Steiermark, or Styria as it's known in English, is the deeply-lush, steep-sloped wine region in southern Austria, hugging the Slovenian border. While wildly underappreciated, Styria is home to some of the most well-farmed and thought-provoking white wines in the world. Familiar varieties like Pinot Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc share vineyard rows with lesser-known favorites like Gelber Muskateller and Welschriesling, and orchard fruits are abundant throughout the region. This class, led by Dana Frank of High Five Selections, will be a fantastic introduction to what makes Styria so special and why the wines should be on your radar.
Dana has been an enthusiastic part of the Portland wine industry for over 15 years, most recently as the owner of Bar Norman. She has worked in hospitality for most of her career and is the co-author of the book Wine Food, published in 2018. In 2019 she founded The Wild Bunch, Portland's natural wine fair. High Five Selections is her newest venture, importing Austrian wine to the US alongside her husband, winemaker Scott Frank.