The LOISIUM WINE & SPA RESORT South Styria
1
the LOISIUM WINE & SPA RESORT South styria
“Perfect start for the new leading wine hotel in Austria:
The LOISIUM opened its second Wine & Spa Resort !“
On 1 June 2012 the second LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort opened in the romantic wine village Ehrenhausen in one of the best wine regions in Austria. Following the LOISIUM philosophy this hotel, like its sister hotel in Kamptal, was designed as a very special contemporary 4-star design hotel. The new building with its newly created Styrian avant-garde design, is stylish, elegant and yet highly individual with 85 premium rooms and 20 suites overlooking the vineyards, as well as an exciting regional wine boutique and the LOISIUM Wine Spa.
“Urban Lifestyle and Modern Architecture Meet an Ancient Wine Tradition”
The new LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort is located in the romantic town of Ehrenhausen in one of the most popular wine-growing regions of Austria, South Styria, which is sometimes referred to as the Styrian Tuscany. Like its sister hotel in Langenlois, the wine resort offers an exceptional combination of wine, spa and contemporary design to create an international platform for the enjoyment of wine, this time dedicated to Styrian wine. Architekturconsult from Graz, was responsible for the exterior design and Vienna-based BEHF for the interior design. The resort, with its larch wood exterior facade, thrones invitingly above the romantic village next to Ehrenhausen castle. The recurring theme throughout the interior of the designer hotel is “Styria reinterpreted” – from the green tiles in the spa that were made especially for the Loisium, to the hammered bronze finishes of the reception desks to the brushed spruce wainscoting in the rooms.
The Location: Ehrenhausen, the Gate to the South Styrian Wine Route
Styria, and in particular South Styria and the wine-growing area across the border in Slovenia, is an exciting and multi-faceted wine region, which in recent years has been able to establish itself internationally as an innovative wine-growing region with a Europe-wide reputation. The typical and high quality wines together with the romantic natural landscape therefore provide the perfect setting for a second LOISIUM Wine & Spa resort. Situated at the entrance of the Gamlitz valley, the little wine village of Ehrenhausen has always formed the starting point for all tours along the South Styrian Wine Route.
The chosen site occupies in a magnificent sunny spot on the castle hill on the outskirts of the village of Ehrenhausen. The hotel offers a wonderful view over the South Styrian hills and of neighbouring Ehrenhausen castle, the baroque Eggenberger mausoleum and the wine estate with its own walk-in “show vineyard that was laid out around the hotel. The LOISIUM South Styria is only a few minutes away from the most renowned South Styrian winemakers, such as Tement, Polz, Sabathi and Gross, a host of popular taverns hidden away in romantic spots and the recently opened “Genussregal” epicurean centre at the Vinofaktur. Just as close are the popular, cross-border cycle paths along the river Mur and the picturesque long-distance hiking trails. The European Capital of Culture Maribor and the city of Graz with its vibrant cultural life and excellent shopping are also an easy 30-minute drive away. The LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort South Styria will also use its location to target guests from Slovenia and Northern Italy and the region around Zagreb to draw them to this exceptional wine and spa hotel. Golf enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the nearest golf course, in Murstätten, is only 20 minutes away by car and the Schloß Frauenthal golf course is only 40 minutes drive from the hotel. The proximity to the airport in Graz – 20 minutes by car – also offers international guests easy access from a large number of European destinations.
The Wine Hotel: 105 Designer Rooms, 2 Wine Restaurants, Wine Spa and Wine Vinotheque
As well as 85 premium rooms in the categories "classic" and "prestige" and 20 suites overlooking the vineyards, the hotel also boasts a 1,400 m2 designer spa area with wonderfully purist straight lines. High-quality wine, beauty and body treatments offered in cooperation with the spa partners AVEDA, VINOBLE and COMFORT ZONE are now available in 8 treatment rooms which include 2 double spa suites for couples. A Spa Living Room & Bar with an open fireplace and magnificent sun terrace invites guests to enjoy cool drinks and the ultimate in enjoyment with a view over the vineyards. The compact fitness zone, 2 saunas, 2 infrared cabins, 1 steam bath, outdoor pool with indoor access that is heated all year round and a relaxation area enables guests to either recharge their batteries or let themselves be pampered depending on their mood.
Executive Chef Dominik Stolzer is responsible for the kitchen while Michael Mauser takes care of the service and wine. Last year Dominik Stolzer cooked his way to 2 toques at the Restaurant La Pura and recently published the GourMed Cuisine cookery book.
One restaurant at the hotel is designed as a Styrian Weinkuchl with an extensive buffet and range of menus while the other offers fine dining a la carte. A wonderful restaurant terrace offers a magnificent view over the South Styrian hills. In addition, guests at the LOISIUM can also take advantage of the Wine Bar and the Wine Gallery as well as the Cigar Corner where they can enjoy a cigar in peace and quiet indoors.
Directly connected to the hotel is the LOISIUM Vinothek Steiermark, with a décor kept in shades of gold and a wine boutique offering wholesale prices, wine tasting and 2 wine-tasting rooms.
