Strohmeier

The winery "Wein- & Sektmanufaktur" of Franz and Christine Strohmeier is located in the municipality of Lestein-St. Stefan in the Austrian wine-growing region of Western Styria. The winery with its newly constructed building was opened in April 2001. After his education at the Klosterneuburger Weinbauschule, Franz Strohmeier practised for several years at different wineries. The vineyards cover eight hectares of vines in the vineyards Lestein (4 ha), Neuberg, Niedergreil, Mitteregg, Hohenfeld and Sonnenhügel. They are 95% planted with the Schilcher grape Blauer Wildbacher, the rest with Morillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Weißburgunder. Various wines from the Lestein vineyard are produced under the name "Lestoá" (Lestoá = dialect for Lestein). These are the white wine cuvée "Lestoá Weiß" (Morillon, Sauvignon Blanc), the rosé "Lestoá Schilcher", and the red wine "Lestoá Rot" (Blauer Wildbacher aged in barriques). A speciality of the house are the bottle-fermented Schilcher sparkling wines, which are produced as "Brut", "Brut Reserve" and "Ultra Brut", as well as Schilcher Frizzante. In suitable years, such as 2002, there is also a Schilcher Trockenbeerenauslese. A "Lestoá Trester" and Schilcher brandies are also distilled. About 50,000 bottles of wine are produced annually. The winery is a member of the Styrian Schilcher protection association Weißes Pferd.