16 November is the date of the annual Whatdoyoudrink? festival in Budapest, the only full day tasting dedicated exclusively to organic, biodynamic and natural wines. The venue is ’Bálna’ (literally ’whale’), a whale shaped, state-of-art building covered with glass. More than 150 wines from Hungary and abroad – among the foreign exhibitors we can find Raventos i Blanc from Penedés, Spain, Fleury from Champagne or Weninger from Austria. Organic food products will also be available for example from the buffalo reserve from Mátra mountain. As for the Hungarian exhibitors, do not miss Bott Frigyes from the Hungarian speaking part of Slovakia, Gilvesy from Badacsony or Barta Cellar from Mád, Tokaj. Barta makes miraculous dry Furmint wines from the breathtaking Öreg Király (’Old King’) vineyard, and his Tokaji Aszú wines are among the best ones. As the vineyards are cultivated in organic way, in the winery Barta uses organic vinification techniques as well and aims to achieve the maximum purity, elegance and balance. “It is of utmost importance that our wines should reflect the unique character of the terroir.” Barta Öreg Király Dűlő Aszú 2013 comes from this magnificent place, and the quality is outstanding. „Despite its extremely high sugar content, the wine is surprisingly balanced presumably due to the minerality given by the unique terroir. Straw yellow colour, nicely swirls in the glass. Fruity nose with citrus notes. The palate is subtle with quince and apricot. Light acidity, finesse and the complexity of great wines. A Tokaji Aszú with long ageing potential.”

More about Barta Cellar and the wines

Tickets for Whatdoyoudrink? (Mitiszol?) festival