The grandiose French wine expo begins today, and for the first time in Paris, Hungary is represented by the national wine marketing agency showcasing wines from 25 Hungarian estates. Wines of Hungary booths are located in HALL 4 / C 153. If you hurry, you can catch the Uncorking volcanic wines masterclass by Konstantin Baum MW from 10 am (Room 3, Hall 4). Find all the exhibiting Hungariasn wineries here.

Dubicz Vineyard and Winery, Mátra

This family winery in Mátra produces aromatic white wines typical of the region, but also single vineyard, complex beauties like Sárhegy Olaszrizling. The grape is Olaszrizling, and ‘Sárhegy’ (something like ‘Mud Mountain’ is the name of the vineyard. The current vintage is 2021, and this barrel aged wine has collected several gold medals. We visited the estate with Valeria Tenison wine writer, she was impressed by the wine and she gave it 89 points. “The palate is round and creamy with a perceivable oak influence, well-balanced by the refreshing acidity and bright fruitiness of garden pears and white apples.”

Read the whole wine description by Valeria Tenison here:

3 great Hungarian wines picked by Valeria Tenison

Eszterbauer Winery, Szekszárd

“Stories sell the wines”, this is the Number1 marketing rule, and this family from Szekszárd is full of stories! Actually, every single wine has a tale, heart-warming stories about long gone ancestors and funny figures of the society. The winery has won several national and international awards, and one of their specialities is Kadarka, they make several varietal wines of this variety, and obviously Szekszárdi Bikavér is a key product.

The estate has undergone a rebranding recently, read more about it here:

Eszterbauer – a good example of rebranding

Sauska, Villány / Tokaj

This estate “cannot not win” when it comes to CSWWC, the most important contest of sparkling wines. The winery has a “leg” in Villány, in the southernmost wine region of Hungary with subtle, serious red wines, while the brand new Tokaj estate is a landmark now, an unmissable place. The third leg is the sparkling cellar in Budafok (within the capital, Budapest), where the traditional sparkling wines age patiently.

Read about the latest Sauska success at CSWWC here:

And the “Oscar” goes to Sauska Brut Magnum again!

Tűzkő Estate, Tolna

Dr. Erdélyi Árpád, estate manager of Tűzkő Estate has explained in a recent radio interview that 140 hectares of their 180 hectares in total are located in the Szekszárd hills, even though the wine region is Tolna. He has also revealed that the Italian owners–Antinori and Mazzei–let the team make as Hungarian wines as they want.
Read more curiosity about Tűzkő Estate here:

Wine of the Week: Tűzkő Kékfrankos Selection

Tóth Ferenc Winery, Eger

Eger is the Number 1 tourist destination in Hungary after Budapest, no wonder, the city is full of cobblestoned little streets, baroque buildings, all around the medieval castle of Eger. And of course, the wineries with their legendary red blend, the Egri Bikavér (Bulls’ Blood), and also the white counterpart called Egri Csillag (‘The Star of Eger”). Tóth Ferenc Winery makes a classic and a superior of this white blend, both of them are great at different levels. Egri Csillag Superior 2022 “is a superb reflection of Eger wine region, the cool climate, it reveals beautiful, ripened fruit and the refreshing acidity in a deep, layered wine. Our objective was to create a superior quality elegant white blend with long ageing potential.” A blend of Hárslevelű, Olaszrizling, Leányka and Rhine Riesling. Plus, the winery is an expert of chocolate and wine pairings, they work with a Hungarian chocolate manufacture.
Read more about the chocolate and wine pairings of Tóth Ferenc Winery here:

Enjoy Wine & Chocolate pairings delivered to your home!

Heimann & Fiai, Szekszárd

Zoltán Heimann junior never stops, just like his parents. He awaits guests at Wine Paris, his new vintage siller wine called Piros is about to be released, and he keeps his followers posted on his lively Instagram page. Meanwhile Zoltán Heimann, the founder of the estate is selling the last bottles of the 2018 vintage and the first bottles of 2020 of the iconic Barbár blend, with his wife, Ágnes they are preparing for their first “Pizza & Wine Fair & Art” event on 1 March, and the whole family is planning the annual “Heimann Estate Tour” on 3 May in Szekszárd, Hungary. Oh, almost forgot: their website has just been renewed.
Read more about the novelties of Heimann & Sons:

Learn the word ‘Piros’

Homola Winery, Balatonfüred

At the last edition of Winelovers Wine Awards international competition, the organisers launched a Buyers’ Program, which proved to be successful. More than a dozen importers / distributors were speed dating with the participating wineries, each encounter had to be done within 10 minutes. Half a year has passed, the organisers surveyed the buyers, and it turned out that the most successful winery was Homola Winery from Balatonfüred–Csopak wine region, Homola shipments have left–among others–to Taiwan and the USA.

