The origin of the Hoch family can be traced back to the year 1640: the wine labels depict the original coat of arms. The Hoch family has resided in Hollenburg on the Danube River ever since. The river and the surrounding nature have always been crucial factors for the family: as regulators of ship navigation in former times and obviously as winegrowers nowadays. Christoph Hoch (he took responsibility for the winery in 2013) can build upon the winemaking tradition in his family and training at renown wineries in Austria and Italy. He focuses completely on expressing the character of the unique rock formation “Hollenburger Konglomerat” and the special micro climate of his homeland in his wines. Christoph’s great knowledge of the terroir and his profound beliefs in natural harmony have lead to his decision to work according to biodynamic (Demeter) guidelines. He relies on cover crops, herbs, animals and preparations in order to preserve what is most important: living soils – and vines! At harvest, the grapes are picked by hand, fermented spontaneously and the wines are mostly aged in used wooden barrels. Christoph believes in blending various vintages as the interplay between reductive and oxidative elements lend his wines high stability and a long shelf life. Besides classical Austrian varieties such as Grüner Veltliner, Riesling or Zweigelt (Christoph loves really cool reds!), Hoch also focuses on sparkling wines made using the methode ancestrale. Fizzy characters such as Kalkspitz, Kalkreich and Rosé Rurale have gained a worldwide reputation in the last couple of years. Rightly so!