Anton Kollwentz - Doyen of Burgenlands Viticulture
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Born in 1940, Anton Kollwentz is the fourth Kollwentz of this name among six generations of the Kollwentzes in Grosshöflein. Since 1775, when the first chronicles of the Großhöflein parish were released, the Kollwentz family had been Großhöflein residents involved in wine. At the age of 18 Anton became responsible for his parents' cellar. What makes this man stand out especially are his conscientiousness and love of experimenting.
The Falstaff Wine Guide on Kollwentz: “This is what really makes great winemakers: whether a small vintage or a terrific year, you can always rely on them. And for years now you can count on the Kollwentz family at every tasting – dealing with whatever style and variety."
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Anton Kollwentz already made a name for himself in the 1960s with his noble sweet wines. The high yields of beerenausleses and trockenbeerenausleses in 1969, one of the vintages of the century, led Anton Kollwentz to leave the path of mere sale from the premises of his estate and try his luck with Western Austria´s gastronomy. In that same year, he managed to supply his wines to leading houses in Saalbach and one year later on the Arlberg. Assured by the demands from upscale restaurants, he turned towards dry white wines in 1970. For more than a decade he was deemed the sole advocate of dry Burgenland white. |
In addition, his love was for Blaufränkisch, which, being a powerful and tannic red, had fewer, yet all the more ardent supporters. His commitment to perfection and his openness to innovation, such as the use of French oak barrels or malolactic fermentation, made him one of the fathers of the emerging red wine wonder. |
In 1989, Andi Kollwentz returned home to his parents’ winery after a training at the vinicultural college of Klosterneuburg and stints in France. With the 1993 vintage, Anton Kollwentz hands over responsibility in the cellar to his son Andi. The Falstaff Wine Guide on on the Junior: "Andi Kollwentz is the decathlete among Austria’s vintners, being a dab hand at the most diverse disciplines and ranking on top in every category.” In 2002 and 2003, building activities take place for the 8th time in 36 years. The latest big construction stage comprises the erection of a new barrique cellar and the integration of the existing barrique cellar as well as the addition of a tasting room, office facilities and a trainees´ room. The wine library, which presently houses some 20,000 bottles, is expanded.
In 1995, a long-time wish of Anton Kollwentz´s came true with the foundation of the "Renommierten Weingüter Burgenland". That association with Mr. Kollwentz as the first president has since appeared as an ambassador and trailblazer of Burgenland wines both at home and internationally.
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