Princely Tasting in Liechtenstein

Until recently, the wines of the Princely Cellars were considered unremarkable. This has changed since Stefan Tscheppe assumed management of the vineyards in Vaduz and Austria’s Weinviertel. Finews.com visited the ambitious winemaker and also discovered which wines are the favorites of Prince Hans Adam II.

In terms of picturesque scenery, the Princely Wine Cellars of the Prince of Liechtenstein in Vaduz ranks among the most beautiful vineyards. Its centerpiece is the main building, which serves both production and representation purposes. It houses a small but remarkably well-stocked wine shop and, as the focal point of our visit, an inviting tasting room.

Standing before the grand wooden portal of the cellar, one's gaze travels over the «Herawingert» vineyard up to the Torkel restaurant, which also belongs to the cellar and boasts one of the most acclaimed kitchens in the area with one Michelin star and 16 Gault-Millau points. Higher still, Vaduz Castle majestically crowns the impressive mountain backdrop.

Remarkable Transformation

However, we did not come to admire the postcard-perfect scenery but to assess the current state of the Princely Wine Cellars. For a long time, its wines were considered rather bland and unremarkable. This is no longer the case: Numerous high-end restaurants have begun to appreciate the wines of the Prince of Liechtenstein, with some achieving top ratings in competitions.

What brought about this transformation? Stefan Tscheppe, an Austrian-born wine-maker, has been managing the winery for almost six years, alongside Princess Marie, who assumed family responsibility for the vineyards in 2013. To prepare for this role, she trained as a sommelier.

A Walk Through the Vineyard

Stefan Tscheppe hails from a renowned winery in southern Styria. Besides extensive experience and training in wine production, he holds business administration degrees from the Vienna University of Economics and Business, and the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Davis.

Tscheppe and Princess Marie have rejuvenated the range and crafted numerous new wines.

View from «Herawingert» to Vaduz Castle. (Image: Courtesy)

From the moment Stefan Tscheppe greets us, it is clear that he is a man of action, determined to elevate the Princely Cellar. The tall, affable, and informative vineyard manager leads us a few hundred steps into the vineyard at a brisk pace.

High Standards

With only 4 hectares planted with Pinot Noir, the production capacity of «Herawingert» falls far short of demand. «In terms of climate and soil, Liechtenstein is practically identical to the Bündner Herrschaft,» Tscheppe explains. His ambition is to produce a top-tier Pinot Noir that can compete with the best from Bündner Herrschaft – an increasingly popular, high-end priced category of Swiss wines.

Tscheppe shows us the latest innovation: some vine rows are experimentally equipped with extendable nets to protect the harvest from hail if necessary. «In 2021 and 2023, we lost a large part of the harvest to storms. Given the already small quantity, this was devastating.»

Production and Representation: Princely Wine Cellar in Vaduz. (Image: Courtesy)

Accompanied by Stefan Tscheppe, we enter the tasting room, where the winemaker introduces us to some newer compositions and reveals, in passing, which wine from his own production is among Prince Hans Adam II’s favorites.