Taste it on 3 October in Szekszárd!

The subtitle reveals that the winner of the Siller tasting of the Hungarian online wine magazine called Borsmenta is from Szekszárd. The third one is as well (from Tüske Cellar), altogether 4 Siller wines arrived from Szekszárd to the tasting of 14 Siller wines. The second best is from Osváth Cellar in the village of Soponya, and the winner is Heimann & Fiai Piros Siller BIO 2025!

Obligatory with fish soup

Borsmenta is an online, quality wine and gastronomy magazine with trustworthy wine reviews. The editor-in-chief is Edit Szabó, a renowned wine writer and radio broadcaster, the author of several books.
As Borsmenta comments, a good Siller is “light, firm, fruity and pale red. Not pink like rosé, not red either, but red like May cherries. It is a little fuller in body than rosés, and in its aroma, it is more reminiscent of red wines, but in hot summers it is worth cooling it, and even adding soda is not a sacrilege. Yes, everyone read it correctly: Siller can be used to make a perfect red spritz.”
The magazine also emphasises the role of Siller in gastronomy: “Siller is therefore a great refreshment, but it is also at least as important that it is an excellent accompaniment to dishes with Hungarian flavours and spicy paprika. Every family in Szekszárd serves Siller with their Christmas fish soup, there’s no question about it, but it also goes well with chicken stew, ‘lecsó’ (the Hungarian ratatouille), paprika potatoes, Easter ham or Hungarian cold dishes.”
See the full article (in Hungarian) here.

“Ultralight red wine”

Borsmenta about the winner Heimann & Fiai Piros Siller BIO 2025: “The winemaker presents their Siller, which goes by the name Piros (meaning ‘Red’), as an ultralight red wine – and not by chance. It is based on Kékfrankos, the spicy associations flash subtly in the fruity flavour, and the pleasant bitterness that appears in the aftertaste is particularly lovely. It is adorable, just as it is, exactly what one imagines a Siller to be. It does not require food, but it does not refuse it either. Whether we serve it with fish soup, paprika potatoes or chicken stew, we have a winning case.”
Another seasoned description of the wine by Eric Danch of the American Danch & Granger Selection: “This has been a long time in the making. Over a decade ago, Heimann, along with 10 or so other producers in Szekszárd, re-introduced Siller as “Fuxli” into the market. Somewhere in between a rosé and a light red, it was meant to revive a style lost during Communism. It was more of a dark, reductive, and slightly bitter rosé often meant to be used for a Fröccs (aka spritz). Since then, what is a Siller has been reinterpreted and in our opinion, become one of the most delicious wines in Central Europe. We now have versions from Austria, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia and more than 5 from Hungary. It’s now time for an update from Zoltán Heimann. This is just vintage number two, and quite different from the first. Last time it was more of a rosé with a firm tannic structure, this vintage is juicy, aromatic and more of a light red with white wine extras. Two-thirds of the blend is direct pressed Kékfrankos fermented like a rosé which is then blended with whole cluster Kadarka with a little stem inclusion for good measure. Aged for just a few months in tank, this is spicy, fresh, and chillable non glou-glou goodness from Southern Hungary.”
Buy the wine from Danch & Granger Selection

Tasting of novelties at the Heimanns on 3 October

Every year the Heimann family welcomes followers at a relaxed walk-around tasting their home in Szekszárd. Ági, Zoltán Heimann Sr’s wife provides delicacies made from local ingredients (she has a stunning garden with herbs and vegetables), and to elevate the event, an art exhibition is inaugurated as well.
The participation fee is 25 000 HUF, out of which 10 000 HUF is redeemable on the spot or on the webshop. For club members participation is free, but registration is necessary. Maybe it makes sense to become a member. The wine list will soon be announced, we will report it as well.
More information about Heimann & Fiai and Heimann Family Estate

Our earlier article about a Canadian importer selling Heimann wines

Importer of the Month: Salivate Wine Consulting, Canada