The LOISIUM Vinothek Styra is a regional wine boutique offering the best pre-selected wines from throughout Styria that are presented with the advice of a sommelier and offered for sale at wholesale rates. In future, there will also be a highly varied programme of wine tastings and wine seminars. This LOISIUM Vinothek Styrai, with a wine tasting bar and special tasting rooms, is intended to serve as a platform for local wine expertise and offer vinophile individualists a perfect spot in which to taste and enjoy wine. The vineyards and the surrounding scenery will also be integrated into the wine experience through a specially created show vineyard with a typical South Styrian klapotetz (a mechanical device similar to a windmill that is used as a scarecrow in former time to scare away birds from the grapes) donated by the major of Ehrenhausen and an old wine press.
Just upstairs from the LOISIUM Vinothek Styra, on the first floor of the vinotheque building, is the 400m² conference and seminar centre with a panoramic view of the vineyards. There are 3 seminar rooms for up to 150 people, as well as 2 Board Rooms and 2 Wine Tasting Rooms for up to 10 and 14 people.
Aveda, Vinoble and Comfort Zone as Exclusive Partners in the Spa Area
As at the LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort in Langenlois, AVEDA has been won as a high-quality spa partner. AVEDA facial and body spa treatments are based on elements of traditional ayurvedic healing. The combination of pure, fragrant plant and flower essences from all over the world and centuries-old relaxation rituals guarantees complete relaxation and rejuvenation.
A range of special wine-based LOISIUM signature treatments was developed in cooperation with VINOBLE, a strong regional partner for high-quality wine treatments from South Styria, while Comfort Zone, another LOISIUM South Styria spa partner, offers spa guests a premium Italian beauty brand.
Like its sister hotel in Langenlois, the LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort South Styria is a member of Design HotelsTM (
Unique Art Factor at the 2nd LOISIUM Hotel
As was the case at the LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort in Langenlois, both Austrian and international artists contributed to the design of the hotel in South Styria, bestowing a special cultural value on both the hotel and the wine boutique.
On the lower level of the hotel, the French artist Laurent Ajina from Paris created a remarkable wall installation for the entrance to the spa; his new interpretation of the wine theme is framed by special lighting, transforming the room into an item of contemporary art.
The internationally renowned Austrian artist Erich Steininger personally selected and arranged items from his well-known sculpture collection for the rooms and public areas of the hotel. Each room features a specially selected original.
The well-known LOISIUM symbols on the golden wall in the entrance area to the LOISIUM-Vinothek in South Styria tell a very special story about winemaking in this wine area. The Swiss artist Hugo Schär, who developed the archaic hieroglyphics engraved in the entrance to the LOISIUM Wine World in Langenlois, created a very special artistic and vinophile mural for this entrance to the LOISIUM Vinothek in South Styra. The LOISIUM hieroglyphs depict a year in the life of a vintner and the grape, the harvest and the wine making.
Artistic Creations in the Kitchen
As well as works of art on the walls and in the rooms, guests can also look forward to a harmonious culinary programme thanks to Dominik Stolzer, the executive chef at the LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort South Styria.
After completing his training at the Steirerhof in Styria in 2003, Dominik Stolzer perfected his culinary art as chef de cuisine and gourmet chef at various hotels in Austria and Germany. Appointed executive chef at the health resort Gars in Lower Austria in 2009, he delighted guests there with his regional dishes enhanced by international influences. From now on, the Styrian-born gourmet chef will head the kitchen team at the new LOISIUM South Styria and meet the challenge of blending Styrian regional dishes with contemporary cuisine. His special focus "green cuisine" will stand for interesting aspects of a pleasurable, healthy lifestyle.
New Landmark for Styria
“The LOISIUM Group not only wants to use this resort to create a new landmark for Styria and its wines, but also to position South Styria as a destination for high-quality wine tourism. The year-round hotel should bring a host of positive effects and generate new added value for the entire region,“ said Mr. Kraus-Winkler. In particular, the newly opened resort is another important employer in the region. “I am especially pleased that as soon as we opened we were able to put together a highly professional team all of whom come from the region and who will create a very individual hotel and wine experience for our guests,” said the internationally experienced Hotel Manager Birgit Wolfsberger.
Create Landscape Design
A large force of gardeners laid out the hotel grounds according to plans drawn up by KOALA: A fountain near the tall birch tree to the left of the hotel entrance, a kitchen herb garden, lavender roofs that are ideal for the warm climate in southern Styria over the restaurant and the spa, as well as the 3,014 square metre show vineyard that was also planned by KOALA, and the 26.968 square metre vineyard recently laid out by Erzherzog Johann Winery, embed the LOISIUM South Styria in a wonderful, green natural landscape. The vineyard grows Morillon and Sauvigon Blanc grapes in equal proportions. In addition, the show vineyard also cultivates Gelber Traminer, Roter Traminer and Blauer Wildbacher.
Our Partners: The Regional Winemakers, Producers and Artists
Cooperation agreements have been concluded with numerous winemakers from the region, and with the Vinofaktur and Genussregal – an epicurean centre with a museum dedicated to regional products such as Zotter chocolate, Fandler vinegar, Vulcano ham – as well as with other regional cultural partners. The aim here is to present the region’s culinary and artistic wealth to LOSIUM guests in a single location and offer new insights into the region.
The LOSIUM Neighbour Programme
The LOISIUM Neighbour Programme shows that there is absolutely no contradiction between design and regionalism. It integrates exclusive partners from the region with a view to enabling guests to gain a deeper understanding of the region. In addition, these partners offer LOISUM guests who visit them small luxury gifts and discounts.
Contact:
Elisabeth Wimmer
press & communication
E-mail:
cell: +43 664 514 62 00
pictures: