The German international wine contest has always been popular among Hungarian winemakers, but this winter edition is the record so far: Hungary ranks 3rd in the medal contest with 178 medals after Italy (337 medals) and Spain (245). Even the organizer Germany has less medals (169). Hungary has collected 8 grand gold, 147 gold and 23 silver medals. Let us introduce some highlights of the award winners.

The grapegrower and the winemaker share insights

The article below was written by Tóth Ferenc Winery team.
See the original here.

When we talk about Kadarka, we must picture a true prima donna. There is no doubt that it shows its finest side in Hungary’s Eger and Szekszárd wine regions. It is an elegant grape variety with immense potential, yet it is extremely delicate: it demands the utmost professional care from the vineyard to the cellar. In the right terroir and in careful hands, it offers an unparalleled experience, but it punishes even the slightest negligence immediately. Let’s take a peek behind the scenes and see what makes making Kadarka such an exciting—and at the same time, challenging—task.

Importer of the Month: PaTrioVin, Denmark

Based on the company’s name, I had imagined an older Hungarian expatriate behind the Danish import firm and wine merchant PaTrioVin—and how wrong I was! A young woman, Patrícia, wrote back; she runs the business with her husband, and they represent wines from six Hungarian wine regions with tremendous enthusiasm and energy.
Author: Ágnes Németh
Photos: PaTrioVin

Wineries represented: Bock Winery (Villány), Dúzsi Family Winery (Szekszárd), Feind Winery (Balatonfüred–Csopak), Gróf Degenfeld (Tokaj), Kovács Nimród Winery (Eger). (Konyári wines and Etyeki Kúria wines are not currently available in the online store.)

PaTrioVin
Olesvej 354040 Jyllinge, Dánia
patriovin.dk
info@patriovin.dk

It’s much more than a hobby—it’s a true passion

“Delicious food, a friendly atmosphere, a pleasant ambiance, and best of all: excellent wines. I was very pleasantly surprised. Patrícia is a wonderful host who knows a great deal about Hungarian wines”—this is just one of the positive reviews on the website, and speaking with Patrícia on the phone, it quickly becomes clear that there are plenty of opportunities to meet her; she’s constantly either before or after tastings. When we spoke, she had just finished a Bock masterclass, and Dániel Konyári had already arrived from Lake Balaton—naturally, for another tasting. Of course, I’m curious to know if they run the wine business full-time.
“It’s more than just a hobby for us, but it’s not a full-time job; we’re not yet at the point where we can make a living from it, and it would also be risky because of our children,” says Patrícia, who currently works at an acoustics company.

Sebestyén Nagy Top 10 published

Sebestyén Nagy is one of the most influential Hungarian wine writers. His unique style of writing is unmistakable and style luckily meets a sophisticated and – most of all – unbiased palate. He has recently published the list of his top 10 wines from 2025. Tibor (for friends Titi) Gál’s S. D. Gloria 2022 Egri Bikavér is No5 on the list.
To see all the 10 wines scroll down.

More than 60 exhibitors

Taste Furmint wines from at least 60 wineries in one place, with one ticket. Certainly, Tokaj wine region will be represented with the most wineries, like Béres Vineyards in our cover photo, but participants can taste Furmint wines from other regions as well. Steigler Cellar will be there from Sopron, Kovács Nimród Winery from Eger,Borbély Family Winery from Badacsony and Tornai Winery from Somló.

Date and time: 26 February 2026 (Thursday), 16.00–21.00
Venue: Hungarian Heritage House, 1011 Budapest, Corvin tér 8
Tickets purchased in advance: 21 900 HUF / approximately 58 EUR
Tickets on the spot: 25 000 HUF / approximately 66 EUR
For the full list of exhibitors scroll down
Get your ticket here (at the bottom, page is in Hungarian, but google can help or you can contact the organiser here)

Furmint in a nutshell

– Furmint is one of the few grapes allowed to use under the appellation of Tokaj, it is the main grape of aszú wines along with Hárslevelű.
– Tokaj winemakers answered with stunning dry Furmint wines to the decrease of sweet wine consumption.
– Furmint is grown all over Hungary, marvellous Furmint wines are made in Somló, Badacsony, Balatonfüred–Csopak, Mátra and Eger.
– It ripens late and has a nose of fresh fruits, often compared to ripe pear. Its significant acidity and alcohol produce characterful wines sometimes with a touch of tartness.
– Furmint originates from Tokaj, and there are several evidences to prove that, one of them is the mention of the variety as early as 1611 in a document from Erdőbénye, Tokaj region.

