Lichti & Astroh

When the news goes around that two people who have been responsible for biodynamics at Bürklin-Wolf for many years are starting a winery together, it immediately causes a stir in the wine world. Freya Lichti and Alex Strohschneider are only at the beginning of this promising new label: Lichti & Astroh. With just three wines, they heralded the zero hour (in 2019). In the meantime, they have made great strides in the wine world. These steps are currently being taken in an old farmhouse from 1755 belonging to Freya’s family (Weingut Lichti), where Lichti & Astroh is still located. Temporarily, of course, because eventually the transition to their own biodynamic winery must be made.

Since 2022, Alex and Freya have been leasing their own vineyards. These are old, unharvested plots on limestone in Leistadt (Bad Dürkheim). On 9 hectares they process Riesling, Pinot Noir and Weissburgunder ecologically, in a next step biodynamically. This road seems long, but the two young winemakers want to walk this path – out of conviction. Because they are aware of their capacities, but also those of nature and its holistic power that moves around the vines. With this philosophy Lichti & Astroh was born. Without a large budget in the background, but with exceptional wines and a conviction to capture nature in the bottle.

That means far away from the beaten track and the mainstream but very close to nature and everything it has to offer. During the harvest, for example, Alex therefore focuses on the development and aroma of the grapes. “During this time I am constantly in the vineyard and tasting,” he explains. “What the ripeness of the grapes is according to the tables is irrelevant. The only thing that counts is taste, acidity and of course that the grapes are healthy.” In the cellar, the philosophy is at least as pronounced and clear. All wines must be spontaneously fermented, enzymes or pure yeasts are absolutely not allowed in the cellar. It is about puristic winemaking. The wines may only be lightly sulphured and only bottled late. The wooden barrels used are barely toasted so that the fine fruit of the wines is not drowned out, because Freya and Alex absolutely do not want coffee or vanilla tones in their wines. They are concerned with the authentic representation of the terroir and the grape variety.

However reserved and introverted the winemaking couple may seem, the more powerful and voluminous their wine bouquets are. However, this does not feel perfumed and unnatural in any way, but it makes you long for more. ‘Trinkfluss’, as a German word can describe it so beautifully. “We are all about wines that inspire people. Not because they smell and taste like banana or passion fruit, but because they perfectly reflect the variety of aromas of nature and the terroir,” says Freya about her wines. And with this aspiration and belief, the magic of a future top winery was born. Endorsed by Gerhard Eichelmann, who tips them as ’the discovery of the year 2023′, and certainly by us and many positive sounds from the market after tasting the first wines.