Flavors · Estíria

Schilcher

Rosé wine from Styria, with high acidity and a fruity aroma, made only from the Blauer Wildbacher grape. The name is protected by the European Union as a traditional term.

Traditional drink from Estíria

Also known as: Schilcherwein

Updated October 2026

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Schilcher — Estíria, Austria — Schilcher

Schilcher — Estíria, Austria

Schilcher is a rosé wine made exclusively from Blauer Wildbacher, a late-ripening, hardy red grape grown almost only in Styria. The wine is fresh, fruity and high in acidity.

According to the register of traditional foods of Austria’s Ministry of Agriculture, the grape grows mainly in western Styria, at the foot of the Koralpe mountains, between Ligist and Eibiswald, on slopes of 350 to 600 meters with gneiss and slate soils. Since 2009, the name Schilcher is a traditional term protected by the European Union: it may only be used for wine from Styria made with Blauer Wildbacher.

The first written mention of Schilcher is from 1580, in a book about wine. It is said that the Celts already cultivated the grape in the region, but, according to the same register, there is no proof of that. The origin of the name is also uncertain: one explanation links it to the German word “schillern,” to shimmer, because of the color’s reflections. An anecdote told in the region says that a pope passing through in the 18th century called the wine “pink vinegar.”

Besides still wine, there are sparkling and lightly sparkling (frizzante) Schilcher styles. In autumn, wine taverns serve Schilchersturm, fermenting must, with roasted chestnuts.

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Where it comes from

Estíria
By European Union rule, the name Schilcher may only be used for wine made in Styria from the Blauer Wildbacher grape, which is grown mainly in the western part of the state.

Ingredients

Blauer Wildbacher grapes, harvested in Styria.

How it is eaten

Drink it chilled, in a wine glass. Schilchersturm, the fermenting must, is served with roasted chestnuts.

When it is eaten

In wine taverns in autumn, the fermenting must accompanies chestnut season. It should be enjoyed in moderation.

Your questions

Questions about Schilcher

What grape is Schilcher made from?

Only from Blauer Wildbacher, a red grape grown almost exclusively in Styria.

Can Schilcher be made outside Styria?

Not under that name. Since 2009, Schilcher is a traditional term protected by the European Union, reserved for wine from Styria made with Blauer Wildbacher.

What is Schilchersturm?

It is the Blauer Wildbacher must in active fermentation, slightly sweet and fizzy, served in autumn, usually with roasted chestnuts.

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