The latest discovery about furmint, announced yesterday:

Turkish Kolorko grape variety is identified as Hungary’s Furmint

A Turkish grape is actually Furmint!

Béres Lőcse Furmint is available in magnum format!

“This wine was made from the selected harvest of Furmint vines from the Lőcse vineyard. The must, gently pressed with a maximum pressure of 1 bar, was settled for one night. The clarified must was fermented in new wooden barrels. After fermentation, it was aged for 6 months in barrels of various sizes (2 and 5 hectolitres) with different toasts. During aging, the wine developed its harmonious, rounded, mineral character due to constant lees stirring and micro-oxygenation processes. After the aging process, we crafted the final blend by skilfully marrying the best barrels.”
More about the wine and Béres Tokaj

Exhibitors of Furmint February Grand Tasting 2026

Angyal (Tokaj)
ÁTS (Tokaj)
Babits (Tokaj)
Bardon (Tokaj)
Béres (Tokaj)
Bodrog Borműhely  (Tokaj)
Boldog Balaton (Balaton)
Borbély (Badacsony)
Bott (Tokaj)
Dénes (Somló)
Dereszla (Tokaj)
Disznókő (Tokaj)
Dobogó (Tokaj)
Dorogi (Tokaj)
Emerencia (Tokaj)
Erzsébet (Tokaj)
Eskol (Tokaj)
Espák (Tokaj)
Frikker (Tokaj)
Füleky (Tokaj)
Gapa (Tokaj)
Gizella (Tokaj)
Grand Tokaj (Tokaj)
Gróf Degenfeld (Tokaj)
H-négyzet (Mátra)
Heidrich (Tokaj)
Holdvölgy (Tokaj)
IN Borok
Kálvária (the organiser’s own cellar in Budakalász, near Budapest)
Kikelet (Tokaj)
Kolonics (Somló)
Kovács Nimród Winery (Eger)
Kvaszinger (Tokaj)
Lenkey (Tokaj)
Mádi A (Tokaj)
Maison aux Pois (Tokaj)
Mariasy (Tokaj)
Montium (Tokaj)
Naár (Tokaj)
Napvirág (Badacsony)
P.A.N.K. (Badacsony)
Pálffy (Balaton Uplands)
Patricius (Tokaj)
Paunoch (Tokaj)
Pelle (Tokaj)
Pendits (Tokaj)
Préselő (Tokaj)
Rózsa (Tokaj)
Samuel Tinon (Tokaj)
Sanzon Tokaj (Tokaj)
Sauska (Tokaj)
Serpens Wine (Tokaj)
Somlói Vándor (Somló)
Steigler Pince (Sopron)
Szűcs (Tokaj)
T3 (Tokaj)
Tokaj Drei (Tokaj)
Tokaj-Hétszőlő Organic Vineyards (Tokaj)
Tokaj-Oremus  (Tokaj)
Tokajicum (Tokaj)
Tornai (Somló)
TóthBorbirtok (Pannonhalma)

Trifecta Wines (Tokaj)
Wine Mission

Zsirai (Tokaj)

 

Kovács Nimród Winery

Noel Bíró has been the head winemaker of Kovács Nimród Winery for about two years. Now he is telling us how he grew up in Eger wine region and what the atmosphere is like at the winery.

“Born into wine”

– You are from Eger, you grew up in the wine region, and you studied winemaking in Eger. Are there winemakers in your family, were there grape growers among your ancestors?
– I was born in Eger, grew up here, and graduated from university here as a viticulture and winemaking engineer. My family has always had ties to the profession. My grandfather was vice president of the Eger Wine Route Association and was closely involved in the development of local wine and gastronomy. My father has also worked in several branches of the profession, from gastronomy to viticulture.
– Where did you work after university?
– Before I started university, I worked at the St. Andrea Vineyard to gain some professional insight. During and immediately after university, I started my career at the Nap-völgy Winery, then worked at the Gál Tibor Winery for two years, and finally, almost two years ago, I moved to the Kovács Nimród Winery as head winemaker. These wineries are all located in a historic row of cellars in Eger, where I often visited as a child with my father, as he also worked there, so I was familiar with the area and the wineries.

