Karakterre Conversations with: Niklas Peltzer
Niklas Peltzer: A New Path For a Familiar Face
i’ve had a long-standing both a friendship and a working relationship with niklas. we met, naturally, over his work (100% dedication, really) for one of austria’s key biodynamic wineries, meinklang. (With vladimir kojic of gaggan anand restaurant we import their wines into bangkok and meinklang is an integral part of karakterre in both austria and ny.) throughout the years, the relationship grew and expanded into common interests of music, tea, travel, health and overall -how pretentious- “life sustainability”. I see Niklas’ recent move towards own projects (which include winemaking with andi ziniel in burgenland & advising on winemaking pathways) as a new stage of a friend’s life- one of a lovely potential. I thought i ask niklas a few of our questions. Maybe his words plant some seeds out there somewhere.
Hey, hey, niklas! Thanks for taking part in this, not beating around the bush, What are you most proud of?
Obviously, my daughter - that seriously changed my life perspective. But also, to make a decision in my life to have a family.
How do you cultivate your community?
Good question, as I am not from the place I live in (niklas is german, living in austria), it sometimes seems challenging to create a community. building those true relationships and reach hands to each other and then pass it on to the next generation is for me the only way to change and build a strong community. And also educate yourself!
peltzer (right) tasting with didier pariente of nomadic distribution (los angeles) and frederik kordt larssen of simply grapes (copenhagen) photo: philandAI
What do you do about the fact that a hyped but otherwise perfectly fine winemaker from a hyped but otherwise perfectly fie region sells his wine for 25 euros and then that same bottle goes for 20 times the amount online and/or on the grey market?
Not much I can do about it, neither do I come across these things in my professional wine career. I always vouched for wines which are accessible and open the door to a different more honest way of making them. I don`t like the exclusive, elitist part of the natural wine scene.
One place you could eat at right now, anywhere in the world? And what are you currently drinking?
Easy, I just came back from Thailand. Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh in Bangkok blew my mind and everyone knows Vladimir (Kojic) and Milan (Rukavina) are killing the wine program there, in a place that is very hard to source wine at. It`s easy to do that in Vienna or Paris where you have access to everything.
How do you keep healthy with all that food and wine?
My lifestyle changed a lot. I saw the dead end of the consuming, drinking, little sleep, travelling nonstop - on myself but also on others. I was always not a big drinker anyways. Nowadays I enjoy wine more for the tasting part. We barely finish more than a bottle per week at home. I think the scene of natural wines is sometimes very loud and, in a way, vulgar. That is not healthy. I am happy this is slowly changing. I build a lot of positive habits, such as my morning routine with meditation, breathwork, a small workout and a bit of peace of mind before I open the laptop. Also, I switched to a Light phone, a game changer for me. But the two things which are not negotiable are clean food (and I don´t mean fancy cheese and sourdough bread) and sleep. I could go on forever as I love this topic, but I leave it at this.
peltzer at karakterre austria in 2023 captured by me on an old digital film Olympus camera (thanks photo team PhilandAI!)
Where would we be without social media? Are you worried about AI (artificial intelligence)?
I think we would be more at peace and with less mental issues out there. But we would be also with less connection. I think we can only evaluate this in decades from now. On the other side, I feel like it is the end of it soon, it had its glory. Let’s be realastic, most of the apps are dead or dying. I think humans sooner or later would be through all of these distractions and would then finally start to really go on inwards. AI I don´t really have an opinion as I know nothing about it really.
What do you not have in life yet?
The silence I am seeking for.
What’s your Sunday routine?
Very connected to what I said before - additionally infrared sauna on that day and no Instagram or phone at all. There’s only time with my wife and daughter and nature. Luckily there is less wine fairs and travels these days for me. I used to hate Sundays because life is slow on Sundays, at least in Europe. Now I love the slowness of it.
Your next big things is…
Following my real path.
thanks, niklas!
marko