Andreas Tscheppe Wines

Andreas Tscheppe makes wine with his wife Elisabeth in Glanz, on the Langeggerberg in South Styria, Austria, right by the Slovenian border. He grew up in a winemaking family: his father was a pioneer of Styria's steep slopes, and his brother Ewald makes the Werlitsch wines nearby.

Andreas has made his own wines since 2006, from around five hectares, four of them on steep terraces. He is part of Schmecke das Leben, a small group of South Styrian growers that also includes Werlitsch and Sepp Muster.

His wines are named after the insects and animals that live in his vineyards, and are some of the most sought-after natural wines in Austria. Low yields and small volumes mean they sell out very fast.

Grüne Libelle (green dragonfly) and Blaue Libelle (blue dragonfly) are both Sauvignon Blanc, and Salamander is his Chardonnay. Segelfalter is Gelber Muskateller, and Schwalbenschwanz (swallowtail) is Goldmuskateller with around three weeks on the skins.

Hirschkäfer (stag beetle) is his most unusual wine: Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay on the skins, in a barrel that is buried in the ground over the winter. Some vintages also bring "Plus" versions of his wines with a little residual sugar.

In 2016, frost and hail meant he could only make one wine, Schwalbenschwanz. Check the list below for what we have right now.

The vineyards are terraced and steep. On the Krepskogel the vines grow at around 500 metres on opok, the local mix of marl and sandstone, here rich in mica, while the south-facing Czamillonberg terraces are on chalky marl. Andreas also brought the rare Goldmuskateller back to Styria from South Tyrol.

He farms holistically, and everything is done by hand. The grapes are destemmed, crushed and gently pressed, and the juice goes into used wooden barrels to ferment with its own yeasts.

The wines then rest without racking for 18 to 24 months before bottling, with minimal or no added sulphur. The result is concentrated, layered white wine with a lot of tension.

Where is Andreas Tscheppe based?

In Glanz, Leutschach an der Weinstrasse, South Styria, Austria, close to the Slovenian border.

Is Andreas Tscheppe related to Werlitsch?

Yes. His brother Ewald Tscheppe makes the Werlitsch wines nearby.

Why are Tscheppe wines named after insects?

Each wine is named after an insect or animal that lives in his vineyards, such as dragonflies, butterflies, salamanders and stag beetles.

What is Hirschkäfer?

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay fermented on the skins in a barrel that is buried in the ground over the winter.

What is Schmecke das Leben?

A small group of South Styrian natural winemakers, including Andreas Tscheppe, Werlitsch and Sepp Muster.

Does Andreas Tscheppe add sulphur?

Minimal or none. Sulphur is used only in very small amounts, if at all.