János Mathiász

János Mathiász (February 22, 1838, Ádámfölde – December 3, 1921, Kecskemét) was an outstanding Hungarian viticulturist and winemaker, who entered history as a savior of Hungarian and global viticulture during the devastating phylloxera epidemic. Over the years of his monumental breeding work, he developed an unprecedented 3,700 grapevine cultivars and hybrid forms. Due to this unique achievement, his lifework has been officially included in the Hungarian National Registry of Values (Magyar Nemzeti Értéktár).

Early Years and First International Recognition

Upon completing his studies, Mathiász worked as a clerk in Abaúj County and shortly after became a secretary to the governor. However, administrative work held little interest for him; instead, he acquired a two-acre vineyard on the Rosalia Hill in Kassa. Within a few years, he assembled a vast collection of approximately 1,600 grapevine varieties, including numerous rare accessions of French and Italian origin.

In 1873, János Mathiász first exhibited potted specimens from his collection at the Vienna World's Fair, instantly winning the first prize. This unexpected triumph elevated him into the vanguard of global ampelography. The breeder received numerous prestigious invitations; notably, the Russian Emperor personally offered him the position of director over the imperial vineyards in Crimea.

The Salvation of Tokaj and Large-Scale Operations

At the age of 42, Mathiász resigned from government service to dedicate his life entirely to viticulture. His work became geographically centered around the Kecskemét region and the historic Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region. From 1880 to 1899, he served as the chief viticultural director for Count Gyula Andrássy the Elder in Mád and Szőlőske.

János Mathiász rendered an invaluable service to global winemaking during the phylloxera crisis of 1885–1890, which twice nearly completely obliterated the vineyards of Tokaj-Hegyalja. Mathiász’s large estate in Kecskemét, situated on sandy soils, remained entirely unaffected by the pest. From there, the breeder transported healthy grapevine cuttings to Tokaj by the wagonload, enabling the complete revival of the legendary wine region. Furthermore, Mathiász introduced commercial table grape cultivation to Tokaj-Hegyalja, where previously only wine grapes had been grown.

Breeding Achievements and Global Legacy

Throughout his career, János Mathiász won more than two hundred awards at international competitions where, unlike modern practices, only a single grand gold medal was awarded. His close friend, Prime Minister Count Gyula Andrássy, referred to him as "the king of wines and the prince of vineyards," while the poet János Arany wrote: "János Mathiász is to viticulture what Sándor Petőfi is to poetry."

Out of the 3,700 varieties he bred, approximately 50 to 60 are still commercially cultivated worldwide today, including vineyards in California, Crimea, Israel, South Korea, and South Africa. Twelve of his proprietary varieties achieved major widespread distribution, most notably:

• Mathiász Jánosné muskotály: Created in 1883 by crossing Chasselas Violet and Muscat Ottonel. Named by the breeder in honor of his wife, this early-season table grape is highly esteemed for its crunchy flesh and powerful, refined muscat aroma.
• Szőlőskertek királynője (Queen of the Vineyards): One of the world's most famous table grape cultivars, yielding exceptionally large, attractive berries with a harmonious flavor profile.
• Csabagyöngye (Pearl of Csaba): An iconic ultra-early cultivar resulting from a hybrid cross performed by János Mathiász, which was subsequently raised from seed and brought to fruition by the breeder Adolf Stark.
• Ezeréves Magyarország emléke (Memory of the Millennium of Hungary), Cegléd szépe (Beauty of Cegléd), Erzsébet királyné emléke (Memory of Queen Elizabeth), among others.

The genetic material generated by János Mathiász served as the foundational parent stock for hundreds of modern muscat and table grape varieties globally. The memory of the great ampelographer is preserved with reverence in Hungary: a dedicated museum operates in Kecskemét, while schools, streets in several cities, and a prestigious state award in agriculture bear his name.