Kitzeck-Sausal Schiefergestein Sauvignon Blanc
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 2–8 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Goat cheese salad, grilled sea bass, asparagus risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the extreme, sky-scraping slopes of Kitzeck-Sausal—the highest wine-growing region in Austria—this Sauvignon Blanc is a masterclass in cool-climate, high-altitude viticulture. Unlike the limestone-dominated soils of Weingut Tement's home estate, the vineyards of Kitzeck-Sausal are defined by ancient, weathered Devonian slate (Schiefergestein). This unique, mineral-rich bedrock forces the vines to dig deep for nutrients, imparting a distinctive smoky, flinty, and highly crystalline character to the wine. Hand-harvested from dramatic slopes with gradients of up to 80%, the grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation and extended aging on the fine lees. This traditional, low-intervention approach preserves the vibrant, saline tension and wild herbal complexity that make this slate-grown Sauvignon Blanc so legendary among alpine wine lovers.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1959, Weingut Tement is a benchmark family-owned estate situated on the steep, dramatic hills of Südsteiermark along the Austrian-Slovenian border. Propelled to international renown under Manfred Tement and now steered by sons Armin and Stefan Tement, the winery practices certified biodynamic viticulture across mineral-rich limestone and coralline limestone soils. Renowned for their precision, longevity, and profound terroir expression, the estate specializes in world-class Sauvignon Blanc and Morillon (Chardonnay), with iconic single-vineyard bottlings hailing from top cru sites such as Ried Zieregg and Ried Grassnitzberg.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Sauvignon Blanc
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
12.5-13%