Food & Drink
Eating in Western Styria
Styrian cuisine is rustic, seasonal, and deeply connected to the land. It is farm-to-table not as a trend, but as a way of life that has continued for centuries. The food here is honest — built on quality ingredients, served generously, and best enjoyed slowly.
The essentials you must try
Brettljause
The quintessential Buschenschank meal. A wooden board (Brett) loaded with cured meats, local cheeses, spreads, pickled vegetables, horseradish, and fresh bread. Simple, magnificent, and best paired with a glass of Schilcher on a sunny terrace overlooking the vineyards.
Kürbiskernöl (Pumpkin seed oil)
Styria's "green gold." A dark, viscous oil pressed from local pumpkin seeds with an intense, nutty flavour. You'll find it drizzled on salads, stirred into soups, poured over vanilla ice cream, and used in ways you'd never expect. Once you've tasted the real thing, you'll want to bring bottles home.
Verhackertes
A smoked pork spread that's a Styrian specialty. Spread it on dark bread and you have one of the most satisfying simple meals in Austrian cuisine.
Backhendl
Styrian-style breaded fried chicken, often served with a salad dressed generously with pumpkin seed oil.
Steirisches Wurzelfleisch
A traditional Styrian pork dish cooked with root vegetables, served with grated horseradish and roasted potatoes. Hearty and comforting.
Sturm (in autumn)
Sturm is young, partially fermented grape juice — cloudy, slightly fizzy, sweet, and deceptively strong. It's available only for a few weeks during harvest season (typically late September to October) and is as much a social event as a drink.
Kastanien (Chestnuts)
In autumn, roasted chestnuts appear everywhere — at markets, in restaurants, and in dedicated stalls. They pair perfectly with Sturm.
Food, wine, and nearby stops
The closest wine addresses sit in the Gundersdorf cluster, where several wineries can be reached on foot by forest and vineyard tracks. For a full meal, use the drive times: Gasthäuser and Graz restaurants are better planned by car or taxi.
Walkable wineries around Gundersdorf
These are the first calls for Schilcher near the house. The walkable entries show the trail estimate first, then the drive time.
Weingut Trapl
Un Buschenschank — taverne viticole paysanne stirienne — où l'on déguste le Schilcher de la maison et des plateaux froids (Brettljause) à tables partagées. Ouvert du vendredi au dimanche après-midi.
Weingut&Buschenschank Weber
Buschenschank familial proposant le Schilcher de la maison et des vins blancs, accompagnés de plateaux froids traditionnels. Ouvert du mardi au dimanche en après-midi.
Schilcherweinbau Vollmaier vulgo Wieser
Vente directe de Schilcher à la cave familiale, sans restauration ni places assises. Appelez ou envoyez un message WhatsApp avant de venir — l'anglais est tout à fait accepté.
Appeler avant Call or WhatsApp first — English is fine.
Not a Buschenschank — this is cellar-door bottle sales only, no seating. Call or send a WhatsApp ahead (English is fine) before you go.
Wein- und Kastanienhof Klug
Domaine viticole et exploitation de châtaigniers avec vente directe de Schilcher et de produits de la ferme ; ouvert presque tous les jours, idéal aussi en automne pour la saison des châtaignes.
Wein- & Genuss Laden Familie Kleindienst
Cave-boutique et salon de dégustation de la famille Kleindienst, ouvert du lundi au samedi ; conçu pour goûter et acheter des bouteilles à emporter, avec peu ou pas de places assises.
Primarily a tasting room and bottle shop rather than a sit-down Buschenschank — come to taste and take wine home.
Buschenschank
Buschenschank du Weingut Hiden proposant ses propres vins et des plateaux froids maison. Ouvert du mercredi au samedi à partir de l'après-midi.
Weingut Buschenschank Machater
Domaine viticole avec taverne ouverte le samedi et le dimanche à partir de midi ; bonne sélection de vins locaux, cadre calme avec véranda et parking accessible.
