Christian Tschida Himmel auf Erden White 2020

Himmel auf Erden translates to "Heaven on Earth" and is Christian Tschida's entry-level white blend from his estate in Illmitz, on the eastern shores of Lake Neusiedl in Burgenland, Austria. It is made from Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Scheurebe sourced from old vines planted in sandy gravel, schist, and limestone soils. Vines are farmed organically with biodynamic practices and have been in the Tschida family for four generations since the 19th century.

Grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and foot-crushed. The juice ferments with indigenous yeast in large old neutral barrels with no racking, then ages for one year in 500 to 1500-liter barrels. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered with zero sulfur added, a practice Tschida has maintained across his entire range since the 2015 vintage.

The result is an aromatic, textured white with stone fruit character and a stony mineral finish. Scheurebe contributes pronounced floral and grapefruit notes, while Weissburgunder adds body and weight. The combination of sandy soils, lake-moderated temperatures, and extended barrel rest gives the wine freshness alongside genuine depth.

Serve slightly cool at around 55F. The wine opens up nicely with 15 to 20 minutes in the glass.