Wine trail of the senses (Weinweg der Sinne) in St. Anna

We start in the center or at the market town hall of St. Anna am Aigen. In the immediate vicinity we see the starting sign for the "Wine Trail of the Senses" on the corner of a house and thus also the entrance to the hiking trail. After a few steps downhill, we leave the populated area and hike on clearly marked paths across meadows and forest areas, with various information boards and illustrative objects along the way.  A short stretch along an asphalt road and further downhill through the forest, where we can orientate ourselves very well by the markings or the bottle signposts. Once on the valley floor, we reach the Wasserorgel wine trail station and the Frühwirth refreshment stop. Immediately, the trail goes uphill again, with a short, steeper stretch to the Buschenschank Hütter winery. From the Hütter winery we are on asphalt roads. Slightly downhill and uphill, passing the Weinhof and Gästehaus Pfeifer and continuing - somewhat steeper - uphill until we turn left just before the Schemming Chapel. The detour to the chapel is recommended. Pass a few houses and continue on wide forest paths. Along the "Schulweg" we again come to side roads, which we follow.

Passing the refreshment station Fischer we soon come to the intersection of the short and long route. Here we would have the possibility to shorten the round considerably.

We now hike further east and enjoy the view of the cultivated landscape. Through the forest and past the Höllischgraben with various sculptures, we reach the road and the Bergheurigen Grenzlandhof. Now we continue along the road until we reach our destination, the lookout point with the Hendlwirt inn. Here you can take a break and enjoy the magnificent view from the tower. The way back continues right by the road, below the inn. After a few minutes, the hiking trail branches off to the right downhill. The path leads first through a wooded area and then along small settlements with well-tended vineyards. From now on, we are mainly on roads and orient ourselves by the numerous ground markings or the wine bottle signposts. Passing the "Alte Presse" rest area in Stradenberg, we hike through the cultivated landscape with a good view, slightly up and down, until we reach the viewing platform "Über den Reben" on the right. Over the wooden footbridge and further downhill through the vineyard, we soon reach the valley floor. We cross the road and now hike a bit slightly uphill to reach elderberry fields. The path goes slightly downhill again, over the stream and from now on continuously uphill, walking parallel to the road for a bit. To the left we branch off into a side street to walk the last - somewhat steep - stretch to the church. Now only a few meters of altitude and we reach our starting point.

• Emergency call mountain rescue: 140
• ambulance: 144
• European emergency call: 112
• firefighters: 122
• police: 133

Tips when reporting an emergency – Answer these six WH questions: What happened? How many people are injured? Where did the accident happen (are there GPS coordinates)? Who is reporting the incident (callback number)? When did the accident happen? What is the weather like at the site of the incident?

Proper backpack packing makes many things easier: Pack heavy things first. The water bottle should always be within reach in a side pocket. All the things that are often needed, such as sunglasses, camera or hiking map, belong on top. An emergency kit, including blister plasters, belongs in every rucksack and it is always advisable to dress in layers.

From the end of September until the national holiday there is storm and chestnuts as a culinary conclusion of the hike in the village - good weather provided!

Detailed information about arriving by ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) can be found at  www.oebb.at or on the Verbundlinie Steiermark website www.busbahnbim.at

With Verbundlinie’s BusBahnBim route planner app, planning your journey has never been easier: simply enter towns and/or addresses, stop names or points of interest to check all bus, train and tram connections in Austria. The app is available free of charge for smartphones – on Google Play and in the App Store

Gasthaus Werner Wolf, Tel.: +43 3158 2201, 8354 St. Anna am Aigen, Waltra 63, www.gasthaus-werner-wolf.at

Gasthaus Fischer, Tel.: +43 3158 2259, 8354 St. Anna am Aigen, Marktstraße 13

Gemeindeamt St. Anna am Aigen, Marktstraße 5, 8354 St. Anna am Aigen, Österreich, Tel. +43 3158 2212-0 gemeindeamt@st-anna.at, www.st-anna.at

Hiking map of Weinweg der Sinne: Municipal Office St. Anna am Aigen, Tel. +43 3158 2212, www.st-anna.at

Tourist Office Thermen- & Vulkanland
Gästeinfo Bad Radkersburg
Hauptplatz 14
8490 Bad Radkersburg
Tel: +43 3382 55 100-90
badradkersburg@thermen-vulkanland.at
www.thermen-vulkanland.at 

Kompass Wanderführer "Steirisches Vulkanland - Auf den Spuren der Vulkane" 50 Touren mit Beschreibungen, Routenkarten und Höhenprofilen ISBN 978-3-85026-096-1 www.kompass.at