Holdvölgy, Tokaj

Out of the three most prestigious awards in the Hungarian wine scene, perhaps the Winery of the Year is the most complex. It rewards not only the wines, but the philosophy, the built environment, the wine tourism facilities, the human aspects, everything. Holdvölgy—with continuously outstanding wines, creative ideas, gorgeous visuals, unforgettable cellar visits, breath-taking estate building and adorable team—fully deserves this award.

Cover photo: Pascal Demkó founder and owner in the middle, János Frittmann (president of the National Council of Wine Communities on the left, Diána Sárdy Nyitrainé (president of the Hungarian Wine Academy) on the right

Did you know?

– Holdvölgy, founded in 2004, is the 4th Tokaj estate receiving the award (after Oremus, Disznókő and Patricius)
– The award ceremony took place on Monday, 29 June. On the same day Winelovers Wine Awards results were announced, where Holdvölgy won The Best of Sárgamuskotály award with Intuition No2 2004.
– Holdvölgy has 30 hectares in 7 iconic vineyards, on 30 plots.
– Holdvölgy has an underground cellar labyrinth, where visitors can enjoy “treasure hunting”, a unique way of discovering Tokaj winemaking.
– Holdvölgy has a huge “library” of different vintages. If you are looking for a special vintage as a wedding gift or a birthday present, you can choose any vintage from 2006 to 2026. Up to 2017 the wines are bottled, and from 2018 wines can be pre-ordered (“en primeur”).
See the earlier process of the award and earlier award winners below.

“Holdvölgy’s modern approach—such as their aerated sparkling wine—would have been unimaginable in Tokaj fifteen years ago. They received this award because they preserve the past in an exemplary manner, live wholeheartedly in the present, and boldly build the future.”
János Frittmann

“In Holdvölgy, tradition and innovation form a perfect, organic unity. It is fascinating to see how much patience, humility, and unwavering courage it has taken over the past twenty years for the estate to be able to present such uncompromising, world-class products today.”
Diána Sárdy Nyitrainé

“Alongside patience, courage, and humility, unwavering faith and the highest level of expertise have played the most important role for us. The results of this fusion are HOLDVÖLGY’s crystal-clear wines. This most prestigious domestic professional award is not only the crowning achievement of our work to date, but also a milestone that further elevates the HOLDVÖLGY estate’s international recognition and opens new doors on the global market.”
Pascal Demkó

 More about Holdvölgy

The process of the award

This prestigious accolade is presented annually together by three associations:
– the Hungarian Wine Academy,
– the National Council of Wine Communities and
– the Hungarian Association of Wine and Vine Producers.

During the nomination process, 850 industry participants are invited to vote for the winery they believe is most deserving of the award. The three wineries with the highest number of votes are then asked to submit a detailed presentation of their qualifications. These submissions are reviewed by the board members of the three organizations, who then cast their individual votes to determine the final ranking and select the winning winery.
When deciding, the professionals take a lot of aspects into consideration, like these:
– The quality of wines produced in the winery.
– The impact of the winery on local, regional, national and international level.
– The role of the winery in increasing the good reputation of Hungarian wines.
– The work of the winery to make quality and moderate wine drinking more popular.
– The image of the winery and the wines.
– The look of the winery building and all its facilities.
– Innovations, recent development of the winery.
– The size, condition, age of vineyards.
– Working conditions of the employees, the number of new workplaces created.

Earlier award winners

(The award was not given every year.)

2025 St. Andrea Winery, Eger
2024 A. Gere Winery, Villány
2023 Pannonhalma Archabbey, Pannonhalma
2019 Günzer Tamás Winery, Villány
2016 Patricius Winery, Tokaj
2015 Frittmann Winery, Kunság
2014 Koch Winery, Hajós–Baja
2013 IKON Winery, South Balaton
2012 Mészáros Wine House, Szekszárd
2011 Thummerer Winery, Eger
2010 Pannonhalma Archabbey, Pannonhalma (they won twice)
2009 Szöllősi Winery, Neszmély
2008 Vylyan Vineyard and Winery, Villány
2007 Bock Winery, Villány
2006 Garamvári Vineyards, South Balaton
2005 Disznókő, Tokaj
2004 Hilltop, Neszmély
2003 Tokaji Oremus, Tokaj
2002 Szőlőskert Rt., Mátra