The traditional winery is located in the municipality of Straß in the district of Spielfeld on the Grassnitzberg in the Austrian wine-growing region of southern Styria. It has been run by the family since 1912. The foundation stone for the quality business was laid by the parents of the current owners Johanna and Reinhold Polz. The two sons, Erich and Walter, are considered Styrian winegrowing pioneers, because they were the first in Styria to dare to make revolutionary changes from the mid-1980s by switching from mass-produced wine to dry quality wine. Brother Reinhold Polz is responsible as managing director and Christoph Polz (son of Erich Polz) as cellar master. The "Polz-Buschenschank" is run by sister Johanna Kohlenberger and her husband Wolfgang. The entire wine and sparkling wine range can be tasted and purchased in the "Kellerstöckl" on the Greassnitzberg.
The vineyards cover around 110 hectares of vineyards (own and leased) in the Czamillonberg, Grassnitzberg, Hochgrassnitzberg, Obegg, Theresienhöhe and Witscheiner Herrenberg vineyards. The vineyards are 93% planted with Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Bl anc, Welschriesling, Morillon, Chardonnay, Traminer, Riesling and Gelber Muskateller, and 7% with Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.
On the initiative of Erich and Walter Polz, the first Austrian quality wine producers' association (EZG) was founded in 1997. Around 30 hectares are cultivated by 15 winegrowers. The Polz estate guarantees the purchase of the grapes, and in return the winegrowers regenerate or replant the vineyards. Gentle pruning has been practised since the 2010 vintage. Environmentally friendly cultivation is carried out without the use of insecticides and glyphosates and with the promotion of bees and beneficial insects.
The grapes, which are principally handpicked, are gently processed in the cellar according to non-invasive principles with as little intervention as possible. Depending on the desired wine type, the wines are matured in stainless steel tanks, in traditional large wooden barrels or in barrique bar rels. They are produced according to the STK model. This system corresponds to the Südsteiermark DAC origin system introduced in Styria in 2018. Specifically, these are the three lines Klassik or Gebietsweine (varietal wines), Ortsweine ( local wines) and Riedenweine Erste STK Ried and Große STK Ried (terroir wines).
The latter are also bottled in almost all large bottle formats (from Magnum 1.5 l and Doppelmagnum 3l to Methusalem 6l, Nebuchadnezzar 15l and Melchior 18l). The local and estate wines are fermented spontaneously with the vineyard's or winery's own yeasts. The "Spiegel" line includes wines for everyday enjoyment made from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Zweigelt. In the 2017 vintage, for example, 610,000 bottles were produced. Sweet wines(Beerenauslese, TBA), sparkling wines and noble spirits (pomace, wine) are also produced. The winery is a member of the associations Steirische Terroir & Klassikweingüter and Wein Steiermark.
In 2002, the winery Tscheppe on the Pössnitzberg was acquired and, from the end of 2005, the operational management was also taken over. In addition, the Polz brothers are also involved in the operation of the Vinofaktur wine and delicatessen houses in Ehrenhausen-Vogau, as well as a share in the Kreuzwirt on the Pössnitzberg
Kreutwirt and wine hotel: © Polz Winery
Kellerstöckl: © Peter von Felbert
