Die Weingärten von Hochgrail

The lush green meadows with gnarled fruit trees, chestnut forests, and abundant vineyards make this region seem like the epitome of West Styria. Gently nestled in this successful blend lies an idyllic mountain ridge, the Hochgrail. A phrase pops into mind: “What, is it this beautiful here?” Romantic little roads wind gently up the mountain. And the higher you go, the more a wonderful view opens up over the hilly landscape of St. Stefan ob Stainz.
Old farmhouses and romantic winemaker cottages line the way to the vineyards on the Schilcher Wine Road. Deep below, the towers of the Stainz parish church rise high, and fields and meadows have small houses sprinkled in like colorful dots. Up here, one feels as if standing on a diving board, with the vast land below ready to dive into:
The Graz Hausberg, the Schöckl, on clear days, the East Styria, the South Styrian wine region, and Slovenia shine up.

The Versatile Blue Wildbacher
The Hochgrail is not only a feast for the eyes, but it is also home to a delicacy: The Schilcher has taken root here and feels as comfortable as in its living room. Once, Pope Pius VI, who stayed with the Franciscans of Maria Lankowitz on a journey to Emperor Joseph II in 1782, wrote in his travel journal: “Here they served us a pink vinegar they call Schilcher.” Blue Wildbacher is the grape variety that was once nicknamed "Rabiatperle."
However, those times are gone when the pink to rose-colored grape juice had to have at least 11 grams of acidity. Now, it shows itself tamed, but it still has plenty of class – along with aromas like blackcurrant, wild strawberries, raspberries, nettles, and bell peppers. And like no other grape variety, the Blue Wildbacher plays all colors. The grape is available as white pressed wine, Schilcher, sparkling wine, and red wine.

Largest Contiguous Vineyard
The vineyard is not only one of the steepest but is also, at around 40 hectares, the largest contiguous vineyard in the entire West Styria wine region. With a share of around 70%, the Schilcher is the clear number one. The area "am Grail" was first mentioned in 1218 with the founding of the Diocese of Seckau. Already around 1820, there were only a few gaps left between the houses along the ridge. Like a string of pearls, the cellar houses stand on the 10 to 20-meter-wide strips of vineyard. The partly 200-year-old houses have mostly been renovated in style, and it is now particularly cozy in the newly built residential and holiday homes. With a length of 1.5 kilometers, the Hochgrail is the longest continuous row of houses in Styria.

The special connection of the residents with the Schilcher is palpable.