Being independent in a team

– What is it like to work there? Nimród is proud of the low fluctuation and the good atmosphere. Can you tell us a little about why it’s good to work there?
– The atmosphere in the company is friendly, there aren’t many arguments, so we deal with everyday challenges cheerfully and celebrate our successes together. The team on the viticulture side is also good, and my colleagues always strive to get the most out of each vintage in terms of quality from all of our vineyards.
– How much independence do you have? Surely you have your own ideas, and there are disagreements? Have you ever made a wine that is your own style, based on your own ideas?
– I think Nimród and I understand each other well, we have similar opinions on many things, and our tastes are similar, so it’s easy to work together. We decide on the batches mostly based on joint decisions, and then I make them. There are batches that I shape based on market demand, and there are others that Nimród comes up with based on his own insights. Most of our items are based on a shared vision, but I am largely responsible for maintaining the appropriate style until the final result is achieved, so I feel that every wine is a little bit mine, as I can assert myself professionally in every vintage while maintaining the agreed style.

Cork Croatia tasting of 68 wines from 6 countries

Last month Croatian online wine publication, Cork Croatia held one of the broadest tastings of Kékfrankos / Blaufränkisch / / Frankovka (etc) grape variety. 4 of the 5 Grand Gold winners are Hungarian wines!

The Zagreb tasting is one of the most comprehensive panel tastings of the variety, the 68 wines cover the territory of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, the region where Kékfrankos (as we call it) became significant and acknowledged. The event took place at LuMa Wine & Friends wine bar. Zoltán Győrffy Hungarian wine writer, editor-in-chief of Pécsi Borozó helped recruit samples and participated in the jury.
Tasters:
Dr. Ivan Pejić, mgr. Franjo Francem, Ina Bednar, Jana Koščec, Željko Suhadolnik, Ivan Dropuljić, Siniša Medenica, Ivo Kozarčanin, Tomo Jakopović, Darko Lugarić, Zoltán Győrffy.

The Grand Gold Winners

– Jackfall Kékfrankos (Villány) 2020 (HUN)
– Stier Kékfrankos (Villány) 2021 (HUN)
– Heumann Kékfrankos Reserve (Villány) 2018 (HUN)
– Fyrmonia Kékfrankos – Frankovka Modra 2022 (SVK)
– Thummerer Kékfrankos Superior Válogatás (Eger) 2021 (HUN)
Best of country and gold winner wines are below the photos

Great wines to remember #6

Kovács Nimród Winery in Eger makes a whole line of varietal Syrah wines, and Max is undoubtedly a magnificent wine. The grape comes from the highest part of Nyilasmár, a top “cru”, and it is named after the great jazz drummer, Max Roach. It is not a cheap wine at around 50 EUR in retail, but it is definitely worth it!

An outstanding new release

KNW Max Syrah 2022 vintage has been released recently, and it was rated by Vince wine magazine panel as outstanding (4 stars) in the New Releases section. The panel’s review:
“Deep ruby colour. Refreshing, intense nose abundant in red fruits, redcurrant, rosehip with a touch of smoke and pepper in the background. A full sip with vibrant acidity and the aromas of forest fruits. A bit grippy tannins at the moment, it needs some more ageing, and it will definitely be worth being patient!”
As for the other Syrah members of the family, there is Soul as an entry level wine and Wow as the top Syrah, a single vineyard wine from Nagy-Eged vineyard.
Find all the Syrah wines on Monarchia webshop.

Kovács Nimród wines are available in several countries, find all the partners here.