Read more about the success of Homola:

Homola: the most loved brand of a “speed dating” session

Borjour, a company organising wine events, holds its annual sparkling wine tasting on the 28th of December – just in time to taste and buy the favourite ones for the New Year’s Eve. Aerated or bottle fermented,fresh or long aged – visitors can taste a whole range of bubblies from several wine regions of Hungary and also from France, Italy and Spain. The venue is the “Whale”, the building called Bálna on the bank of the river Danube.

Date and time: 28 December 2024, 17.00–21.30
Venue: Bálna (‘The Whale’), Fővám square 11-12, Budapest, Hungary
Ticket price: 11 900 HUF / approx. 28 EUR (It includes all the Hungarian sparklings and some mineral water. Foreign sparkling wines are to be purchased on the spot.)
Get your ticket here (click on ‘Jövök’ meaning ‘I will participate’, first you have to register)
Glass rental: To rent a glass you should prepare 2500 HUF in cash, you will get it upon returning the glass.
Exhibitors: 17 Hungarian wineries plus Champagne, Prosecco and Cava
Food: Oysters will be available!

The sparkling wines from our cover photo

Click on the name of the wines for more information

– Babarczi Buborczi, an aerated sparkling wine made of Cserszegi Fűszeres, Irsai Olivér, Tramini from Pannonhalma
– Dubicz Zsizsi Frizzante, an aerated sparkling wine made of Sárgamuskotály, from Mátra
– Fehérvári Extra Dry, a method traditional sparkling wine made of Chardonnay grape, from Somló
– Fehérvári Brut Nature Grand Reserve 2021, a method traditional sparkling wine blend from Somló
– Frittmann Frisecco, an aerated sparkling wine made of Irsai Olivér grape, from Kunság
– Frittmann Gold, a method traditional sparkling wine made of Ezerjó grape, from Kunság
– Garamvári Brut Nature, a method traditional sparkling wine made of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape, from South Balaton
– Garamvári Mimi, a method traditional, limited edition sparkling wine made of Pinot Blanc grape, from South Balaton
– Koch Chardonnay Brut, a method traditional sparkling wine made of Chardonnay, from Hajós–Baja

Some of our favourite photos and some comments from the winemakers

A Drink Business journalist contacted us to ask for more information about the record harvest in Hungary. As the OIV report states, 2024 vintage produced the smallest global output since 1961. Except for Hungary, celebrating the highest production since 2010! Is that true? No, it isn’t, as we explain it below. But the main objective of this post is to give a picture of this year’s harvest in Hungary through the photos and the words of the people, who are behind the figures. Just look at our cover picture: the creativity of the winemakers is indeed outstanding!

Photos of the cover picture by Csetvei Cellar, Fehérvári Wine Estate, Zsirai Winery

What happened to the numbers?

When the British journalist contacted us, we called a representative of the Council of the National Wine Communities to ask about the reason behind the strange and false positive harvest figure. She checked, the 2024 estimates are correct, but as she spotted out, the figures of the earlier years are incorrect. They are available on the website of the Council here. (In Hungarian, but it is easy to understand, the bottom line is the national wine production.)
However, in the OIV report (page 6) the numbers are different, they are much lower regarding the previous years.
See the OIV report here.
As it turned out from the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, they supplied improper data earlier, while the 2024 estimate is correct, this is why there seems to be an increase though there was not. The head of department explained that they had used the data of the Central Office of Statistics. It is still a mystery why the two offices have so different numbers…
But it is enough of the numbers, let’s see the people behind the figures!

Some comments from Hungarian winemakers about the harvest

Kurt István Taschner, Taschner Winery and Sparkling Wine House, Sopron 

I have mixed feelings regarding this vintage, because there are some outstanding wines, but the fermentation of some red wines are rather complicated, actually we are still struggling with one of the red lots, the volatile acidity is too high and we are just guessing the reasons behind.
From grape growing point of view it was a good year with sufficient rainfall – occasionally there was too much, but at least the deeper layers of the soil received rainfall as well. We had to spray 7 times, with that we could protect 98% of the crop, which was healthy, and the quantity was slightly more than last year.
More about Taschner Winery

127 wine exhibitors in the World Heritage Castle of Buda

A generation gained its first wine tasting experiences at “The Wine Festival”, as it was called at the beginning. It used to be a “must-go” event for winemakers and for all members of the trade. Times change, nowadays the competition of events is high, yet the magnificent scenery and the professional organizers attract thousands of visitors every year. This year the novelty is a luxurious Sunday Branch in the castle terrace, while the guest country is Georgia with is 8000 years’ winemaking legacy.

