Christian Tschida

Christian Tschida is one of the biggest rock stars in Vin Nature at the moment. Restaurant Noma in Copenhagen has been serving Tschida wines in its wine pairings for years almost continuously. Even now, with the enormous increase in high-end restaurants and the increasing supply of high-quality natural wines, Tschida remains number one. Because many natural wine lovers see Christian Tschida as a kind of demigod, his cult status is only growing. Even sommeliers in Austria have to make an effort for his wines.

The Tschida family has been making wine in Illmitz (Neusiedlersee) since the 19th century and Christian still farms some of these old family vineyards. Long before he made wine under his own name, he was experimenting with different planting methods, winemaking techniques and maturation methods, long before the natural wine movement emerged in Austria. When Christian took over the family estate in 2003, many former customers found his way of making wine ridiculous. Low in alcohol, thin and sour. As fate would have it, his wines were selected by a large local bank, who served them at their stylish business lunches. Only and only because they didn't want the executives to get drunk. Little did they know that they were dealing with a natural wine giant in the making. A dubious springboard for Christian, who now belongs to the canon of vin nature, not only in Austria, but all over the world.

Christian now has 14 hectares of grapes. Many typical Austrian varieties, but also Cabernet Franc and Syrah, are personal favorites. His vineyards have soils of mainly limestone, but also gneiss and slate. In the cellar, his vertical press is the only technical aid. The pressure he applies is negligible, the pressing is very soft. Christian focuses on obtaining the most delicate grape juice. He has become a master in processing the 'free run juice'. The first juice that is released when the grapes are collected in the barrel is generally soft, subtle and of high quality. This gives his wines a particularly elegant character, very pure, clean and light-footed. And not only the wines speak, the -self-designed- labels are also iconic. The titles are sometimes inimitable, of which 'Himmel Auf Erden' is the most striking. The introverted perfectionist Christian Tschida creates heaven on earth. Every bottle again.