More about Max Roach

More about Kovács Nimród Winery

An earlier article of ours about Kovács Nimród Winery being awarded the most prestigious award of the Circle of Hungarian Wine Writers

10 great wines to remember, #4

Silky, naughty, tricky – a lovely example of Kadarka grape variety made by Tóth Ferenc Winery in Eger. Towards the end of the year, we look back to some of the great wine moments we have enjoyed. All the 10 wines we will list until New Year’s Eve are special for some reason and they are all worth buying, multiple bottles, if you can afford. (The order is NOT a ranking.)
(Cover picture background painted by Emma Katalin Dobos)

The origin of Kadarka

“Kadarka is said to have been introduced to Hungary from the Balkans, either by Serbians, which fits with Kadarka being the Slavic name for Scutari, a lake (also known as Skadar) between Montenegro and Albania, and with the fact that the variety was once cultivated under the synonym Skadarka in Croatia and Serbia (Levadoux 1956; Galet 2000; Rohály et al. 2003), or by Turks, hence its synonym Törökszőlő (‘Turkish grape’). It is conceivable that it made its way to Hungary via Bulgaria, where it is still widely planted under the synonym Gamza, and where it is considered to be indigenous. It is also said to be “be indigenous to the region of Miniş near Arad in western Romania, where the first sweet Aszú-style red wine was made from shrivelled Cadarcă grapes in 1744 (Dejeu 2004). The exact origin of Kadarka remains unknown but it lies somewhere within the Balkan-Pannonian area.” Excerpt from: Robinson, Jancis; Harding, Julia; Vouillamoz, Jose. “Wine Grapes (9780062325518).” iBooks.

“Do you speak Kadarka?”

Kadarka is grown almost all over the country. It has significant vineyards in the Great Hungarian Plain, where Kunság, Csongrád and Hajós–Baja wine regions are situated. Kadarka is most important in Szekszárd and Eger, the two wine regions where the famous blend, Bikavér (Bull’s Blood) is made, and Kadarka is usually one component of the blend. Total plantings of Kadarka account for less than 700 hectares.
It is really hard to cultivate Kadarka. Late ripening, sensitive, its thin skin can be affected with harmful and noble rot. The colour is medium deep ruby. On the nose rich, spicy and elegant – if in good hands. On the palate juicy, spicy, medium bodied with good acidity and low tannins. Usually consumed young, within 1–3 years, but with properly restricted yield and careful vinification Kadarka can be aged for a long time – as it is proved by some vertical tastings carried on in Szekszárd and other wine regions.

35th Winemaker of the Year of Hungary

The 5 candidates this year: Zsolt Gere, (Gere Tamás & Zsolt Winery, Villány), István Ipacs Szabó (Ipacs Szabó Winery, Villány, Pécs Research Centre), József Lamport (Thummerer Winery, Eger), Attila Szentpéteri (Szentpéteri Winery, Kunság), Csaba Vesztergombi (Vesztergombi Cellar, Szekszárd). The name of the winner will be announced on the 5th of December.

 

Former award winners

2024 Zsolt Liptai, Pannonhalma
2023 Tamás Günzer, Villány
2022 Mihály Figula Jr, Balatonfüred–Csopak
2021 Beáta Nyúlné Dr. Pühra, Etyek-Buda
2020 Tamás Borbély, Badacsony
2019 Csaba Koch, Hajós-Baja
2018 Géza Balla, Arad (Romania)
2017 † Mátyás Szőke, Mátra
2016 Pál Mészáros, Szekszárd
2015 † Mihály Szöllősi, Neszmély
2014 Tamás Dúzsi, Szekszárd
2013 Éva Gálné Dignisz, Kunság
2012 Károly Áts, Tokaj
2011 Péter Vida, Szekszárd
2010 Ottó Légli, Balatonboglár
2009 Dr. György Lőrincz, Eger
2008 † János Konyári, Balatonboglár
2007 János Frittmann, Kunság
2006 Vencel Garamvári, Balatonboglár
2005 Béla Vincze, Eger
2004 Ferenc Takler, Szekszárd
2003 János Árvay, Tokaj
2002 † Ernő Malya, Etyek-Buda
2001 István Szepsy, Tokaj
2000 † Mihály Figula, Balatonfüred-Csopak
1999 Ákos Kamocsay, Ászár-Neszmély
1998 † Tibor Gál, Eger
1997 József Bock, Villány
1996 Zoltán Polgár, Villány
1995 † Vilmos Thummerer, Eger
1994 Attila Gere, Villány
1993 Ferenc Vesztergombi, Szekszárd
1992 † Tibor Báthori, Etyek-Buda
1991 Ede Tiffán, Villány