Date: 12–15 September, 2024
Opening hours: Thursday (12 Sept): 14.00–24.00, Friday: 14.00–1.00, Saturday: 14.00–1.00, Sunday: 14.00–22.00 (Sunday Brunch 11.00–14.00)
Where: on the terraces of the Castle of Buda
How to get there: the easiest way is to walk up the stairs or take bus No16 from Deák square. The Castle Hill Funicular is another, spectacular way to get there!
Tickets: Thursday: 8200 HUF, Friday: 8900 HUF, Saturday: 8900 HUF, Sunday: 6500 HUF
4-day pass: 15 000 HUF / 38 EUR
Sunday branch: 44 000 HUF / 112 EUR
Some of the exhibitors: Bock Winery (Villány), Borbély Family Winery (Badacsony), Dubicz Vineyard and Winery, Fehérvári Wine Estate (Somló), Garamvári Vineyards (Balatonboglár), Gere Attila Winery, Homola – Paloznak (Balatonfüred–Csopak), Lajver Wine House (Szekszárd), Sauska (Tokaj / Villány), Teleki (Villány), Tornai Winery (Somló), Tűzkő Estate (Tolna)
See the full list of exhibitors here
More information

Thanks, Dubicz Vineyard and Winery

Do you feel alone? Call your friends today! International Friendship Day is celebrated today, on the 30th of July. I have not even heard of Friendship Day until I came across a blog post of Dubicz estate in Mátra. Their journalist, Anna Winkler provides the readers with valuable content regularly – a great way of promoting Dubicz wines!
By Ágnes Németh

Too many best friends? No problem!

As Anna Winkler pointed out, Friendship Day originates in Paraguay, and later many United Nations personalities joined forces, and A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh has become the ambassador of the day. The writer also suggests different Dubicz wines to celebrate Friendship Day
– with you best friend: talk for hours and refresh with a playful, vibrant, but at the same time complex Dubicz Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé,
– with some great friends of yours: organise a game evening and elevate the cheerful atmosphere with the joyous Dubicz Zsizsi Frizzante semi dry aerated sparkling wine (in our cover photo),
– with a party with your many friends: find some great price-value wines, like the pack of 6 bottle of wines or the Bag-in-Box wines, like the juicy, flavoursome Dubicz Irsai Olivér BiB!

The “asparagus and Sauv Blanc time” of the year

Our wine educator used to say that Sauvignon Blanc is a variety easy to recognize even for beginners. It is true, and how delicious that revelation is! Though there is a trend to focus on local grapes and rediscover ancient varieties, it is nice to have stunning guest grapes. And guests should be treated well: we give them great soil, plenty of sunshine and loving care. Taste Sauvignon Blanc wines from different wine regions to discover the differences! Dubicz from Mátra wine region, Koch from Hajós–Baja and Frittmann from Kunság. This is the season of dishes made of fresh asparagus – an ideal pair of Sauvignon.

In Hungary there are 957 hectares under Sauvignon Blanc (source: HNT 2023), it is the 14th most planted white variety (out of the 125 white grapes planted in Hungary).
See all the grapes and their vineyard sizes here

Celebrate rosé wines in City Park

Around 60 wineries pour rosé wines and bubblies in the sunny City Park for 3 days. The entrance is free including live music programmes, only an official Rosalia glass is needed to be rented or purchased, and then the festival-goers pay for the wines and food they consume. Three of the exhibitors – featured in our cover photo –: Borbély Family Winery from Badacsony, Dubicz Vineyard and Winery from Mátra and Garamvári Vineyard from South Balaton.

Greeting from the organisers

“Pack up your friends, colleagues and the whole family along with your dogs, and head for a picnic in the shade of the City Park’s giant trees. You’ll only need a blanket because everything else, from cooled rosé to chilled champagne, easy white, or refreshing spritz, will be provided by Rosalia Wine Picnic. On the last day of spring, we open the wine festival season with Budapest’s biggest, original, one-and-only garden party. From 31 May to 2 June, Rosalia Wine Picnic awaits enthusiasts of fine wines and trendy bites with numerous programs and discoveries in the capital’s most beautiful park.”

Find more information and tickets on the website
Don’t miss the Early Bird Deluxe pack – available until 21 May here.

“Kinnagangon” Rosé 2022, Borbély Family Winery, Badacsony

This easy-going rosé is made of Pinot Noir, and the name needs some explanation. ‘Kinnagangon’ is three words written together, reminiscent of colloquial spoken Hungarian. The meaning is just “being outside on the balcony”, but the sound of this made-up word also reflects the featherlight happiness of enjoying a chilled rosé wine in a hot, lazy afternoon.

More about Borbély Family Winery

Cabernet Sauvignon Premium Rose 2022, Dubicz Vineyard and Winery, Mátra

“In this elegant premium rosé, the delicious aroma of blackberry tempts us to taste it. In its taste raspberry, cherry, sour cherry and crispy acids are melded in a special harmony. It is not an everyday rosé experience!”1014 on the label refers to Mátra’s highest peak – which is actually the highest peak of our whole country.

More about Dubicz Vineyard and Winery

Lellei Rosé Gold 2023, Garamvári Vineyard, South Balaton

Garamvári Vineyards is a family owned winery specialised in still and bottle fermented sparkling wines. Lellei Rosé Gold is a still blend of Pinot Noir and Syrah from Balatonlelle, hence the name ‘Lellei’. A crispy, refreshing rosé abundant in red berry fruits, mainly raspberry and strawberry accompanied with vibrant acidity.

More about Garamvári Vineyards

Including Gere Tamás & Zsolt wines from Villány

Borjour Magnum is nn ideal event to get a snapshot of Hungarian winemaking with more than 200 wineries in one place. Ticket holders can taste more than 1000 wines at Novotel Budapest Congress Centre. A “magnum” tasting indeed! A few tickets are still available for the tasting today, afternoon on 17 February.

The organizer team – and a series of smaller and larger scale events – is called Borjour, which obviously rhymes with the French Bonjour, while ‘Bor’ means ‘Wine’ in Hungarian. Borjour launched this event in 2010, which makes it the oldest indoor wine event, and also with the largest indoor wine exhibition.

Borjour Magnum essential info

Date and time: 17 February 2024, 15.00–21.00
Venue: Novotel Budapest Congress Centre, Budapest, Jagelló út 1-3, Hungary
See the list of exhibitors here (‘Következő’ means ‘Next’ to see the next page of exhibitors)
Tickets / person: 20 000 HUF / 52.5 EUR on the spot / 15 900 HUF / 41 EUR online prior to the event
Buy your ticket here (in Hungarian, but google can help).

Some of the exhibitors

Babarczi Vineyard and Winery (Pannonhalma), Borbély Family Winery (Badacsony), Bock Winery (Villány), Dubicz Vineyard and Winery (Mátra), Dúzsi Family Winery (Szekszárd), Fehérvári Wine Estate (Somló), Feind Winery (Balatonfüred–Csopak), Frittmann Winery (Kunság), Garamvári Vineyard (Balatonboglár), Gere Tamás & Zsolt Winery (Villány), Heimann Family Estate (Szekszárd), Heumann Winery (Villány), Homola Winery (Balatonfüred–Csopak), Koch Winery (Hajós–Baja / Villány), Kovács Nimród Winery (Eger), Lajver Wine House (Szekszárd), Pannonhalma Archabbey (Pannonhalma), Patricius Winery (Tokaj), Sauska (Tokaj / Villány), Steigler Cellar (Sopron), Szeleshát (Szekszárd), TaschnerWinery and Sparkling Wine House (Sopron), Teleki (Villány), Tóth Ferenc Winery (Eger), Tűzkő Estate (Tolna), Vesztergombi Cellar (Szekszárd), Villa Sandahl (Badacsony), VylyanVineyard and Winery (Villány)

Happy 2024 to all of our readers and winemakers!

We are delighted to see so much creativity from the winemakers! Some photos are taken by professionals, others are simple, but lovely shots – we are happy to see that winemakers still have the energy to entertain us through their social media channels. Here we collected 10 of our favourite pictures, of course we could have easily picked 100 more, but we will let you enjoy the day…

Cover photo:

Bujdosó Winery, Balaton – “We have decided to celebrate the harvest properly”. The photo features Ferenc Bujdosó, the son of the founder, an ambitious, talented and experienced winemaker with his colleague.

Zsirai Winery, Tokaj – “We don’t know exactly what’s the perfect wine, but they surely get a lot from Kata’s energy”. Photo by Furmint Photo (inside a stainless steel tank!).

Heimann Family Estate /Heimann & Sons, Szekszárd – a challenging harvest with quality above expectations (the first certified organic crop of all of their Kadarka and Kékfrankos plantations).

Csetvei Cellar, Mór – Krisztina Csetvei is well known for her creativity, just look at her last year’s harvest photo here, and this is a “simple” picture to announce a new wine store in Budapest. Csóka wine shop will sell wines of Csetvei as well.

Barta Winery, Tokaj – Another Furmint Photo production, reflecting the creation of a great wine from a great vineyard (Öreg Király (‘Old King’ in Mád, Tokaj). “Handpicked, pure Furmint and Hárslevelű grapes are cultivated in harmony with nature and treated with the least intervention possible.”

Sauska, Tokaj – This one is the New Year’s post of the estate, part of a series of similar pictures reflecting the “Sauska style” accurately. “Wishing you a year of peace, good health, and great bubbles. Happy New Year!”

Dubicz Winery and Vineyard, Mátra – Margot Robbie actress was on a diet during shooting the new Barbie movie, yet she did not restrain herself from a glass of wine or two. The Dubicz girls were impressed by the movie – so which wine is in the picture in miniature format? See here.

Garamvári Vineyard, Balaton – this year the estate producing a wide range of still and sparkling wines has placed emphasis on the feeling of enjoying sparkling wines in their creative campaign.

Villa Sandahl, Badacsony – each vintage has a different theme on the labels of the estate. 2017 is about magic – Crystal Cut 2017 Rhine Riesling label features the crystal ball of a fortine teller. “We can’t see the future, but with this picture we wish you a very happy New Year” – commented Villa Sandahl team.

Frittmann Winery, Kunság – Tamás and Péter Frittmann from the family winery preparing for the New Year’s Eve – certainly with Frittmann Gold Ezerjó sparkling wine.

Super early bird tickets are available

An ideal event to get a snapshot of Hungarian winemaking with more than 200 wineries in one place. Ticket holders can taste more than 1000 wines at Novotel Budapest Congress Centre. A “magnum” tasting indeed! Now only for 34 euros.

The organizer team – and a series of smaller and larger scale events – is called Borjour, which obviously rhymes with the French Bonjour, while ‘Bor’ means ‘Wine’ in Hungarian. Borjour launched this event in 2010, which makes it the oldest indoor wine event, and also with the largest indoor wine exhibition.

The “protagonists” of our cover photo from top left

Click on the wines to get more information
A Borjour glass
Babarczi wines, Pannonhalma
Borbély Bács Hegy Olasz Rizling 2020, Badacsony
Dubicz Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Mátra
Garamvári Brut Nature 2019, Balatonboglár
Homola Syrah 2015, Balatonfüred–Csopak
Kovács Nimród WOW 2019, Eger
Taschner Irsai Olivér 2023, Sopron
Villa Sandahl Freya’s Amulet 2020, Badacsony

Borjour Magnum essential info

Date and time: 17 February 2024, 15.00–21.00
Venue: Novotel Budapest Congress Centre, Budapest, Jagelló út 1-3, Hungary
See the list of exhibitors here (‘Következő’ means ‘Next’ to see the next page of exhibitors)
Tickets / person: 20 000 HUF / 52.5 EUR now (until 31 December) only for 12 900 HUF / 34 EUR
Buy your ticket here (in Hungarian, but google can help).

Borjour Magnum 2024

Some of the exhibitors: Babarczi Vineyard and Winery (Pannonhalma), Borbély Family Winery (Badacsony), Bock Winery (Villány), Dubicz Vineyard and Winery (Mátra), Dúzsi Family Winery (Szekszárd), Fehérvári Wine Estate (Somló), Feind Winery (Balatonfüred–Csopak), Frittmann Winery (Kunság), Garamvári Vineyard (Balatonboglár), Gere Tamás & Zsolt Winery (Villány), Heimann Family Estate (Szekszárd), Heumann Winery (Villány), Homola Winery (Balatonfüred–Csopak), Koch Winery (Hajós–Baja / Villány), Kovács Nimród Winery (Eger), Lajver Wine House (Szekszárd), Pannonhalma Archabbey (Pannonhalma), Patricius Winery (Tokaj), Sauska (Tokaj / Villány), Steigler Cellar (Sopron), Szeleshát (Szekszárd), Taschner Winery and Sparkling Wine House (Sopron), Teleki (Villány), Tóth Ferenc Winery (Eger), Tűzkő Estate (Tolna), Vesztergombi Cellar (Szekszárd), Villa Sandahl (Badacsony), Vylyan Vineyard and Winery (Villány)