Winzergasthof Windisch
Auberge-restaurant associée à un domaine viticole, proposant des plats chauds presque tous les jours sauf le mercredi et le jeudi. Service du midi jusqu'au soir.
Buschenschänke
A Buschenschank serves the farm's own wine with cold food. Check opening hours before you walk.
Schilcherweingut Friedrich
Buschenschank spécialisé dans le Schilcher local sous de nombreux styles — classique, pétillant, jeune — avec dégustations guidées disponibles et boutique pour acheter sur place.
Weingut und Buschenschank Lazarus
Grand Buschenschank de la région, avec plus de chances de trouver une table ; Schilcher maison, plateaux froids traditionnels et aire de jeux pour enfants. Ouvert le mercredi, vendredi, samedi et dimanche.
Winzerei Schober
Buschenschank avec vue panoramique sur les vignes styrienne, accueillant familles et chiens. Ouvert du jeudi au dimanche de 12h à 19h.
Langmann Weingut Buschenschank
Buschenschank en lisière de forêt avec terrasse panoramique ; belle sélection de vins dont le Sauvignon local, et plateaux froids soignés. Ouvert du jeudi au samedi en fin d'après-midi.
Gasthäuser
Theresas - Eine Art Gasthaus
Auberge stirienne avec une carte courte et soignée, restauration chaude à midi et le soir ; réservation recommandée. Paiement en espèces uniquement.
Stainzerhof Hotel & Restaurant
Modern hotel in a 1900s brewery with a high-end restaurant, a riverside terrace & a gym.
Fuchswirt St. Stefan ob Stainz
Restaurant
Hotel und Restaurant Schilcherlandhof & Winzerhaus Sierling Eins
Bright venue with modest rooms, as well as a country-style restaurant & breakfast.
Restaurants
Restaurant Ya Habibi
Restaurant marocain à Graz dans une atmosphère orientale, proposant couscous, houmous et plats authentiques. Ouvert du mardi au samedi uniquement le soir.
Caylend
Restaurant à Graz axé sur les poissons avec cuisine fusion et présentation soignée ; ouvert du mercredi au dimanche, avec de plus larges horaires le week-end.
Mohrenwirt Graz
Restaurant autrichien traditionnel en centre-ville de Graz, réputé pour son tartare de bœuf et son Wiener Schnitzel de veau ; ouvert du mercredi au samedi.
Francis
Bistrot moderne à Graz au style tapas, avec menu dégustation, tartares de viande et de thon et belle carte des vins ; ouvert tous les jours sauf le dimanche.
Bakeries
Bäckerei Café G&K Klary
Petite boulangerie-café près de Stainz, appréciée pour son pain de seigle et ses viennoiseries fraîches. Accessible à pied depuis la Mosthütte en environ 45 minutes.
Supermarkets and farm shops
Stainzer Hofladen
Boutique de ferme à Stainz avec une sélection soignée de spécialités régionales — dont des liqueurs artisanales — issues de producteurs locaux. Ouverte du jeudi au samedi.
Hubmann - Mein Kaufhaus
Commerce de proximité polyvalent à Stainz proposant alimentation, spécialités régionales, vêtements et divers articles ; référence pour les habitants, ouvert du lundi au samedi.
Attractions
Useful nearby stops for a wet day, a family visit, or a short Stainz outing.
Schloss Stainz
Château historique de Stainz avec café intérieur et musées du Joanneum ; l'accès aux cours et jardins est réservé aux visiteurs munis d'un billet pour les musées.
Museen in Schloss Stainz: Jagdmuseum, Landwirtschaftsmuseum und Erzherzog Johann Museum
Au sein du Schloss Stainz, trois musées du Joanneum consacrés à la chasse, à l'agriculture et à l'archiduc Johann d'Autriche ; ouverts du mercredi au dimanche de 10h à 17h.
Stainzer Flascherlzug - Ausflugsziel für Familien im Schilcherland
Petit train historique à voie étroite au départ de Stainz pour un parcours d'environ 11 km ; boissons disponibles à bord pendant le trajet, idéal pour les familles.
