German Meininger’s Wine Business, organizer of Mundus Vini competitions has held the very first wine contest of Germany dedicated exclusively to rosé wines. Meininger´s International Rosé Award evaluated more than 1000 rosé wines from 13 countries. “The best rosé wines of the competition were honoured by the expert jury with a special award in addition to their points score. For its entire collection, the winery Fam. Strehn (Austria), the winery Ferry Lacombe Diffusion (France) and the winery Hammel (Germany) may call itself “Best Rosé Producers” of the Meininger’s International Rosé Award 2021.“

Wines over 87 are featured on the contest website, and Hungary has three rosé wines in this high category:

– Dúzsi Sryah Rosé 2020, Szekszárd (89 points)
– Sauska Rosé 2020, Villány (87 points)
– Teleki Villányi Portugieser Rosé 2020, Villány (87 points)

Rosé – a hard game to play

Szekszárd producer Tamás Dúzsi is famous for his passion for rosé wines. He believes that making great rosé wines does not require less effort and skill than making great red wines. “On the contrary – with a fresh, elegant, sleek rosé winemakers do not have the playground of long ageing and barrels of different level of toasting” – said Tamás Dúzsi about the creation of outstanding rosé wines. Rosé winemakers have much less tools, therefore they have to be more precise during the vinification process.

Dúzsi Syrah Rosé – French love

There was an old Hungarian foreign trader, who spent a lot of time in France, and after – or during – business negotiations, he loved tasting a spicy, fruity red wine. He soon learnt the name of the variety: Syrah. In his home town, Szekszárd, back around the year 2000, he planted some Syrah, and later, when he grew old and decided to sell grape, he was happy to sell it to Tamás Dúzsi. It was also the foreign trader, who persuaded Tamás Dúzsi to try to make Syrah rosé. So he did – and as we can see, with great success.

The grapes were harvested fully ripened in this old vineyard at the top of Alsónána. Fermenting and maturation took place in stainless steel tank. The wine is more complex than the average rosé wines, ideal to pair it with meals as well. Cherry and picante sour cherry on the nose and abundance of fruit on the palate with the typical spiciness of the variety, too. It fills the whole mouth yet there is no clumsiness at all.

More about Dúzsi Family Winery

Dúzsi Rosé Cuvée 2020 by Elizabeth Gabay MW

Tamás Dúzsi is often referred to as the “Rosé King”, and indeed, his mastery of rosé is unprecedented. And not only varietal rosés of the family winery are outstandig, the blend of several varieties (Kékfrankos, Zweigelt, Merlot, Portugieser, Blauburger, Pinot noir, Menoire) is also a superb rosé – it received 90 points from rosé expert Elisabeth Gabay at the latest Hungary supplement of Decanter magazine.

“Pale red-salmon pink. Still quite closed and muted aromas but opens up on the palate to reveal a lively, spritzy, summer-in-a-glass rosé. Cherries, fresh strawberries and strawberry sorbet with ripe creaminess giving roundness. Summer drinking with

balanced fresh acidity and attractively low alcohol. Easy to drink, with lovely fruit.”

www.decanter.com