Surface area 8 ha.
Natural since mid-1990s

About the winemaker
‘Trauben, Liebe und Zeit’ – grapes, love and time – this is what Franz Strohmeier believes lies at the heart of wine. Franz runs his domain in the southern, ‘green heart’ of Austria, in Steiermark.

Together with his close friend and fellow winemaker Sepp Muster, Franz has earned a reputation as one of Austria’s pioneering natural wine producers. While his cellar is devoted entirely to low-intervention winemaking, his curiosity extends out into the vineyards, where he’s constantly exploring what nature offers him. He currently tends a small plot where he lets his vines grow wild and unpruned, making wine from these untamed grapes as well.

About the vineyard
Although Franz is not certified biodynamic, he relies heavily on biodynamic principles often taking them even further than the guidelines require. Above all, biodiversity shapes Franz’s approach. In his vineyards, everything grows together grasses, trees, herbs, and flowers creating not only a tapestry of plant life but also attracting a thriving range of wildlife. For Franz, this living diversity is what truly matters.

About the wines
Franz crafts both sparkling and still wines, each marked by a pure and luminous character; you can taste the green grasses from his vineyards, and sense the clean, fresh air of Steiermark in every glass.

Weingut Strohmeier Website
NDP profile: ‘minimal pruning’ at Weingut Strohmeier
More Than Wine profile: Weingut Strohmeier
Jenny & Francois profile and tech sheets: Weingut Strohmeier