5 Hungarian wines dedicated to women

Olívia from Kunság, Hërka from Villány, Adél from Mátra, Gabriella from Badacsony and Katinka from Tokaj – five lovely wines with enchanting stories, from Hungarian winemakers.

Olívia, Irsai Olivér’s bride (Frittmann Winery, Kunság wine region)

The family winery in Kunság wine region has been working with Generosa, a less known variety for a long time. The Hungarian Generosa is a cross between Ezerjó and Piros Tramini (Savagnin Rose). This pink-berried cross was obtained in 1951 by Bíró Károly in Hungary, tested since 1976 by Edit Hajdú at the Kecskemét viticulture research centre, and finally christened Generosa in 2004. In 2020 they blended Irsai Olivér with Generosa, and thus Olívia was born! The wine is charming, intense on the nose but not overwhelming, like a gracious young lady. Refreshing, juicy and the aromas of ripened grape linger on in our mouth. The two varieties work together perfectly, the result is a super balanced, wonderful summer wine made in every vintage.

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Hërka, the girl who fooled the devil (Vylyan Vineyard and Winery, Villány)

Once upon a time there was a blonde girl, Hërka, who was so beautiful that even the devil fell in love with her. In his desperate love, the devil agreed with the old witch (Harka’s mother) to plough the rocky mountain of Harsány within one night. The job seemed impossible: the rocky surface was hard and solid, thus nobody had been able to plough it before him. The witch told him: „if you don’t succeed, you have to promise to go back to hell immediately!” The devil was strong and devoted: it was not even midnight when he almost finished. The old witch loved her daughter, she was afraid of losing her, so she was thinking hard to come up with a solution. Finally, she ran to the hen house and started to crow, just like roosters do at dawn. Though sunrise was hours away, she could wake up the roosters of the neighbourhood, who replied to her voice, and suddenly the cocks of the whole village were crowing. The devil was shocked, he had not finished yet! He was furious but had to leave, the place where he went down the hell is still there in the town of Harkány, hot water has been coming to the surface since there to supply the famous Harkány spa. And if you drive from Harkány to Villány, you can still see the traces of his plough, a quarry on the rocky mountain.
Hërka is one of the most popular wines of Vylyan made of 100% Chardonnay, with the enchanting legendary girl on the label.
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Adél, the enchanting pretty woman (Dominium Winery, Mátra)

Adél is made of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Furmint. The varieties aged separately in new oak for 8 months and after blending the wines matured in stainless steel for 4 more months. Only 1200 bottles were made and the indicative retailed price is around 23 euros. Rich, elegant, long finish, complex, fiery, concentrated. And the following notes: dried figs, quince, walnut, pistachio, tropical fruits, juniper, pine, lemongrass, toffee, gingerbread, brioche (and many more). It was selected The Best Sustainable wine at Budapest Wine Festival in 2023.
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Gabriella, a devoted wife and mother (Borbély Family Winery, Badacsony)

Gabriella is a juicy, lovely summer wine made of Muscat Ottonel. Pale lemon colour, medium intense nose typical of the variety. Lilac, lily of the valley and genuine Muscat notes. Some almond, sage and lavander in the background. Ripened white fruits on the palate, good acidity, round sip. A lovely, refreshing wine, a beautiful representative of the variety. And it is named after the founder’s wife, and she is Tamás Borbély’s mother, who happens to be the Winemaker of the Year 2020, the youngest holder of the prestigious title ever.
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Katinka, a sweet girl, Patricius Winery, Tokaj

Katinka is a blend of Furmint and Yellow Muscat with 116.3 g/l residual sugar and 5.9 g/l acidity, perfectly balancing the sweetness. A reference point among the late harvest wines of the Tokaj Wine Region. Selected bunches containing healthy, over-ripened and partly botrytized berries which were picked during the late – autumn harvest. The characteristic varietal notes of Furmint and Yellow Muscat form the foundation of this wine, braced by minerality and zippy acidity for great balance and topped off with an incredibly long finish and creaminess.

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