2021 · Riesling Orange

HochKlaus is a small family estate in Cornedo, high above Bolzano in South Tyrol, operated by viticulturist and winemaker Klaus Schroffenegger. Founded on vineyards tended by his parents, the estate is farmed biodynamically, with sheep grazing between harvest and budbreak, homemade plant teas, vineyard greening, and fruit trees supporting biodiversity. Klaus works according to natural cycles and a low-intervention philosophy: wines ferment spontaneously, without additives, and are bottled unfiltered. The high-altitude vineyards, cultivated on pergola at 350–650 metres, produce distinctive wines including Weissburgunder and Riesling. The Weissburgunder comes from 55-year-old vines on a steep slope and is whole-cluster pressed, matured for 18 months on its full lees in tonneaux, and bottled without filtration. HochKlaus released its first vintage in 2021, seeking wines that express nature with genuineness, honesty, and vividity.