South Styrian Wine Route - Buschenschank

The South Styrian Wine Route

We were invited for two days to the Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel in southern Styria. This is located directly on the South Styrian Wine Road in Austria. Reason enough, to search for the best Buschenschank in Styria on our wine trip to Austria.

 

 

We are equipped with a map showing all the taverns of the region, and our head is full of tips provided by the receptionist of the Loisium Hotel. Thus, we are ready for our excursion into the hills. We had already admired them from the balcony of our room. In sunshine, deep blue skies and temperatures around the 25 degrees we start our trip. We drive south from the Loisium Hotel.

 

 

I cannot get a remark from our adviser out of my head. When I asked how far it was to the next town and how long it takes to get to know the entire South Styrian Wine Route, she said succinctly: “It is only a few kilometers to the Slovenian border. And if you get hungry for lunch, you can stop at the Polz, Tement or Dreisiebner headquarters. ”I look at the map and think: “We'll be there in a few minutes. And should I be hungry again so quickly?”

 

 

The South Styrian Wine Route - between Styria and Slovenia

I did not know what to expect around the next corner along the South Styrian Wine Route: incredible and breathtaking views of the vineyards around us, both on the Slovenian and on the Austrian side.

We are surprised to see that the signs lead from one winery to the next. I quickly understand why this is the case: the villages stretch along the road. Village boundaries are not recognizable. The villages consist almost exclusively of the wineries, which are lined up along the wine route like pearls on a string. We can orient ourselves better if we choose one of them as our next destination.

And that's what we do. But only after we stop every few meters and, overwhelmed by the photo opportunities, continuously press the shutter button on our cameras. It easily takes us a couple of hours to cover a few kilometers, especially because we always stop at various wine taverns along the way. That's an essential part of a tour like this through the wine country.

 

 

What is a Buschenschank?

If it sounds like I've always known what a Buschenschank is, I have to admit that's not true. Only on this trip through southern Styria, I found out what it is: a Buschenschank is a wine bar on a winery, which is subject to strict regulations.

In a Buschenschank, only snacks and cold dishes are served, with products often coming directly from the winery: smoked ham, raw sausage, cold roast, lard, vegetarian spreads, mustard, horseradish, tomatoes, radishes, and other seasonal vegetables. Or the winegrower exchanges wine for natural products, as does the Dreisiebner Stammhaus, for example. The trout we find here on our plate comes from a friendly family, who delivers them in exchange for the Dreisiebner wine. There is also home-baked bread, which provides a wonderful underlay for the meal.

Or there is, as we tasted in the Buschenschank Polz, a mini mint gugelhupf with cream and chocolate sauce. And I drink a lemon balm spritz with it, although wine would of course be a better drink. But if you're working on this route, like we were, there's no other option. We save our wine consumption until the evening at the hotel, and prefer to stick to the excellent, homemade juices of the region during the day.

🍇 What is the difference between a Buschenschank and a Heuriger?

Many people confuse Buschenschanken with Heurigen – although they seem similar, there are differences:

Buschenschank (Styria & Southern Austria): May only offer cold dishes and home-made products (e.g., wine, juices, snacks). Opening hours are indicated by a "buschen" sign hanging outside.

Heuriger (mostly Lower Austria & Vienna): Similar rules, but often with hot meals and a bit more touristy.

📝 Tip for readers: If you like rustic and authentic things, you'll feel right at home in a Buschenschank!

 

 

Our route along the Southern Styrian Wine Route

The South Styrian Wine Route winds its way along the crest of the hills, whose slopes drop steeply down into the valley. Many of the wineries are located on the hilltop. Others nestle close to the mountain slopes. Some lie like an eagle's nest in an exposed spot above the valley and look as if the next larger gust of wind could blow them away.

In the south, the road runs along the border with Slovenia. If you take, as we do, the bike path, instead of the regular road, at one of the many branches, you can even cross the border. There we follow a few kilometers of the border on the Slovenian side.

