Most consumers don’t realise just how much goes into the wines they enjoy today. Across most famous varieties, modern winemaking too often relies on additives and technical interventions to shape aroma, flavour, texture, balance, and stability, yet this world behind the label is rarely discussed.
Yeast selection allows winemakers to bring out the desired varietal expression, for example strains that emphasise tropical and citrus notes in Sauvignon Blanc, or those that support a rich - Burgundian‑style profile in Chardonnay. Sugar may be added to balance high acidity or raise potential alcohol, acids adjusted to brighten or soften the palate, fining agents clarify and soften, tannins strengthen structure and even gum arabic, used to enhance texture and richness in the mouth. Oak alternatives (staves, chips, inserts) to mimic barrel influence without long maturation.
These interventions require only a few hours of work per batch. Yet such wines often receive high scores from critics, many of whom rarely question how the flavours in the bottle were created.
By contrast, achieving naturally expressive grapes demands season-long, daily labour in the vineyard. Hans is a rare exception, meticulous and tireless, tending the vines with care at every stage: pruning to just two short canes, shoot thinning, leaf plucking, green harvesting, soil cultivation, and hand-picking only the ripest, most luscious bunches. Every grape is nurtured for exceptional concentration and aromatic intensity. Our old vines further lower yields, producing fruit of extraordinary depth and complexity.
In the cellar, patience and careful handling replace additives. The richness, depth, and vibrancy of Hans’ wines come entirely from the vineyard and time allowed for natural fermentations and long maturation. It is this obsessive attention to detail, from vine to bottle, that produces wines of extraordinary character, wines that truly express their origin and vintage.
Consumers may assume that this approach is normal, but in reality, it is rare, and it comes at a high cost. Hans’ wines are the result of relentless craftsmanship, a deep understanding of the vine, and an unwavering commitment to natural excellence. Each bottle stands as a testament to what is possible when nature is nurtured rather than overridden.