Know before you go
How a Buschenschank works — Order a Brettljause (shared board) and a glass of Schilcher. The table is yours as long as you want it.
A Buschenschank is not a restaurant — it's a wine tavern where the winemaker serves their own wine and cold food only (no beer, no hot dishes, by law). You typically order at the counter or from a simple menu. The main thing to order is a Brettljause — a wooden board with cured meats, cheese, spreads, bread, and pickles. It's meant to share. Pair it with a glass (or carafe) of Schilcher, the local rosé. There is no rush. No one will bring you a bill until you ask for it. Linger, enjoy, watch the vineyards. Tip by rounding up (e.g. €18.50 → €20). Say 'Zahlen bitte' when you're ready to pay.
Eating at a Gasthaus — A traditional inn. Seat yourself, order from the menu, pay at your table when ready.
A Gasthaus is a traditional inn serving hot food. Unlike many American restaurants, you usually seat yourself — look for a free table and sit down. If a table has a 'Stammtisch' sign, that's the regulars' table — avoid it. Water is not automatically served (and tap water is uncommon to order in restaurants — ask for 'ein Leitungswasser' if you want it, or order mineral water). Bread may come to the table and is usually charged extra. Tipping: round up by 5–10% (e.g. €23 → €25). You pay at your table — say 'Zahlen bitte' and they'll bring the bill. Credit cards are increasingly accepted but cash is still king in rural Austria.
Cash is king — Bring cash (euros). Many small places don't accept cards.
Rural Austria still runs significantly on cash. Buschenschänke, farm shops, small Gasthäuser, and markets may not accept cards. ATMs (Bankomaten) are available in Stainz and other towns. Withdraw enough euros to cover a few days of local spending. Larger restaurants and supermarkets accept cards. When paying cash, hand the money directly to the server and state the total you want to pay (including tip) — e.g., hand them €30 and say 'Dreißig' if the bill is €27.
Tipping — Round up 5–10%. Say the amount you want to pay when handing over cash.
Tipping in Austria is not like the US — there's no 20% expectation. Round up by 5–10%. If the bill is €18.50, pay €20. If it's €45, pay €50. The key difference: you tell the server the total you want to pay when you hand over the money. Don't leave coins on the table. Say 'Stimmt so' (keep the change) or state the rounded amount. At Buschenschänke, a small round-up is appreciated but not expected.
In Graz
If you venture into Graz (20 min), you'll find an excellent dining scene. Graz was designated a UNESCO City of Design and has a vibrant food culture ranging from traditional Gasthäuser to modern restaurants.
Cooking at home
The Mosthütte kitchen is fully equipped for serious cooking, and sourcing ingredients locally is a pleasure.
Farm shops and direct sellers (Ab Hof)
Many local farms sell directly to the public. Look for Ab Hof Verkauf signs along the road. You'll find eggs, cheese, honey, fruit, bread, and — of course — pumpkin seed oil and wine.
Markets
- Graz farmers' market (Kaiser-Josef-Platz): Daily except Sunday. One of the best markets in Austria.
Drinking beyond Schilcher
- Sauvignon Blanc: Southern Styria is renowned for world-class Sauvignon Blanc — a short drive to the Südsteiermark wine road.
- Gelber Muskateller: Aromatic and floral, another Styrian specialty.
- Schilcher Frizzante: Sparkling Schilcher — light, refreshing, perfect for a sunny afternoon.
- Most: Apple and pear cider — the traditional drink that gives the Mosthütte its name.
- Schnaps: Fruit brandies made from local fruit — Williams pear, apple, plum, elderflower.
- Beer: Puntigamer and Gösser are the local Styrian lagers. Craft beer is growing in Graz.
Dietary notes
Austrian cuisine is meat-heavy, but vegetarian options are increasingly available. Buschenschänke always have cheese, bread, and vegetable options. Graz has dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Cooking at home with market ingredients is easy and rewarding.
See also: The Schilcher Wine Road, Seasonal Guide