Austria

In Hollenburg, Kremstal, Christoph Hoch is rewriting the rules of winemaking. Starting in the family winery in 2009, he went biodynamic in 2013 and has been pushing boundaries ever since - sometimes cheekily, like spraying highly fermented vegetable juice on the vines as natural protection. “It’s the future!” he says.

The vineyards sit on a rare conglomerate subsoil - solidified river sediment packed with Alpine chalk and pebbles, held together by calcium carbonate. Think Champagne-level minerality and acidity, but Austrian. It’s no wonder Christoph’s sparklings can rival the French classics.

Blending is where Christoph shines. Every year he works with 40 batches across two cellars, different vineyards, harvest dates, vinification methods, and even vintages. No single plot or year can capture the full story of Hollenburg - so he blends, creating wines that are expressive, layered, and full of life.

Christoph Hoch’s wines are bold, mineral, and unpredictable - the kind of natural wines that challenge expectations and make you rethink what Austrian terroir can do.