As residents of Burgenland in the far east of Austria and as winegrowers in Gols, we are in a fortunate position in many ways. The Pannonian climate on Lake Neusiedl is not only soothing and wonderful for living, but also perfectly suited to viticulture. The same applies to the diverse soils. This compels us to produce wines of the highest quality. For us, this ultimately means maximum naturalness and closeness to nature. Therefore, all of our vineyards have been consistently converted to biodynamic farming. Starting with the 2013 vintage, all of our estate wines will be organic or biodynamic. Furthermore, Gols, where our family has been producing wine since 1684, is also somewhat removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. Therefore, we have the peace and patience here to concentrate on what matters most: producing distinctive, timeless, long-lasting wines from local varieties that will accompany you throughout your life.
Comondor
We took over the business in 1985. We drank Bordeaux, Burgundy, Barolo, and similar wines, and planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Internationality was considered good form. Only in Ungerberg, our best vineyard, did we experiment and plant Blaufränkisch.
The 1990 harvest produced two outstanding wines: one was Cabernet Sauvignon from Edelgrund and the other, the very same Blaufränkisch from Ungerberg, which quickly established that the two were a dream team, destined to be married. Thus, the Comondor was born, which, in true Pannonian style, bears the name of a historic Hungarian shepherd dog breed and has since become something of a flagship of our estate.
We owe our position among Austrian red wine producers primarily to this wine, which has repeatedly achieved top rankings at tastings not only in Austria and consistently ranks among the best red wine blends. Like the Pannobile, the Comondor has evolved steadily, becoming increasingly down-to-earth, elegant, and subtle. Since 1998, the elegant and full-bodied Merlot has replaced the more tart and rustic Cabernet Sauvignon as the main variety. Since 2004, it has consisted of Merlot, Blaufränkisch, and Zweigelt.