"We must find those opportunities, which improve the situation of Hungarian rural areas and move Hungarian agriculture forward", the Ministry of Rural Development's Parliamentary State Secretary Gyula Budai announced at an event held to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the birth of János Mathiász.

Gyula Budai underlined that the example of the world famous Hungarian viticulturist proves that hard work performed with sufficient expertise always yields dividends. The Minister of State also noted that traditionally excellent Hungarian viniculture and viticulture must conform to the challenges of modern times and must reclaim its rightful position in the world.
The descendents of János Matthias were also present at the event, which was staged under the arcades of the Ministry of Rural Development.

Almost 50 of the 3700 grape varieties bred by János Matthiász are still cultivated today. Matthias vineyards still exist throughout the world, in California, in the Crimean, Israel, South Africa and Japan. His wines have also won some two hundred international competitions. Following his huge success at the 1873 world exhibition, he received several offers from abroad, and could even have been the director of the Russian Tsar's personal vineyard in the Crimean, but he did not accept any of these positions and continued to work in Hungary until the end of his life.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)