The 5th edition of Winelovers Wine Awards in June was a record again with 1,161 entries from 15 countries. The award ceremony is coming closer, it will take place on 26 September in Budapest, and we talked to the representative of one of the most successful wineries, Feind Winery from Balatonfüred–Csopak wine region. Andrea Sajó, commercial director of Feind told us which wine they are most proud of.

Feind wines are available in several countries, for example in the US by Credo Imports and in Denmark by PaTrioVin. If you are interested in their wines, contact Andrea Sajó.

How did you hear about the Winelovers Wine Awards and why did you decide to enter?
We have been entering this competition for a while, the feedback of the serious professional jury of the WWA is very important to us. International competitions are generally important to us, which is why we regularly enter the Decanter World Wine Awards and the Berliner Wine Trophy, but we are also always present at the Hungarian National Wine Competition.

Sauska, Vesztergombi, Teleki, Tóth Ferenc, Garamvári

Altogether 1032 medals were given at this session of the German international wine contest, out of which 96 medals are for Hungarian wines. There are 10 grand gold, 78 gold and 8 silver medals. Let us highlight some gold medal winner wines and reveal some statistics.
More about Berliner Wine Trophy

Statistics: medal chart

1. Germany with 233 medals
2. Italy with 193 medals
3. Spain with 111 medals
4. Hungary with 96 medals
5. France with 70 medals

Info, wine, cool cap, cute glass and love

Badacsony is a volcanic mountain on the north shore of Lake Balaton – and much more. The centre of Badacsony wine region, and a buzzing village at the foot of the mountain. Borbély Family Winery has its estate building and vineyards a bit farther away, but they also have a “wine terrace” just on the route up the mountain – an ideal stop for hikers to fill up the supplies!

1. You can find a lot of information about Badacsony mountain, for example here or here.
2. Borbély Family Winery can boast the youngest Winemaker of the Year ever, and of course, amazing wines, among others from the rare Kéknyelű variety. Borbély Wine Terrace is located on the famous “Római út”, the “Roman road” made actually by the Roman settlers. The place functions as a wine bar with a terrace and as a wine shop as well, where wines are sold at cellar price. Certainly, thirsty hikers can buy chilled wine. Open every day!
3. The cute, reusable plastic glasses are available at Borbély Wine Terrace, ideal for a “pit stop” on the mountain.
4. How about the cool cap in our cover photo? It is available in different colours, and really useful in the heat of the sun.
5. Love, love, love – of course there is a love story connected to Badacsony mountain. Read more about this love story and the first Borbély bottle fermented sparkling wine here.

Love is all around Badacsony

More about Borbély Family Winery

Vencel Garamvári, founder of Garamvári Vineyard, passed away on August 5th at the age of 85. He was a true gentleman, with refined taste, an experienced wine enthusiast, and a passionate lover of champagne and other sparkling wines. He was the first winemaker to make a bottle-fermented sparkling wine from 100% Furmint. A great man. Rest in peace!

In memoriam Vencel Garamvári

(1941 – 2026)
The text below was published by the family on the day of his death.

It is with deep sorrow and a broken heart that we announce the passing of Vencel Garamvári, the founder of our winery and a defining figure in Hungarian wine and sparkling wine culture.
He was an inseparable part of the winery’s everyday life until the last moment, and finally, surrounded by his loving family, he passed away quietly – leaving behind a grandiose oeuvre that inspired generations. An unparalleled journey that we remember with respect and gratitude.
Vencel absorbed his father, József,’s love for winemaking and his humility towards nature. After graduating from the Budafok Oenological Technical School and the University of Horticulture, he earned a degree in winemaking engineering in 1966. He began his professional career at the Törley Sparkling Wine Factory in Budafok, where he soon became production manager and then director – thus laying the foundation stone for the production of premium sparkling wine in Hungary.
In 1990, at the dawn of the renewed Hungarian wine industry, he founded Vinarium, embracing quality Hungarian wineries, and then brought the Garamvári Vineyard to life, which, according to Vencel’s vision and guidance, has established and nurtured the Hungarian wine and sparkling wine culture: preserving ancient traditions, but also in the role of a pioneer of the profession and creativity, always keeping in mind uncompromising quality and the duty of striving for perfection, for more than 30 years now.
He was helped in this by his lifelong partner, Zsuzsanna, with whom he was able to achieve both his personal and professional successes hand in hand, until his last heartbeat. He inspired our family to do this, from which the third generation of dedicated winemakers has grown up, and continues the work that Vencel started. This is the legacy that he created, in South Balaton and Budafok.
As he put it: “I always dreamed of being surrounded by my own vineyards on all four sides.”
And the dream came true.
Vencel not only built the Hungarian wine industry, but also selflessly shared his knowledge and experience. He was a pioneer, but also a mentor and inspiration for generations.
His work, vision and love for winemaking will live forever in every grape, every bottle and every rising bubble of Garamvári.
We will preserve his memory and legacy with respect and love. With the sincere love of our hearts, we ask everyone who shares our grief – representatives of the winemaking profession, lovers of wines and sparkling wines, and our friends and acquaintances alike – to pay tribute to Vencel’s memory as he himself would have done: with a silent toast.

Hungarian wines by Credo Imports in three more states of the US

My dear aunt and dear cousins in Colorado, do you remember the days we spent at Lake Balaton? Now you can recall the good memories with some Balaton wines! Homola and Feind are two Balaton wineries, their wines along with other Hungarian wines are now available in three more states: Colorado, Georgia and Virginia. Credo Imports works with various local partners across these states, so look for Hungarian wines all around!
By Ágnes Németh

 

“Credo Imports has been busy expanding our presence in the US markets and have secured three new distribution states: Colorado, Georgia, and Virginia. This brings our total to New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, and Utah, with plans to expand into Illinois and Michigan soon. These three new states will carry Hungarian wines, and we are excited to continue sharing our portfolio from Hungary, Germany, Austria, and elsewhere. Our commitment to advocating for Hungarian wines has truly paid off in opening these new markets.” – commented Daniel Satola, co-owner of Credo Imports.

Homola 100% Balaton – a white blend of the lake

“A captivating fruit-forward blend from the Balaton Wine Region, featuring aromatic, local varieties: Tramini, Szürkebarát, Olaszrizling, and Sárgamuskotály. This wine showcases vibrant tropical fruit flavors with a subtle touch of saltiness, complemented by a crisp, fresh acidity.”
This wine aims to feature the most typical grapes of Balaton wine region. If I allowed some personal touch in the lead, let me go on: in my childhood summer was equal to Balaton, we spent many weekends on the north shore at different villages. I remember how cheerful my parents were at the end of a beach day, at a wine rustic wine bar of the times, drinking Szürkebarát (Pinot Gris) or Tramini (Traminer), two grapes of Homola 100% Balaton blend. This wine recalls good memories of that era, with the merits of modern technology and much more care and attention in the vineyard.

See the wine on Credo Imports website

More about Homola Winery

Feind Play Rose – bubbly refreshment

” After the popularity of our white sparkling wine we decided to make our first sparkling rose. It is fresh and fruity, everything we dreamed of. Perfect as an aperitif and as a summer’s day refreshment.”
Though Balaton is all about white wines, some wineries insist on cultivating black grapes as well, a Feind is one of them. Their Syrah is undoubtedly one of the best in the country, and this rosé also proves the relevance of black grapes around the largest lake of Central and Eastern Europe. Feind Play Rose is made of Kékfrankos and Zweigelt, and it is aerated, to make it more refreshing. Feind Winery is the “first stop” if you are driving from Budapest, with a wine bar and wine shop – a must stop indeed!

See the wine on Credo Imports website

More about Feind Winery

More about Credo Imports

Our earlier interview with Credo Imports owners

Credo Imports launches Vylyan, Lajver and Feind wines in the USA

Hét Kakas farm table by Kristinus, South Balaton

Maybe your grandparents are long gone, but you cherish the memory of sitting at the table, together, a big family, then the smell of the meat soup, the flavours of the sun-ripened cucumber, the sweet cherry pie that you could not stop eating. Well, you can have that experience – seasoned with natural wines by Kristinus. Hét Kakas (Seven Roosters) is a “farm table”, not a “real restaurant”. You can sit at the table for 12, under the sky and the walnut tree, every Saturday evening, from April to October. Plus, some extra, “pop up” events are held, like Sunday Lunch next Sunday (19 July).

Hét Kakas farm table

– Traditional recipes, locally grown vegetables and fruits, meat of locally bred animals
– Natural, biodynamic wines made by Kristinus
– Location: Kéthely (South Balaton), Kéthelyihegy dűlő 2249/4 (about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Budapest by car)
– Contact: +36 30 722 4993 (the guys speak English, don’t worry)
– Since only 12 people can participate in a Saturday dinner, a bit more (around 20) at the Sunday Lunch next week, it is crucial to make your reservation as soon as possible.

https://reservours.com/hetkakas/tablereservation

As we reported earlier, 233 wineries entered 995 wines from all the 22 wine regions at the 45th Hungarian National Wine Contest organised by the National Council of Wine Communities. 10 grand gold, 215 gold and 78 silver medals were given along with 18 special awards. The special awards are listed here, now let us recommend 5 must-try wines among the gold medal winners.

