himmel.
rosé.
revolution.
Christian Tschida cultivates 10 hectares of old vines in Austria's easternmost wine region, where the Pannonian plain meets Lake Neusiedl. Fourth-generation winemaker, certified organic and biodynamic, zero sulfur since 2013. Creator of the "pink maceration" method, the "handshake press," and wines with names like "Himmel auf Erden" (Heaven on Earth) and "Engel auf Erden" (Angel on Earth). A perfectionist in a leather jacket, an art lover, a transformer—not a maker.
"I am a transformer, not a maker"
Christian took over his family's 10-hectare estate at age 27 with a clear vision: to create emotional wines with character that touch the heart—both inside and out. His philosophy is radical laissez-faire: "If you have confidence in your product, you can be extreme and uncompromising. I have to be able to primarily assume that something good and positive will emerge when I let go of the reins."
"I want to make wine that says 'Please drink me, I love you, hug me'."
— On his approach to winemaking
Christian is known as one of the most fastidious growers in natural wine—obsessed with every detail. He uses the same vintage crew for ages, allowing no interns. "It's the everything-or-nothing moment in the grower's year, so I take harvest extremely seriously. You see, a lot of the guys that would like to work with me are friends, and maybe they wouldn't be anymore after this," he admits, referring to his impatience.
"His daily endeavor to feel and understand the need of the vines sometimes leads him to think that he might have been a beetle living in a forest in his previous life." This romantic relationship between vineyard, nature, and human defines his approach—working with the energy of the vineyard rather than imposing his will.
Pink maceration & the power of a handshake
Christian's cellar practice is defined by gentleness and invention. He developed "pink maceration"—a gentle extraction method using just the weight of the grapes themselves—to achieve maximum fruitiness while keeping tannins tame. His pressing philosophy is equally delicate: using a Bucher-Vaslin basket press ("the Rolls Royce of presses") and a tailor-made pneumatic press from Germany that exert only the "power of a handshake."
- Pink Maceration Gentle extraction method invented by Christian
- Foot Crushing All grapes crushed by foot in open-top vats
- Handshake Pressing Ultra-gentle pressing, minimal juice yield
- Stockinger Barrels Aging in large neutral Austrian oak (500-1500L)
- No Racking Wines rest undisturbed—every pump-over removes energy
"It's important not to be afraid to go the extra mile... My wine tastes the way it does because I care about every detail."
— Walking through the Edelgraben vineyard
Edelgraben, Eisner & the double stock
Christian farms in the Leithaberg region on the western shore of Lake Neusiedl and in the Neusiedlersee area. Soils are sandy gravel, schist, and limestone. Some vineyards use "Doppelstock"—a traditional double planting system that pushes roots to compete and seek deeper for nutrition, resulting in smaller berries with concentrated aroma and balanced acidity.
At Edelgraben, Christian invented a special planting configuration with alternating row distances to create more shade for the grapes. "I don't want my wine to taste like alcohol, and the sun is becoming more and more of a problem." This obsession with canopy management and microclimate reflects his meticulous nature.
More than 60-year-old vines planted in the traditional Doppelstock system—two vines right next to each other, competing for nutrients deeper than usual. "It gives the wine extra cojones," Christian grins. These old vines provide the sap for his Himmel auf Erden red and special cuvées like Engel auf Erden.
Sandy gravel, schist, and limestone soils. The Pannonian climate brings hot days and cool nights, but Christian battles against rising alcohol levels through innovative vineyard management. His focus on mycorrhiza—the essential roots-fungi communication system—creates healthy soil that shows directly in the wine.
Heaven, Angels & Birds
Christian's wines have poetic names and artistic labels (featuring works by Erró, Mel Ramos, and local artists). They range from the ethereal "Himmel auf Erden" rosé to the powerful "Felsen" Syrah and the experimental "Birdscape" field blends. All are spontaneously fermented, foot-crushed, and bottled without fining, filtering, or sulfur.
"A wine between rosé and red... The idea of bright, vibrant lightness of a rosé with the body and power of an 'adolescent' red."
— On the Birdscape philosophy