The Austrian wine pioneer Anton Kollwentz passed away on March 4 at the age of 86. He shaped the entire wine industry of the country with his pursuit of quality. Many experts name the Römerhof Kollwentz***** in Kleinhöflein am Leithaberg as the best winery in Austria, which he took over in 1966 with his wife Margarete. The winery, now run by his son Andreas and his grandchildren, is considered one of the best in the country for white, red, and sweet wines.

Anton Kollwentz's great dedication was to Blaufränkisch and dry white wines, which were still the exception in the 1970s. Through trips to France, he was one of the first in Austria to learn how to work with small oak barrels and malolactic fermentation. In the early 1980s, against the resistance of the authorities, he obtained a special permit for the planting of Cabernet Sauvignon. Through many trips and personal visits to the best restaurants, he established his wines in top gastronomy. He served as president of the association "Renowned Wineries Burgenland", which includes most of the top establishments in Burgenland, for ten years. In 2021, he received the Commander's Cross for his services to Burgenland viticulture, one of the highest honors in the state. His biography "The Wine Pioneer Anton Kollwentz" was published on his 80th birthday.

(al; Image: Kollwentz Winery)