The Helenental Winery, a cornerstone of the Weinviertel wine tradition since 1942, has filed for bankruptcy with the Krems Regional Court, as confirmed by the credit protection association KSV1870.
Originally founded as the Retz-Röschitz winegrowers' cooperative, the winery has long held a respected place in Austrian viticulture, but now faces serious financial difficulty with liabilities amounting to approximately EUR 6.8 million.
Currently under the private management of Walther Schnopfhagen, the winery counts ten creditors and eight employees among those impacted by the proceedings. The recent addition of René Pollak, owner of Rockabilly_Weinkult, as co-managing director and cellar master at the beginning of 2025 marked a strategic effort to revitalize the operation. Pollak even relocated production of his own Rockabilly wines to the Helenental site, reflecting a shared vision of innovation under the motto “together yet separate.”
Despite these initiatives, financial challenges proved too great to overcome. According to the winery, 80% of its sales were channeled through Hofer (Aldi) supermarkets, supplemented by exports to the USA and smaller retail partners. However, a significant spike in costs for grapes, bottles, and energy rendered production unprofitable. The tight margins on retail sales, particularly through discount chains, eroded the winery's profitability and ultimately led to the insolvency.
A court-appointed insolvency administrator will now determine the potential for continued operation and whether a restructuring plan can be effectively implemented. The first creditors’ meeting is scheduled for mid-September 2025.
The collapse of Helenental Winery signals not just the fall of a business, but also a sobering chapter in the history of Austrian wine. The winery’s legacy includes high-profile milestones such as its Blauer Portugieser being served at the 1955 Austrian State Treaty banquet. Known for fostering collaboration among regional vintners, the winery has been both a symbol and product of collective effort in Weinviertel.
Whether this legacy can be preserved or restructured remains uncertain. For now, the Austrian wine community watches closely as one of its most historically significant producers attempts to navigate turbulent financial waters.
Source: Der-Winzer