air from the Alps. Winds keep the vines healthy and the area has often been called Styrian Tuscany – not that the wines have much in common with Chianti. (Before anyone sends me an email...