Chef
Christian Prohaska
- Discipline
- Chef
i. Biography
Architect and co-owner of Podere Riparbella, Christian Prohaska helped turn an abandoned property in Maremma into a working place with a sense of purpose and welcome. In 1993, he and Veronica Malzacher moved there, bought it, renovated the buildings, and planted new vineyards, setting in motion a transformation that joined agricultural work, hospitality, and a long-held idea of making something enduring from the land. He has said, "It had been our long-time dream to produce quality wines and olive oil in a place where we could also welcome guests."
The Path
Today, Christian Prohaska is co-owner of Podere Riparbella. His path to that role has been marked by the patient work of building, restoring, and shaping a place so that it could function not only as a property, but as a lived-in project with vines, olive groves, and guests at its center. What began as an abandoned estate in Maremma became, through years of attention, a place where architecture and agriculture meet in practical harmony.
The Work Today
Today he serves as architect and co-owner at Podere Riparbella in Massa Marittima, Tuscany. That dual role suggests the breadth of his involvement: he is as engaged with the physical structure of the estate as he is with its life as a wine and olive oil producer. The renovation of the buildings, the rejuvenation of the olive groves, and the planting of new vineyards all reflect a steady, hands-on approach to remaking the property without losing sight of its character. At Podere Riparbella, the work is not merely about restoration; it is about giving the place a renewed rhythm and a future rooted in the same land that first drew him there.
Career - co-owner — Podere Riparbella, Massa Marittima, Toscana, Italy
Signature
Christian's signature dishes include Rotulaia Toscana Classico IGT and Sciamagna Toscana IGT. These names sit at the center of his work as expressions of the estate’s identity, each one carrying the weight of the place and the care behind it.
In Their Words “It had been our long-time dream to produce quality wines and olive oil in a place where we could also welcome guests.” “We renovated the buildings, rejuvenated the olive groves, and planted new vineyards.”
FAQ How did Christian Prohaska get started? In 1993, he and Veronica Malzacher moved to Maremma, bought the property, and began the renovation and replanting work.
