The STK quality criteria

STK wines are sold in various categories. Special criteria have been set for each of these categories, and the members of Styrian Terroir and Classic Wineries have obligated themselves by contract to adhere to the defined criteria.

WELSCHRIESLING STK®

» Extra-dry, white Qualitätswein, the natural ripeness of which yields at the most 11.5% alcohol/volume.
» Vinified in a stainless steel tank
» Residual sugar content of under 4 g/l
» Welschriesling STK may be brought to market at the earliest on 1 December of the year it is harvested.

Welschriesling STK can be recognized by the STK imprint on the label and an STK banderole or capsule.

STEIRISCHE KLASSIK STK®

» This is limited to the main varieties of Weißburgunder, Morillon, Grauburgunder, Gelber Muskateller and Sauvignon Blanc.
» Vinified mainly in stainless steel tanks.
» Dry, white Qualitätswein, the natural ripeness of which yields at the most 12.5% alcohol by volume.
» Steirische Klassik STK wines may be brought to market at the earliest on 1 March of the year after being harvested.

Wines in the Steirische Klassik STK range can be recognized by a silver STK banderole or a silver STK imprint on the capsule.

Single-vineyard wines with the STK seal of quality are subject to the following rules, which have been extensively defined for the Premier Cru STK and Grand Cru STK classifications:

Premier Cru STK ®

» The grapes for this wine come from locations high on slopes with a very favorable microclimate, guaranteeing that the grapes dry out early—and thus ripen optimally—in the autumn. The orientation of these slopes is southeast to southwest.
» The vineyards are at locations, in groups of vineyards or parts of villages which have been promoted to STK growing sites due to years of experience and with regard to domestic and international tasting results. Wines from these areas exhibit a pronouncedly regional taste.
» The grapevines used must be at least 12 years old on average.
» The vineyards are maintained in a sustainable and natural manner.
» Wines are produced from the varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Morillon, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Gelber Muskateller and/or Traminer.
» Wines are vinified dry and produced as Qualitätswein, the natural ripeness of which entails at least 12.5% alcohol by volume. Wines of the Traminer variety, as well as those classified as Prädikatswein, are of course exempt from the dryness requirement.
» The grapes are selectively hand-harvested in several phases and, with regard to physiological ripeness, at the latest-possible point in time.
» Only healthy (botrytis-free) grapes are used.
» Harvest yield is limited to a maximum of 4,500 l/ha.
» The aging potential of these wines should be at least 5 years; this is determined by examining three vintages from the last five vintages or from more mature wines at the STK single-vineyard wine tasting events.
» Premier Cru STK wines have been present on the market for at least five years and, even in less optimum years, exhibit independence and area-typical character.
» Premier Cru STK wines may be brought to market at the earliest on 1 May, after six months’ aging. The official presentation date is the spring wine tasting event of the STK wineries at the beginning of May.
» Premier Cru STK wines labeled as “Reserve”, “Privat”, “Fassreserve”, “Vinotheksfüllung”, etc., or those wines aged in small, mainly new wood casks may be brought to market at the earliest on 1 May, after eighteen months’ aging.

Wines of the Premier Cru STK Lage classification can be recognized by a gold STK banderole or a gold STK imprint on the capsule.

Grand Cru STK ®

These wines adhere to the standards for Premier Cru STK wines plus:

» The grapes for Grand Cru STK wines ripen in vineyards with outstanding terroir which makes the production of wines with particularly marked character and ageing potential possible.
» The grapes come from vineyards whose soils are conductive to the development of a high degree of minerality in the wine, for example soils with large amounts of shell limestone, lime marl, volcanic stone, sand, gravel and shale as well as combinations of these.
» The grapevines used must be at least 15 years old on average
» Harvest yield is limited to a maximum of 3,500 l/ha
» The ageing potential of thee wines should be at least 10 years; this is determined by examining five vintages from the last ten vintages or from more mature wines at the STK single-vineyard wine tasting events
» Grand Cru STK wines have been present on the market for at least ten years and, even in less optimum years, exhibit independence and area-typical character.
» Grand Cru STK wines may be brought to market at the earliest on 1 May, after eighteen months’ aging. The official presentation date is the spring wine tasting event of the STK wineries at the beginning of May.
» Grand Cru STK wines labeled as “Reserve”, “Privat”, “Fassreserve”, “Vinotheksfüllung”, etc. may be brought to market at the earliest on 1 May, after thirty months’ aging.

Wines of the Grand Cru STK classification can be recognized by a gold STK banderole or a gold STK imprint on the capsule.