As we reported earlier, 233 wineries entered 995 wines from all the 22 wine regions at the 45th Hungarian National Wine Contest. A special feature of the contest is that a panel of influencers / celebrities taste some wines as well and select the so-called consumers’ favourites. The 5 winners are featured in the cover photo.

Consumers’ favourites

– Olaszrizling category: Gedeon, Olaszrizling, 2025, Kunság
– Irsai Olivér category: Günzer Tamás, Irsai Olivér, 2025, Villány
– Rose category: Hilltop Neszmély, Pinot Noir Rozé, NV, Neszmély
– Sparkling category: Garamvári, Classic Brut, NV, Balatonboglár
– Kékfrankos based wines: Thummerer, Egri Bikavér Classicus, 2022, Eger

Who participated in the panel this year?

– Péter Kabát, former footballer from the national selection
– Paulina, award-winner singer
– György Háder, editor of “Bochkor” morning radio show
– Dóra Szabó-Thalmeiner, TikTok influencer (cooking theme)
– Beatrix Csiky, gastronomic content creator
– Barnabás Hack, chef of Costes Downtown restaurant
– Dóra Tomcsányi fashion designer

Let us intruduce the bubbly favourite of the consumers:
Garamvári Classic Brut

Garamvári Vineyards from Balatonboglár wine region has not only won the admiration of the consumers, but that of the professionals as well: Garamvári Sparkling Brut received gold medal at the contest. The family winery has collected 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal altogether.
Garamvári Sparkling Brut – gold medal
Garamvári Optimum Brut 2019 – gold medal
Garamvári Sínai-hegy Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 – gold medal
Pannon Imperial Extra Dray, NV – silver medal
Garamvári Sparkling Brut is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Furmint. “An authentic “Blanc de Blancs”—that is, a sparkling wine made exclusively from white grapes—is light, cheerful, and mood-lifting. The lively acidity of the Chardonnay pairs perfectly with the fruity, floral, and pastry-like flavours of the Pinot Blanc and Furmint, resulting in a wine that can be described in a single word: freshness.”
The retail price on the webshop of the winery is 5600 HUF (around 16 EUR).
More about Garamvári Vineyards

SEE ALL RESULTS HERE

Hotel Moments, Budapest

Hotel Moments does not look majestic, yet the staff must know something. It is not the first time that they won the guests’ votes, they can boast with several acknowledgements. One of the reasons is undoubtedly the excellent value for money.

“The Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best title celebrates the highest level of excellence in travel. It’s awarded to those who receive a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period. Out of our 8 million listings, fewer than 1% achieve this milestone.”
See top Europe hotels here

Why do guests love Hotel Moments according to Trip Advisor?

“Check out Hotel Moments Budapest, where cool architecture meets modern vibes in a central location. Its large well-appointed rooms boast great showers, strong Wi-Fi, and loads of storage space, while the fitness centre and sauna offer downtime. Don’t miss the daily walking and bicycle tours to explore the city. The different breakfast options and great cocktails will whet your palate, and the knowledgeable, friendly staff ensures a comfortable stay. Also, the pet-friendly policy makes it easy to bring your 4-legged friend. A superb value, this fantastic property stands out among Budapest hotels.”

Noble bubbles in your room

Though Hotel Moments does not have an on-site restaurant, actually, there is a restaurant “on-site”, meaning, in the same building. Apart from that, the hotel does have a lounge bar, and guests can enjoy room service with delicacies like in our cover photo.
Garamvári is a family winery with long tradition of making traditional method sparkling wines. Garamvári Classic Extra Dry is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, a lovely, fruity, easy going sparkling wine for only 5600 HUF (around 16 EUR).

More about Hotel Moments

More about Garamvári Vineyard

Do you want to spend September in the paradise? Then contact Kristinus, a biodynamic estate on the south shore of Lake Balaton. Paradise on earth, where cows, hens, bees, humans and other creatures live together, and wines are made in the most natural way.

Places are limited!

Here comes the announcement of Kristinus:
Ready to connect with the soil, the vines, and an incredible community this autumn?
Send a brief introductory email letting us know why you want to join a biodynamic harvest, along with your CV/experience to:
– info@kristinus.hu (Cc: sales@kristinus.hu)
– Subject Line: Harvest Team 2026 Application – [Your Name]
Spaces are limited as we keep our harvest team tight-knit and highly collaborative. Apply today to secure your spot in the South Balaton sun!
We offer accommodation and food during harvest.
September 1-30

How is it like working at Kristinus?

Read about the experiences of two French guys, who spent three months at Kristinus in 2021.

Two French guys in a Hungarian vineyard

A summer wine by Kristinus

“Watch glass after glass disappear”

Kristinus Siller – a Best Buy: 96 pts from Wine Enthusiast