EWALD AND ANDREAS TSCHEPPE
“Tscheppe”, a name that should be familiar to fans of Austrian wines, not least when it comes to natural viticulture. The region in which the brothers Ewald and Andreas cultivate their own vineyards is without doubt one of the most beautiful in the country. Situated not far from the border with Slovenia, the picturesque hilly landscape of southern Styria, lined with vineyards, invites you to linger and enjoy. What is also remarkable about the region is the high density of renowned winegrowers who ‘think’ wine a little differently and have done pioneering work in the field of natural wine, which in turn has contributed greatly to raising the international profile of Austrian wine. We would like to introduce you to two representatives from this circle.
The Werlitschhof has been run by Brigitte and Ewald Tscheppe with great passion and respect for nature for a good two decades now. At least as well-known as the winery itself are the wines of the ‘Ex Vero’ series, which have a distinctive and independent flavour profile that leaves no wine drinker indifferent and has now gathered a large following. Speaking of profile. If you don’t like acidity and tannin in your wine, you should steer clear of this address. However, those who like deep, complex and storable white wines will most likely not be disappointed! The Ex Vero wines are vinified in three stages, in the cuvées I, II and III, with I coming from the lower, more heavy soil part of the vineyard and III from the uppermost, stoniest part. The most important grape variety here is Sauvignon Blanc with a variable proportion of Chardonnay. Welschriesling, which is quite popular in Styria, is also successfully cultivated and brings lightness and vigour to the wines. In the cellar the winery favours time, spontaneous fermentation and large casks. Filtration is almost always avoided. Thanks to slow vinification, the wines have solid stability over time and therefore do not require any technical aids during bottling. Give these wines plenty of time in the glass to relish the rich spectrum of aromas and flavours.
Ewald’s brother Andreas officially founded his own winery in 2006. He and his wife Elisabeth now cultivate around 5 hectares of vineyards organically and biodynamically. They always actively emphasise their role as winegrowers. They see themselves less as the main players in winemaking, but rather as companions, listeners, not intrusive or rigid, but sensitive and attentive. It often happens that a wine is bottled dry in one year and with residual sweetness in another because it did not want to ferment through to the end. We can only recommend that you do as the Tscheppes do. Be open-minded and take the differences between the vintages as they come. Whether bone dry or with a subtle residual sweetness, the wines always show great harmony and coherence, which is also reflected in their excellent drinkability. The labels on the bottles, which depict butterflies, dragonflies or beetles who live and contribute to the biodiversity in the vineyards, are just as beautiful as they are refreshingly different.
STYRIA BROTHERS BOXES
Discover the Styria Brothers boxes, featuring three exceptional selections from Werlitsch and Tscheppe. Available in our wineshop and online store. Limited stock.
Our tip: Use large glasses and don’t serve too cold!
