Fritz Zweigelt

Dr. Friedrich Zweigelt (13 January 1888 – 18 September 1964) was an Austrian biologist and viticulturist who made hybrid crosses of European wine grapes (Vitis vinifera). His most famous creations are Rotburger (later named Zweigelt) and Blauburger.

Biography

Zweigelt was born in 1888 in Hitzendorf near Graz. He was educated there, and in 1911 received a PhD in natural sciences from the University of Graz.

The following year he started work at the Federal Institute for Viticulture and Pomology at Klosterneuburg, Austria and in 1938 became its director.

His fortunes were closely tied to that of the Nazis in Austria, and his career ended in 1945.

He published an autobiography the year before he died in Graz in 1964.

Breeding programme

At Klosterneuburg, he bred what became known as the Zweigelt grape from Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent in 1922, and Blauburger from Blaufränkisch and Blauer Portugieser the following year.