Blue scent in the wine country

The lavender festival in southern Styria

There is a soft blue flash between the vineyards:

Following an old tradition, the people of southern Styria have rediscovered lavender and are devoting new attention to the fragrant homecomer - even cooking with the blue flowers! At the height of the lavender blossom, "Lavender Woman" Theresia Heigl-Tötsch invites you to a festival on her farm.



Just like wine, the Romans

also brought lavender to the South Styrian wine country. The medicinal and medicinal plant, which has a relaxing effect and also repels pests and perfumes the closet, had almost been completely forgotten in Styria. Just how harmoniously lavender and vine can get along can now be admired again in the wine village of Kitzeck. Light blue to pale violet, it shines out between the lush green rows of vines in summer. The flowers, which make bees and butterflies dance with joy, are then collected, dried and processed.



The www.wunsum.com"_blank"">Lavendermanufaktur& Biohof Wunsum produces

products such as tea specialties, liqueur rarities, soaps, jams, lavender vinegar or lavender oil (100% essential, has a stimulating and relaxing effect at the same time. A few drops by the crib and the baby falls asleep quickly and relaxed; also has a slightly antiseptic effect, especially on burns and insect bites. It is also effective against headaches and increases the pleasure of wellness in the bath water).



That the blue lavender flowers from the Wunsum organic farm

are also pleasing to the palate, as demonstrated by a number of restaurants in the Sulmtal Sausal region, which have set about using the pretty shrub with its distinctive scent in the kitchen. They use it in their cooking and gourmets can look forward to exciting creations on their plates. Lavender hydrolate is also used, giving dishes a particularly fine, refreshing aroma with a slightly tart note.



EVENT TIP:




Lavender festival from 30.6. to 1.7. 2018 at the Wunsum organic farm




Theresia Heigl-Tötsch reveals the secrets of lavender production and there are delicacies (with and without lavender) from the region to sample. Under the motto "Look, smell, taste, enjoy", accompanied by jazz music, lavender lovers spend carefree hours at the organic farm.





Guided tours & farm store of the lavender manufactory:




BIO Hof Wunsum in Kitzeck (Heigl family), Greith 17, 8442 Kitzeck


+43 (0) 664 / 8128836, office@wunsum.com, www.wunsum.com



Companies that cook with lavender:




Steirerkeller, Alexandra & Alois Kröll, 8452 Großklein 23

, +43 (0) 3456 / 2321,
www.steirerkeller.ist-cool.at



Weingartenhotel Harkamp (1 Gault Millau toque, 13 points), Harkamp family, Flamberg 46, 8505 St. Nikolai

, +43 (0) 3185 / 2280, www.harkamp.at,mailto:office@weingartenhotel.at



Kirchenwirt Heber (1 Gault Millau toque, 13 points), Heber family, Steinriegel 52, A-8442 Kitzeck

+43 (0) 3456 / 2225, www.kirchenwirt-heber.at,mailto:kirchenwirt.kitzeck@aon.at



Hotel & Restaurant Steirerland, Stelzer family, Höch 10, 8442 Kitzeck

, +43 (0) 3456 / 2328, www.steirerland.co.at



More info:




TVB Sulmtal Sausal - Weinland.Südsteiermark

, Steinriegel 15, A-8442 Kitzeck im Sausal, +43 (0) 3456 / 3500, info@sulmtal-sausal.at, www.sulmtal-sausal.at



Photo credit: © Sulmtal Sausal & Josef Krassnig