Michael Weissenegger

Michael Weissenegger grew up in South Tyrol, where he was exposed to gastronomy and Italian culinary culture from an early age. He originates from Seis am Schlern, in the same Dolomite region as Siusi, the mountain village that gives SIUS its name.^[1]

During his studies in Vienna he began exploring fermentation, particularly kombucha, alongside homebrewing beer. His father-in-law was the person who inspired him to take up brewing.^[1]

He moved from brewing beer to creating non-alcoholic proxy beverages, a shift SIUS attributes to the creativity and innovation of the proxy scene.^[1]

Weissenegger is the founder of SIUS, the Vienna-based house that makes the proxies Purpur and Vireo. SIUS classifies its products as proxy wines: independent non-alcoholic creations composed from tea infusions, fruit extracts, herbs, spices and fermented elements, inspired by wine but not made from grapes. The company's roots are in Siusi in the South Tyrolean Dolomites, and its story continues in Vienna.