Weingut Gästehaus Otmar Birnstingl

Evenings on the terrace with the house wines were a lovely way to wind down after a day out. We felt at home at Gästehaus Birnstingl straight away. Set among the vineyards, it has a unique location and beautiful views across Styria's "Tuscany." The host family made us feel very welcome, and our room was clean and spacious. Breakfast was excellent. We'll definitely be back.

The area was wonderful, and the accommodation was nice and clean, but our stay with the Birnstingl family in May left us with a bad impression. Right after we arrived, the hostess told us to be as quiet as possible so we wouldn't disturb the other guests. We're 80 and 75, and don't look like people who'd make a lot of noise. We also had an unpleasant experience with the taxi provided free by the tourist office. It was unkempt inside, with damage covered by tape, and the driver demanded 20 euros for the ride. When we told our host what had happened, he got annoyed and said he'd pay us back the 20 euros, but never did. That was enough for us to decide we wouldn't stay there again.

The owner makes a really high-quality breakfast every day, with local specialties, and the wine is well worth trying. The hosts were friendly and helpful. It's a prime spot with stunning views and the kind of quiet that makes it easy to relax.

We visited their self-service shop. The prices were very reasonable, but we were asked to quiet down or leave. We were a large group and, as often happens with a group that size, we got a bit loud. In my opinion, if you sell wine to drink there, you have to expect it can get a little noisy.