Tscheppe — Gut Oggau

Eduard Tscheppe is the technical winemaker and co-founder of Gut Oggau, a pioneering biodynamic winery in Austria’s Burgenland region, near Lake Neusiedl. Together with his partner, Stephanie Tscheppe-Eselböck, Eduard revitalized a long-abandoned 17th-century estate in 2007, transforming it into one of the most respected natural wine producers in Europe.

Raised in a family of conventional winemakers in Styria, Eduard brought his technical expertise to Gut Oggau with a fresh, instinctive approach to viticulture and winemaking. The couple converted the entire estate to biodynamics from the outset, and today their 15 hectares of vineyards are certified by Demeter. Eduard’s philosophy centers around soil health, biodiversity, and minimal intervention both in the vineyard and the cellar.

In the vines, he uses natural composts, biodynamic preparations, and cover crops, occasionally working with horses to avoid compacting the soil. In the cellar, Eduard allows spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts and refrains from fining, filtering, or adding sulfur—producing wines that are expressive, alive, and true to their origin.

One of Gut Oggau’s most distinctive elements is its “family” of wines: each cuvée is personified as a fictional character, forming a multi-generational family tree. This playful yet meaningful storytelling reflects the personality of each vineyard site and vintage. The younger generation wines (like Atanasius or Theodora) are fresh and energetic, while the middle generation (like Timotheus or Josephine) are more structured, and the grandparents (like Mechtild or Bertholdi) are profound and age-worthy.

Eduard refers to his style as “instinct farming,” blending biodynamic principles with intuition and deep respect for nature. He is known for his quiet precision, emotional connection to the land, and belief that good wine is not just made—it is grown, nurtured, and allowed to express itself.

Under his guidance, Gut Oggau has become a touchstone of the natural wine movement: bold in vision, meticulous in craft, and beloved by wine lovers worldwide for its purity, energy, and character.