The wines are grown on the southern slopes and painstakingly cut every summer. Again and again we see wooden wind turbines on high places, whose function I am not quite clear about. So I ask Irmgard Dreisiebner, the owner of the parent company Dreisiebner, about it: "This is a Klapotetz," she says. And when I just look at her blankly, she explains: “These are wooden wheels that were set up earlier in August to use their rattling noises to drive the birds out of the vineyards that were targeting the grapes. Today they are left standing because they have become an attraction for visitors. ”

 

 

Recommended Buschenschanken

So we sit in front of our vintner's snack in the Buschenschank in the parent company Dreisiebner. We look out over the surrounding vineyards from its terrace. A view that makes this summer's day on the South Styrian Wine Route a worthy highlight at the end of our round trip — even though we actually only covered a short distance along this route. When we arrive down in the valley in Gamlitz, we are amazed to see that it is only three kilometers to our hotel. If you want to explore the wine region in South Styria in detail, you should definitely plan more time than we did.

We visited the following Buschenschanken on the Southern Styrian Wine Route:

Winery Erich and Walter Polz
8471 Spielfeld
Grassnitzberg 54a
Tel. +43 (0) 3453 2582
Website

Repolusk Winery
Roland & Barbara Repolusk
8463 Glanz a.d. Weinstraße 41
Tel. + 43 (0) 3454 313
Website

Winery Dreisiebner parent company
8461 Sulztak an der Weinstraße 35
Tel. +43 (0) 3453 2590
Website
A stay in the LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort Südsteiermark *  you can book at this link.

 

📅 Seasonal highlights on the Southern Styrian Wine Route

Southern Styria is worth a visit at any time of year – but depending on the season there are very special experiences:

Spring: When the vines bloom, it's wonderfully quiet. Ideal for hikes and the first Buschenschank tours.

Summer: Perfect for "Buschenschank hopping" with an e-bike – there are many rental shops in Ehrenhausen or Gamlitz, for example.

Autumn: Now is peak season! The grape harvest begins, the scent of Sturm (Federweißer) fills the air, and many places celebrate Thanksgiving.

Winter: Some Buschenschanken (wine taverns) open even during the cold season—with open fires, mulled wine, and Styrian home cooking. Pure romance!

📌 Tip: Ask at the tourist information office for a current Buschenschank calendar – many establishments are only open for a few weeks a year.

🍷 Wine festivals & events 2025 – you can’t miss them!

If you want to truly immerse yourself in the regional culture, plan your visit around one of the wine festivals. Here are a few highlights for 2025:

🎉 Top events along the Southern Styrian Wine Route:
South Styrian Wine Festival in Leibnitz
📍 September 4–7, 2025 – Live music, parade & lots of wine!

Archduke Johann Wine Festival in Gamlitz
📍 September 11–14, 2025 – The traditional festival with a lot of history and regional cuisine.

Open cellar days
📍 Depending on the winery, in May and October – many wineries open their cellars to visitors.

👉 For current dates and program details, it is worth taking a look at the official website of the Southern Styrian Wine Route.

About the authors:

Monika and Petar Fuchs are passionate travel journalists with a special passion for wine and everything that goes with it. For over 20 years, they have been exploring renowned and lesser-known wine-growing regions in Europe, South Africa and North America, always on the lookout for outstanding wines, authentic winemakers, and special Buschenschank experiences. Their reports are a mix of in-depth wine expertise, a personal touch, and genuine recommendations for connoisseurs – ideal for anyone who wants to experience wine, not just drink it.

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Travel Arrangements

Parking at the airport

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Arriving by plane and / or car

Compare and book flights here* (Advertisement). The nearest airport is Graz. From there, it is best to travel by rental car or your own car to enjoy the Southern Styrian Wine Route.

Car Rentals:

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Accommodation on the Southern Styrian Wine Route

Hotels and accommodations on the South Styrian Wine Route * You can also easily book through our partner booking.com.

 

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Do you know this?

• Heuriger or wine tavern - what is it?
• Wine Wellness Hotel in Langenlois
• The Gail Valley in Carinthia
• Taste the World: Wine Regions to Discover
• Burgenland Regions on the border: How people live there

 

More slow travel Travel Tips is also available at this link. Discover other Wine regions in Austria.

Source: Own on-site research during a press trip – invited by the Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel Südsteiermark. Our opinions, however, remain our own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs as well TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline