Christian Tschida
BURGENLAND
Burgenland, at the eastern tip of the country, is Austria's most famous wine region and, in particular, the wine-growing area of Neusiedlersee – named after the bordering Lake Neusiedl – is known especially for its sweet white and red wines, produced by the best Austrian winemakers. At the heart of this region, Christian Tschida stands out for his highly personal dry natural wines which make him a true icon of the Austrian viticulture revival.
In 2003, Christian Tschida took over the family estate located in Illmitz, on the eastern shore of Lake Neusiedl, marked both by the warmth of the continental climate and the humid freshness brought by the lake. From the outset, on a vineyard which today spans 14 hectaures, his work has consisted in creating the optimal conditions for vineyard health (biodynamic practices), without chemicals, encouraging deep root systems that can extract the minerality from the soil and naturally reduce yields. From some of the region's classic grape varieties, such as Grüner Veltliner, Scheurebe or Zweigelt, but also other grape varieties such as Pinot Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir, he produces cuvées that are characterised by their finesse (very gentle pressing), balance (control of the alcohol strength) and energy (juice concentration) and are matured in large barrels from the highly renowned cooper Stockinger.
