Stephanie Tscheppe: I am still feeling this inner fire to move things and create change.

sometime post-covid, as we were getting karakterre back up on its feet following a forced hiatus, i came up with an idea to cross blend karakterre with arts and fashion and music. why would we be only about pouring wine and growers standing behind tables talking oranges? no reason. in my mind, the essence of wine parallels that of all other crafts: meticulously manufactured, in limited quantities and driven by sustainability.

initially we did not progress beyond a small Karakterre clothing line (see Merchandise). those great visuals by Michael Vadino needed a physical platform, after all. i’ve fermented ideas ever since and only now, in 2024, will some of them see the light of day.

little did i know back then that stefanie tscheppe had already beaten me to it. of course, she would. for those living under a rock, stephanie is half of gut oggau winery based in burgenland, austria. she is the mind behind most of the estate’s creativity (as she was of the still very vivid “stammtisch” luncheon side event we did at the winery during karakterre 9 in may of 2022. truly memorable.). and, when talking creativity, gut oggau is pme of those that are in a league of their own. if there were a contest for the wine world’s most recognisable visual, these guys would be top contender.

i admire how stephanie extended that creativity from the winery itself into a world of everyday fashion through her from my heart project. by collaborating with craft designers from austria and beyond, she translated their wine ideas/values onto bags, shirts, jackets and beanies. she did it in a unique, stylish manner, infusing products with her own ideas and energy.

this unveild a side of stephanie that we did not know. a paralell world to gut oggau, coming to life (or are the two worlds one world, really?).

as this short interview will show, we should think again when we say “oh, gut oggau, i know those wines.” it turns out there’s much more behind the label then we are quick to judge. are we truly aware of what’s out there? this interview intentionally doesn’t reference gut oggau directly - but it’s clear that the inspiration for the estate’s wines and the from my heart project are one (two!) and the same.

Stephanie wearing a piece from her From My Heart collection in collaboration with P.Le Moult. photo: from my heart ig

Hey, hey, Stephanie. Thank you for your time. Let’s get onto it! What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my three wonderful kids.

And also I am proud of defining our personal success within our family in a broader context.

Success for me is not only an economic one. it is also a social one, it is not only about business, but also about harmony in the family, great marriage , raising the kids well to prepare them for what there is to come, to raise them as good human beings.

How do you cultivate your community?

I am very bad in networking, which is of course hugely important nowadays.

I rather go into deep on rare occasions, even though sometimes I don’t regularly connect with my friends.

But they know they can rely on me picking up the phone in the middle of the night to give them a hand and support if needed, no matter how often we are in contact on a regular basis.

Cultivating for me means to dig deep, not necessarily to connect on a superficial base. Both is fun but it needs a balance.

Cultures collaborate more than ever. Music x Wine. Sports x Fashion. Food x Theatre. Where do you see the crossroads of previously strictly defined cultural aspects? How do you find your way within them?

I never was a big fan of putting things into boxes.

I know it is easier sometimes to navigate within strict boundaries, but life is too beautiful, too divers to restrict it in that sense. What and who I am as a person is a question we should ask ourselves and not what I do for a living.

So I am super excited to do cross collaborations between creative likeminded persons of any sort.

We humans are uniquely creative creatures, our purpose is to connect with the higher beings, with creativity, it would be a shame not to dare to break free from conventions once in a while.

Stephanie, together with her partner Eduard Tscheppe, hosting a group of professionals in their Gut Oggau vineyard during Karakterre 9 (May 2022) photo: philandai

One place you could eat at right now, anywhere in the world?

There are too many places to mention.

We have so many friends around the world doing an amazing job in their restaurants.

It is like asking me which is my favorite child.

I love them all the same.

How do you keep healthy?

It took a long time for me to find a proper rhythm. Finally in my 40ties I found a way:)

Now I need my morning routine to start the day, based on meditation, exercise and a me time before everyone else is waking up.

Also I care a lot about what I eat and drink and where it comes from.

All our health is based on a vital digestion system, that needs to be spoiled and nourished with healthy food from healthy farmland.

You yourself have ventured into fashion, and your fashion is clearly a statement. What is your message and how do you make a difference in the cacophony of other messages out there?

Thank you, I take this as a compliment.

Indeed From my Heart, my platform, is a clear statement.

And it is an encouragement to rethink and question.

This is my contribution to a community of likeminded people from different angles, designers, artists, creative people.

Bringing them together, telling their stories, giving them a stage, sharing their pieces and being sometimes part of it.

I know there is lots of noise and cacophony out there, but I have never given any major attention to that, I rather listen to my inner voice.

Also it is important to question what you are told, for me it is all about honesty and transparency, values which are clearly lacking in our time.

It is so important to be align with what you feel, what you think and what you do, being true to oneself.

Where would we be without social media? Are you worried about AI (artificial intelligence)?

Without social media we would probably not have this exchange right now.

There is always positive and negative sides, but in general I am convinced, that Social Media has brought us closer together on a different level.

Whatever we make out of this, is an individual decision and brings along consequences.

All those technical innovations we are already using and will use in the future can be used as positive tools, in case they are used wisely.

I am looking forward to whatever there is to come in a positive way, still believing there is enough sensitive people out there to make this world a better place.

And it is on us to raise our kids in that sense and be a good role model for everyone.

stephanie in front of her shop at gut oggau. photo: from my heart ig

What do you not have in life yet?

For me having a life is already everything, so I do not feel I am missing out on anything.

I am very grateful for everything there is and everything there still is to come.

Your next big things is…

What is the next big thing? I don’t like that therm, it gives so many people so much pressure. Everything we do on a daily basis here at Gut Oggau and with From my Heart, are next big things, even though they might be small steps for some, but those small steps added up can make a huge difference.

I am still feeling this inner fire to move things and create change.

Going out there to work on the soil and on the plants, to encourage people to see things in a different light, to make them realize how everything is connected, all of this adds up to a great thing in the end.

this is all very cool, stephanie. thank you for the words!

marko