Christian Tschida’s journey into winemaking began long before he ever bottled wines under his own label. For years, he experimented with various techniques, methods, and vessels—well before the ‘natural wine movement’ gained traction in Austria. Coming from a long lineage of winemakers in the village of Illmitz, on the eastern shores of Lake Neusiedl, Christian continues his family’s tradition while pushing the boundaries of conventional winemaking.

In addition to his family’s vineyards, he has invested in both new and old parcels in the village of Purbach, located on the opposite side of the lake in the Leithaberg mountain range. Altogether, he cultivates around 14 hectares, working with a diverse array of indigenous grape varieties, as well as personal favorites like old-vine Cabernet Franc and Syrah, grown on pure limestone.

Christian’s meticulous approach is evident both in the vineyard and in the cellar. He considers his vineyards to be his most valuable investment. Every year, he and his father spread compost and straw from the nearby lake to protect the soil from heat and maintain moisture balance. In the cellar, Christian uses only a vertical press—the only technical tool in his process—which mimics the gentle pressure of a handshake, extracting only the purest and brightest juice. His wines are aged in large barrels ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 liters, which he believes provide the perfect balance of freshness and maturation.

Beyond winemaking, Christian’s creativity and passion for experimentation extend to his artistic label designs, drawing from his background in graphic design. Alongside his renowned Himmel auf Erden collection, he has released limited-edition art labels such as Abra Ka Dabra, Birdscape, and Brutal!—a special collaboration with the team behind Bar Brutal in Barcelona.