Kollwentz

The Kollwentz family prides itself on cultivating the art of wine production and its philosophies in their purest form.

As they put it: “Our own vineyards, our own grapes, our own wine.”

They tend 25 hectares of vineyards in the Leithaberg Hills, with cultivation of the soil and management of biodiverse cover prized as twin cornerstones upon which the balanced vine-growth is built. Only fully ripened and healthy grapes, key to quality, are selectively harvested by hand.

No fungicides, insecticides, or herbicides are used. They produce no ‘orange wine’, they own no amphoras, no oak chips are used, and no tannins are added. They aim to produce classic, terroir-driven, well-rested wines. The white wines, red wines and sweet wines are all matured in traditional oak casks, for between six to thirty months.

The family consider it a privilege to tend some of the top vineyard sites in Leithaberg. Sites with history. The Steinzeiler plot was first mentioned in 1569, with Tatschler, Gloria, Dürr, and Point mentioned just a year later in 1570. With such a storied past of production, it’s no wonder that the best wines in the Kollwentz Estate come from grapes in this vineyard sites.

The altitude of these single vineyards, providing both freshness and intensity, extend from 170m above sea level at the foot of the Leithagebirge up to 325m above sea level at Gloria, which is the highest vineyard site of northern Burgenland. Red varieties are primarily planted from 170m to 200m, whilst the Chardonnay begins above 200m.

The altitude, as well as the influence from local woods that cover the highest elevations of the Leithagebirge, give rise to a cool microclimate.

On those sites, the grapes will slowly mature to full ripeness, reflected in their refined aromas and the intensive taste. The sites located in the centre of the slopes, and on the foot of the slopes, are exposed to the warm summer sun from early morning till late at night.

The soils are heavy and, depending on the soil type, are ideal for growing Austrian classics such as Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt, as well as the universally popular Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wider Burgenland owes its characterful wines to the Pannonian Plain. The Pannonian climate is characterized by cold winters poor in snow, hot and dry summers as well as a long and mild autumn, which is also known as "Indian summer". This allows grapes to stay on the vine longer, accumulating even more flavour and structure, safe from the ravages of poor weather. 

Nearby Lake Neusiedl functions as a climatic regulator. Its surface, which extends over 320kmsq, exerts a temperature moderating influence creating ideal conditions for the cultivation of vines. From the lake westwards, one reaches the Leithaberg Hills, after having passed the gentle slopes of the famous Ruster Hügelland and the Wulka Plain. The vineyards extend over the Leithaberg Hills, oriented towards the south and the southeast giving maximum sun and warmth and ensuring healthy ripe grapes year in, year out.