Berliner Wine Trophy’s latest edition took place in October, 170 wine experts evaluated more than 6000 wines from 38 countries. It is the largest wine contest under OIV and in compliance with the strict OIV regulations, only 30% of the wines judged received a medal, which corresponds to the following: 19 grand gold medals, 1,702 gold medals, and 171 silver medals. They also claim to be “the largest independent wine competition in the world – without being affiliated/associated with a media or commercial group”.

Hungary won 83 medals, 3 grand gold (all for Tokaj wines), 70 gold and 10 silver medals. We are proud of the “usual” great result of Tokaji Aszú wines, but we are proud of some other things as well, let us summarize some of them.

Great wine for great price: Holdvölgy Eloquence 2011

‘Szamorodni’ is an ancient vinification style in Tokaj, something to watch who want great value. Though this wine category is under Tokaji Aszú, this recent grand gold proves again that our ancestors were right when they created a sweet wine with some botrytised berries – and the contemporary winemakers are clever enough to continue with the tradition. Holdvölgy Eloquence 2011 is a Furmint and Hárslevelű blend with 115.6 g residual sugar. And in retail it costs only around 13–15 euros! Holdvölgy also won gold medal for a dry Hárslevelű wine called Holdvölgy Expression 2018.

More about Holdvölgy

Vintage matters

As we wrote earlier, 2017 was a great year, as Csaba Vesztergombi commented: “Every winemaker deserves a vintage like this, a once in a lifetime vintage.” The other German contest, Mundus Vini has already awarded 2017 Vesztergombi Kerékhegy Shiraz, now three more wines of the estate has joined, thus Vesztergombi Cellar won 4 gold medals for their 2017 wines! This unparalleled result must mean something! We strongly suggest to stock these wines quickly: Vesztergombi Kerékhegy Shiraz, St László Bikavér, Csaba and Bodzás Cabernet Sauvignon. 
Vesztergombi wines are available in the UK (Best of Hungary) and many other countries.

More about Vesztergombi Cellar

Dry Furmint goes on conquering the world

Several wine experts believe in Furmint variety, and thanks to their hard work, Furmint gains more and more recognition. At Berliner Wine Trophy again we can see gold winner Furmint wines, for example two single vineyard Furmint wines from Zsirai Winery: Tokaji Betsek Furmint 2019 and Tokaji Középhegy Furmint 2019 – interestingly enough the previous vintages of both wines won gold medals as well at the winter edition of Berliner Wine Trophy.

And while the above mentioned Furmint wines are from Tokaj, Steigler Cellar grows furmint on the other side of the country, in Sopron – with fabulous results. Steigler Furmint 2020 won gold medal again after the gold medal of the 2019 vintage.
More about Zsirai Winery
More about Steigler Cellar

Success of Bordeaux varieties

We are obviously proud of our indigenous varieties, but to achieve success with international varieties is equally important – especially because consumers have reference points with those wines. Several of the 22 Hungarian wine regions are capable of giving great examples.

– Villány is undoubtedly one of our top red wine regions, and at this contest Vylyan Vineyard and Winery could give another evidence – they won 3 gold medals! Vylyan Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, the single vineyard Vylyan Dobogó 2016 (also Cabernet Sauvignon) both won gold along with Vylyan Syrah 2015.

Another winery from Villány wine region, Csányi Winery also received gold medal for its Teleki Válogatás Villányi Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. The largest winery of Villány received another gold medal in Berlin for the new release Kővilla Válogatás Syrah 2017.

Gere Tamás & Zsolt Winery won double gold as well – one medal went to the single vineyard Várerdő Cabernet Franct 2017, while the other went to flagship blend called Aureus Cuvée 2017.

– Taschner Winery and Sparkling Wine House is located in the cooler climate Sopron wine region, yet due to the tempering effect of Lake Fertő (Neusiedler See) Cabernet ripened fully in 2018, as the gold medal of Taschner Soproni Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 proves it.

– Dúzsi Family Winery is situated in Szekszárd, another superb wine region for red wines. Dúzsi wines are regular gold winners at Berliner Wine Trophy, this time Dúzsi Cabernet Franc 2017 got the shiniest medal.
– Cabernet Franc is an important variety in Hungary not only for the southern Villány and Szekszárd, but for northern, cooler wine regions as well like Pannonhalma, where Babarczi Vineyard and Winery released its firs Franc a few years ago and has already collected many accolades – and again Marianum 2019, a 100% Cabernet Franc wine won gold medal for the family estate (and a silver

– International varieties can work together with local grapes, Bikavér wines are the best evidences both from Eger and Szekszárd. Tóth Ferenc Egri Bikavér Superior 2017 in Eger wine region is made of Merlot, Kadarka, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Kékfrankos and Pinot Noir. The winery also received gold for a white dry wine made of Királyleányka.
– The other wine region for Bikavér is Szekszárd, where Lajver Wine House is located. Their “signature wine” called Signum is a Bikavér blend of Merlot, Kadarka, Cabernet Franc, Kékfrankos and Cabernet  Sauvignon. Lajver won another gold medal for their Lajver Kékfrankos Limited Edition 2019.
More about Vylyan Vineyard and Winery
More about Taschner Winery and Sparkling Wine House
More about Csányi Winery
More about Gere Tamás & Zsolt Winery
More about Dúzsi Family Winery
More about Babarczi Vineyard and Winery
More about Lajver Wine House
More about Tóth Ferenc Winery

See all Hungarian gold winners here.

Search for the gold winners in Winelovers Webshop and order them in any European country!