That's what makes the really great winemakers: whether it be a small or huge vintage, you can always rely on them. The Kollwentz family has been a force to be reckoned with at every tasting for years - regardless of the type of vinification or variety. In the annual assessment of Weiss Burgunder wines carried out by Falstaff magazine each summer, the tasters at this winery are always in complete agreement. Not only the classically vinified Chardonnay Leithakalk is one of the best year after year, but the two Chardonnays from the Tatschler and Neusatz vineyards have also won the Burgunder Barrique Trophy many times. The Chardonnay Gloria has practically leased the Reserve Trophy. The Sauvignon Blanc from the Steinmühle vineyard deserves a special mention, as its flintstone soil offers ideal conditions for this spicy variety. The ratings for the red wines are no different to those for the white wines. While the Cabernet Sauvignon took the varietal victory in its category with the 2009 and 2011 vintages, the judges chose the Cuvée Steinzeiler 2008 as the winner. The Blaufränkisch Point 2015 received a magnificent 98 points and the Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, the top score of 100 points. Anton Kollwentz, the senior winemaker, is the pioneer of Cabernet Sauvignon in Austria and triggered a veritable Cabernet boom with his Falstaff victories in 1984 and 1985. Junior Andi Kollwentz is the decathlete among Austria's winegrowers, as he is a master of the most diverse disciplines and can be found at the top of every category. He is supported by his wife Heidi and their two daughters Barbara and Christina, as well as a well-coordinated team whose members have been working at the winery for over 25 years.
In addition to the meticulous viticultural work, the Kollwentz family's success is based on their vineyard holdings (25 hectares). The vineyards on the southern slopes of the Leitha Mountains have illustrious names such as Steinzeiler, Point, Setz, Dürr, Steinmühle, Neusatz, Tatschler, Katterstein and Gloria and are among the oldest and best in the country. The vineyards are located at 170 to 325 metres above sea level. The warmest sites are dominated by Blaufränkisch. The Point and Setz vineyards are the prime examples of Großhöflein's red vineyards, from which the Blaufränkisch grapes for the "Steinzeiler", the estate's top wine, originate. The Chardonnay plantings begin at over 200 metres above sea level. The altitude and the influence of the forests that cover the highest elevations of the Leitha Mountains create a cool microclimate, which is reflected in the finesse of the aromas and the intensity of the taste. The Chardonnay crus, "Gloria", "Tatschler", "Katterstein" and "Neusatz" thrive here on limestone soils, as does the Pinot Noir in the Dürr vineyard.
