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 — la tradizionale taverna vinicola della fattoria stiriana — con Schilcher di produzione propria e piatti freddi Brettljause a tavoli condivisi. Aperto dal venerdì alla domenica pomeriggio.
Weingut&Buschenschank Weber
Buschenschank a conduzione familiare con Schilcher e vini bianchi di produzione propria, abbinati a piatti freddi tradizionali. Aperto dal martedì alla domenica pomeriggio.
Schilcherweinbau Vollmaier vulgo Wieser
Vendita diretta di Schilcher alla cantina di famiglia: non è un Buschenschank, non ci sono posti a sedere. Telefonare o scrivere su WhatsApp prima di andare — si può parlare anche in inglese.
Chiamare prima 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
Cantina e fattoria di castagni con vendita diretta di Schilcher e prodotti tipici; aperta quasi tutti i giorni, ideale anche in autunno per la stagione delle castagne.
Wein- & Genuss Laden Familie Kleindienst
Sala degustazione e negozio di vini della famiglia Kleindienst, aperto dal lunedì al sabato; pensato per assaggiare e acquistare bottiglie da portare a casa, con pochi o nessun posto a sedere.
Primarily a tasting room and bottle shop rather than a sit-down Buschenschank — come to taste and take wine home.
Buschenschank
Buschenschank del Weingut Hiden con vini di propria produzione e piatti freddi tradizionali. Aperto da mercoledì a sabato a partire dal pomeriggio.
Weingut Buschenschank Machater
Cantina con taverna annessa, aperta il sabato e la domenica a partire da mezzogiorno; buona selezione di vini locali in un'atmosfera tranquilla con veranda e parcheggio comodo.
Winzergasthof Windisch
Auberge-ristorante legata a una cantina vinicola, con cucina calda servita quasi tutti i giorni eccetto mercoledì e giovedì. La cucina è aperta dall'ora di pranzo fino a sera.
Buschenschänke
A Buschenschank serves the farm's own wine with cold food. Check opening hours before you walk.
Schilcherweingut Friedrich
Buschenschank specializzato nello Schilcher locale in molti stili — classico, spumante, giovane — con degustazioni guidate disponibili e negozio per l'acquisto diretto in cantina.
Weingut und Buschenschank Lazarus
Buschenschank più grande della zona, con maggiori probabilità di trovare posto; Schilcher della casa, piatti freddi tradizionali e area giochi per bambini. Aperto mercoledì, venerdì, sabato e domenica.
Winzerei Schober
Buschenschank con vista panoramica sulle vigne stiriane, accogliente per famiglie e cani. Aperto giovedì-domenica dalle 12 alle 19.
Langmann Weingut Buschenschank
Buschenschank vicino al bosco con terrazza panoramica; buona selezione di vini incluso il Sauvignon locale, con piatti freddi di qualità. Aperto giovedì-sabato dal tardo pomeriggio.
Gasthäuser
Theresas - Eine Art Gasthaus
Trattoria stiriana con menu ridotto e selezionato, cucina calda a pranzo e a cena; si consiglia la prenotazione. Accetta solo contanti.
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
Ristorante marocchino a Graz con atmosfera orientale e piatti autentici come couscous e hummus. Aperto dal martedì al sabato solo a cena.
Caylend
Ristorante a Graz orientato al pesce con cucina fusion e presentazione curata; aperto dal mercoledì alla domenica, con orari prolungati nel fine settimana.
Mohrenwirt Graz
Ristorante austriaco tradizionale nel centro di Graz, apprezzato per la tartare di manzo e la Wiener Schnitzel di vitello; aperto da mercoledì a sabato.
Francis
Bistrot moderno a Graz in stile tapas con menu degustazione, tartare di carne e tonno e buona selezione di vini; aperto tutti i giorni eccetto la domenica.
Bakeries
Bäckerei Café G&K Klary
Piccola panetteria con caffè nei pressi di Stainz, apprezzata per il pane di segale e i pasticcini freschi. Raggiungibile anche a piedi dalla Mosthütte in circa 45 minuti.
Supermarkets and farm shops
Stainzer Hofladen
Negozio di prodotti di fattoria a Stainz con selezione curata di specialità regionali — inclusi liquori artigianali — provenienti da agricoltori locali. Aperto giovedì-sabato.
Hubmann - Mein Kaufhaus
Negozio di vicinato polivalente a Stainz con alimentari, specialità regionali, abbigliamento e articoli vari; punto di riferimento per i residenti, aperto dal lunedì al sabato.
Attractions
Useful nearby stops for a wet day, a family visit, or a short Stainz outing.
Schloss Stainz
Castello storico di Stainz con caffè interno e musei del Joanneum; l'accesso ai cortili interni e ai giardini è riservato ai visitatori con biglietto per i musei.
Museen in Schloss Stainz: Jagdmuseum, Landwirtschaftsmuseum und Erzherzog Johann Museum
All'interno dello Schloss Stainz, tre musei del Joanneum dedicati alla caccia, all'agricoltura e all'arciduca Giovanni d'Austria; aperti da mercoledì a domenica, 10:00–17:00.
Stainzer Flascherlzug - Ausflugsziel für Familien im Schilcherland
Trenino storico a scartamento ridotto che parte da Stainz per un percorso di circa 11 km; si possono ordinare bevande a bordo durante il viaggio, ideale per famiglie.
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