Christoph Hoch

  • Kremstal, Austria
Christoph Hoch


Christoph Hoch is the twelth generation, since 1640, to make wine in his town of Hollenburg, on the south side of the Danube. Historically, vines were planted on this side of the Danube and the north side was for food crops. In 2013, Hoch split from his parents winery, starting with five hectares that would have been his inheritence eventually. Today Hoch has 12 hectares total, all in Hollenburg, and all farmed biodynamically and certified by Demeter. The subsoil is Hollenburger conglomerate, which was formed by the Traisental and Danube rivers crashing together and compacting the chalk with the river stones. The chalk is equally as active as the Côte des Blancs in Champagne, bringing minerals to the vines. This similarity in soil inspired Christoph to make sparkling wine, although, the source of chalk is completely different. In Hollenburg it's from the Alps and in Champagne it's maritime chalk, or what is called muschelkalk in German.


Christoph has mostly Grüner Veltliner planted, along with Riesling, Zweigelt, Weissburgunder, Blauer Portugesier, and Muskat Ottonel. Hoch's still wines are always a blend of three vintages and the pet-nats are two vintages. Generally, for the still wines, the most recent vintage is 30% of the blend, 50% is from two vintages ago, and 20% is three years old. This gives a completely different perspective on terroir. Naturally, wines from some areas are more structured or tannic and they benefit the blend by having time to mellow a bit. The youngest wine is normally the fruitiest and approachable. It's a completely unique way of highlighting the Hollenburger conglomerate soil over vintage. The Hoch wines are very original and are some of the best representations of the ‘new’ wines of Austria.

BOWLER E-Zine Issue 1 | Q4 2020: Austria - Two Newbies from Hoch
BOWLER E-Zine Issue 4 | January 2022: Compost Cookery with Foradori, Hoch, Bucklin, and Podere Giardino
Image Producer PRODUCT Description Country / Region

DB3412-NV
Biodynamic
Hoch, Christoph "Kalkspitz " Sparkling
NV
Grüner Veltliner
Christoph has very active, chalky soil much like what is found in the Côte des Blancs in Champagne. Upon learning this, he wanted to try...
Austria

DB3425-NV
Biodynamic
WE:91
Hoch, Christoph Rosé "Rurale" Sparkling
NV
Rosé Rurale is a unique blend of 70% Zweigelt pressed white, blended with 20% Sankt Laurent which is co-fermented on the skins with 10%... Austria

DB5411-NV
Biodynamic
WA:90 WS:92 WE:92
Hoch, Christoph Weiss_G (Hollenburger GV)
NV
Grüner Veltliner
From terraced vineyards around Hollenburg with Hollenburger Konglomerat and Loess situated between 250 – 300 meters altitude. 100%...
Austria

DB4557-NV
Biodynamic
WA:90 WS:92 WE:92
Hoch, Christoph Orange
NV
Grüner Veltliner
The orange has more skin contact and a deeper color than the Weiss G. The oldest wine is aged three years and spends a full year on the...
Austria

DB3416-20
Biodynamic
Hoch, Christoph Rosé
NV
Zweigelt
An ultra unique rose from Christoph Hoch - 100% Zweigelt,(base wine 2022 vintage with a blend of the three prvious vintages: 2019, 2020...
Austria

DB3424-NV
Biodynamic
WE:91
Hoch, Christoph Rot (Red)
NV
Like all of Hoch's still wines, the Rot (red) is a blend of three vintages, supporting Hoch's vision that the best expression of terroir... Austria
Bowler 2022 Trip to Austria: CHRISTOPH HOCH