Dr. Friedrich Zweigelt

Breeder of Austria’s most important red wine variety, most important oenologist of the First Republic,
controversial personality and my great-great-grandfather

Prof. Dr. Friedrich Zweigelt, born in 1888, high school and university degree in natural sciences in Graz, doctorate in 1911. From 1912 employee at the High School and Federal Office of Viticulture and Pomology in Klosterneuburg near Vienna. Member of the National Socialist Party from 1933. From 1938 to 1945 Head of the High School and Federal Office of Viticulture and Pomology. Habilitation in the field of agricultural plant protection at the Vienna University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences BOKU, journalistic work for various scientific journals, over 500 publications. Extensive congress activities abroad, for which he was honoured with numerous awards. Dismissed from his post as Head of the High School and Federal Office of Viticulture and Pomology in 1945, and briefly imprisoned for political reasons.

In 1922, as head of the Federal Vine Breeding Centre, he succeeded in finding a red wine variety that met his demands for both quality and yield by creating a new cross between the St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch grape varieties: the Zweigelt grape, which was to become the most important red wine variety in Austria up to date.

Dr. Friedrich Zweigelt died in Graz in 1964. His only son Rudolf was married in Langenlois and worked there as general practitioner. He fell during the Second World War leaving behind two children, Herfried and Heidi, my grandmother.

My Dad, Dr.Zweigelt’s great-grandson Thomas Leithner and me, his great-great-granddaughter Anna Leithner, continue his tireless quest for utmost quality.

For those who want to find out more about the history of the Zweigelt grape variety or the person behind, we can recommend the following two books: ‘Wein in Österreich – Die Geschichte’ (History of Wine in Austria) – by Willi Klinger and Karl Vocelka and ‘Friedrich Zweigelt (1888-1964) – Wissenschaftler, Rebenzüchter, Nationalsozialist’ (Friedrich Zweigelt (1888-1964) – Scientist, Vine Breeder, National Socialist) by Daniel Deckers. Or simply come to visit us at our winery.

Dr. Friedrich Zweigelt

Quote from: Dr Friedrich Zweigelt: ‘Von den Höhenpunkten meines Lebens – Werk und Freude‘ (Highlights of my Life – Work and Joy), Würzburg 1963