Peter Matyšák, who put Slovak wine on the world map, dies at 73

Peter Matyšák, a leading Slovak winemaker and one of the pioneers of enogastronomy – the pairing of food with wine – has died at the age of 73. He passed away on Saturday morning, the Slovak news agency TASR reported, citing confirmation from Jaroslava Kaňuchová Pátková, executive director of the Union of Slovak Vine-growers and Winemakers (ZVVS).

The ZVVS expressed its condolences in a statement on social media, saying: “A man full of energy, enthusiasm and ideas, which he successfully turned into reality, has departed for the winemakers’ heaven.”

Matyšák was among the figures credited with reviving Slovak wine after 1989. At the age of 30, he became director of a mountain hotel at Baba, where he became known above all for combining food and wine.

In 1991, he founded the family winery Matyšák in Pezinok. Production later moved to a purpose-built wine house in the town, completed in 2002, while the original building continued to host a restaurant. In 2005, he opened a hotel in Bratislava near the Palugyay Palace, with a historic wine cellar built by the Palugyay family, the city’s most famous vintners of the late 19th and early 20th century. A restaurant on Františkánske Square followed.

His winery achieved international recognition, drawing wider attention to Slovak wine when it won the champion title at a Strasbourg competition in 2013. Over the years, Matyšák’s wines collected numerous awards both at home and abroad.

On its social media page, the Matyšák winery wrote: “He was the heart and soul of our winemaking. He dedicated his whole life to his work and mission – until the very last moment.”

His death comes only days before another loss to the Slovak winemaking community. On Monday evening, the ZVVS announced that Štefan Šimák Jr, co-owner and founder of Zámocké vinárstvo and Šimák Castle Pezinok, had died at the age of 51. The son of media magnate Štefan Šimák Sr, he was remembered as having “fulfilled his dream” by founding the winery, and as a figure whose enthusiasm and knowledge helped develop winemaking as a product of travel, relaxation and enjoyment.

“Rest in peace, Štefan. We express our sincere condolences to his family,” the ZVVS wrote.