South Styria, nicknamed the “Austrian Tuscany” for its rolling wine hills, offers a particularly photogenic gravel terrain along the Styrian wine road, just a few kilometres from the Slovenian border.
Hilly terrain between vines and isolated farmhouses
From Gamlitz, the tracks head into the wine hills toward Ehrenhausen and then Leutschach an der Weinstraße, alternating farm tracks between rows of vines with shadier forest sections. Expect around 45 km and 700 m of elevation gain for a loop representative of the region, on a profile made up of short, repeated kicks typical of the rolling Styrian landscape.
Getting the ride right
Versatile gravel tyres around 38-42mm suit most of the route, between packed vineyard tracks and softer farm paths after rain. The dense network of back roads and tracks makes it easy to adjust the distance depending on the day’s form.
When to go
April to June and September to November, with the September-October harvest bringing a special atmosphere as vineyard activity is visible from the tracks. Summer, hotter, is less suited to long rides in full sun.
Good to know
Gamlitz and Ehrenhausen, at the heart of the Styrian wine road, offer a decent choice of accommodation and numerous wineries to visit, with convenient access to the Slovenian border for extending the stay into the neighbouring Jeruzalem wine region.
