A lot of money at stake

Slipped wine route: State sues celebrity winemaker

Who has to pay for the damage? Styrian deputy governor and traffic officer Anton Lang (left) and winegrower Manfred Tement have divergent views.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Land Stmk. (Straßen-Fotos), Christian Jauschowetz, Lukas Elsneg)

A new level of escalation in the dispute over the southern Styrian wine route, which was badly damaged last year: as the state is unable to reach an agreement with the affected winegrower regarding compensation, the only option is to go to court. The other side fires back sharply. A lot of money is at stake.

The origins of the conflict date back to 2019, when a forest clearing on the Graßnitzberg caused a stir in the region. Not everyone liked the fact that the South Styrian celebrity winemaker Manfred Tement was allowed to build a new vineyard on a steep area. From the outset, it was mainly older residents who voiced their concerns, as in their opinion the forest would have an important protective function in this particular location.