Nico Espenschied

The Climb

The progression in Nico Espenschied’s work reads as a deepening of method rather than a change in costume. As winemaker of Espenhof, he describes a practice that keeps moving closer to nature, closer to instinct, and closer to the conditions of the land and cellar. The position matters, but the stronger signal is the way Espenschied talks about it: as an ongoing adjustment toward wines that stay present, animated, and tied to their source.

Today

Espenschied says he runs two wineries under one roof: a line, and a pure natural-wine line without anything, as it used to be many thousands of years ago. The point is structural as much as stylistic. One cellar holds more than one approach, but the lines remain distinct, and that clarity is part of the craft. In Espenschied’s telling, the goal is not polish for its own sake; it is to keep the wine vital, with enough restraint in the cellar to leave room for character.

Signature

Nico's signature dishes include Uffhofen La Roche Riesling, Herz+Hand, »Herz+Hand« Manzoni Bianco unfiltered trocken, »Bauchgefühl« Manzoni Bianco trocken, and »Meisterwerk« Sauvignon Blanc. Taken together, these names sketch a range of expression that feels both grounded and personal. There is the precision of Uffhofen La Roche Riesling, the intimate immediacy of Herz+Hand, and the more reflective notes carried in »Bauchgefühl« Manzoni Bianco trocken. The unfiltered »Herz+Hand« Manzoni Bianco unfiltered trocken underscores his interest in wines that remain vivid and unadorned, while »Meisterwerk« Sauvignon Blanc adds another point on the spectrum, suggesting a portfolio shaped by character, texture, and a close relationship to origin.

In Their Words “I actually run two wineries under one roof: a line, a pure natural-wine line without anything, as it used to be many thousands of years ago.” “I am a nature-oriented person and I work extremely close to nature, and that keeps going further.”