Karakterre Conversations with: Christian Tschida
Christian Tschida: All of Us Drink the Same Kind of Tea - A Special “Never Give Up” Blend
The first thing I notice every time I step into Christian Tschida’s cellar is not wine—it’s his bicycle, a brand I’ve never seen before, a sort of spaceship-like mountain ride. (“I use it to cycle around the lake; we should go sometime.”)
The second thing is a collection of indie magazines. The most intriguiing one is a heavy metal lover’s take on natural wine. (“It’s a really cool concept.”). To me it’s equal parts intriguing and wtf.
What really draws my attention, though, is the hanging art: photos and paintings. No Picasso here, but there is a collection of beautiful works by his Austrian friends. The pieces are obviously very personal and each holds a story. Among them a black-and-white photo of Christian pointing his fingers in the manner of devil’s horns, and a painting of a beautifully puzzling imaginary world in cartoon fashion. (There’s also a good stereo system in the back.)
His artful wine labels have traveled the world over, telling a story of craftsmanship both inside and outside the bottle. “Monet is better than money,” he once joked. (Some even say the wines led them to a conversation with cosmos.)
Christian Tschida clearly is a joie de vivre kind of man. Art, however, has a greater role for him— a questioning one, like winemaking does.
Christian, let’s jump right in. What are you most proud of?
Proud is a complicated concept. In general, I’m very happy to live my life, even if sometimes it’s a bit complicated or disruptive to be Christian Tschida :)
How do you cultivate your community?
It is nice to cherish all the beautiful things in life, rather than only having a certain “highlight of the month.”
Well roasted coffee; perfectly fermented soy-sauce; a real C-print, and not just a boring phone photo, of a yacht in a manoeuvre; a few dirty, politically incorrect jokes of my colleagues in the vineyards; the smell of thyme in the garden; the positive energy in the vineyards etc.
I need a good dose of these to survive the day, get through the week and the year. This is especially true when it comes to the season in the vines and during harvest time. I’ve decided to have the extra portion of art and nice people around me. I really try not to cross paths with douchebags.
What’s your connection to art? The public can probably most obviously see it through your labels. Cultures collaborate more than ever. Where do you see the crossroads of previously strictly defined cultural aspects? How do you find your way within them?
That’s a naturally grown love connection, as I have never seen any borders in my mind.
I always try to perceive the person, the character, the vibe first - only later do I get attracted to their opus or the legacy they’re building.
Atmosphere at Christian’s party during Karakterre, May 2023
I feel a strong magnetism to artists in general. I’ve had very good talks with Mel Ramos (American figurative painter) and I’ve arm-wrestled Action Bronson (American rapper). The other week i spoke with a young Austrian artist, Manuel Mraz (brother of chef Lukas Mraz), working out ideas together with graphic artist Barbora Keherova. I also love the company (and work) of pencil artist Denise Schellmann.
When I look closer at their art, there’s so much inspiration in there for me. I come to understand that all of these people are on a similar journey, questioning (themselves) a lot. Sometimes we walk a little bit of that way together, ready to do extra miles to create the outstanding.
What really unites us is a certain kind of humbleness and kindness, as well as the all-or-nothing mentality in search for expression.
For example, I remember clearly one of these goosebump moments when the First Trombone player of the world-famous Wiener Symphoniker, Walter Voglmayr, rehearsed in our vineyards during a lunch break. We had tears in our eyes, listening to the soul-touching sound of the trombone. It was very emotional, with the view of the lake from the top of the hill.
Then there’s the art on our labels. Imagine a wine lover, maybe in Bangkok or Paris, opening one of my cases and enjoying a bottle of Himmel auf Erden with a nice artwork on the label. This gives me a lot of satisfaction.
In the end, all of us drink the same kind of tea; a special “Never Give Up” blend.
What type of art would you love to master yourself?
The art of sleep!
One place you could eat at right now, anywhere in the world? What are you currently drinking?
I would love to repeat my recent Los Angeles experience, eating at night+market and Dunsmoor. I recommend both.
What’s open in the fridge at the moment are Jerome Prevost’s La Closerie, Pheasant´s Tears Kisi, Frucade, Matassa of course, Blaufränkischs from Markus Altenburger and Hannes Schuster, Elias Muster’s Sauvignon, Herbert König’s Muskateller, Tokay Furmint from Moric, my Non-Tradition and Himmel auf Erden, as well as Chardonnay from Fabrice Dodane.
I like to drink these bottles next to each other.
(More of Christian’s eating out suggestions in this Pop Chop article.)
How do you keep healthy with all the food and wine?
For a long time, vineyard work was my workout. Then I met Marlon “Chito” Vera, who’s also a kind of an artist, a mixed martial artist. One of the best in the world, you should see him fighting! He inspired me.
Now I try to sleep more and better, eat less speck and sausages, as well as do exercise for my back and shoulders.
Your next big thing is…
Going to Barcelona together with my father, a big wish of his. The crazy twins, Max and Stefano of Bar Brutal, will be our tour guides. You can imagine it will not be your classic hop-on, hop-off tour…
Thanks for the chat, Christian!
Marko