The winery is located in the municipality of Ratsch an der Weinstraße in the Austrian wine-growing region of South Styria. It was founded in 1957 by Josef and Maria Maitz. A small hotel and an inn are attached. Today, the farm is run by Wolfgang Maitz jun. The vineyards cover 15 hectares of vineyards in the Hochstermetzberg, Krois, Schusterberg, Sulz and Wielitsch sites. They are planted with the white wine varieties Sauvignon Blanc (40%), Gelber Muskateller (20%), Welschriesling (10%) and Morillon = Chardonnay (10%), as well as small stocks of Riesling, Traminer, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Sämling 88 (Scheurebe) and Zweigelt. In the vineyard, each grape variety is meticulously cared for in terms of suitable/correct subsoil, vineyard, vine training and foliage care, yield limitation and ripeness stage at harvest. The quality pyramid consists of the lines SÜDSTEIERMARK - "Steirische Klassik", RATSCHer - "Ortsweine", KROIS - "Lagenwein", SCHUSTERBERG - "Erste STK Lage" and HOCHSTERMETZBERG - "Große STK Lage". Depending on the type, the wines are matured in steel tanks, large wooden barrels or small wooden barrels. Bottle-fermented sparkling wines and noble brandies are also produced. The winery is a member of the Steirische Terroir & Klassikweingüter wine growers' association.
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Thomas Götz
Weinberater, Weinblogger und Journalist; Schwendi