Koch Winery, Hajós–Baja wine region

There is nothing more “insider” for a wine enthusiast, than a deep immersion in the harvest process. Koch Winery (Winery of the Year 2014 and Winemaker of the Year 2019) offers a complex harvest day full of wine and games on 5 September, and the programme is available with accommodation and Budapest bus transfer as well. The two hostesses are Pálma Koch, the founder, Csaba Koch’s daughter and Nati, a Hungarian wine influencer.

The land of happy grapes

Koch Winery is the home of “happy grapes”, since the founder, Csaba Koch uses special canopy techniques to make the vineyard as happy as can be. „The key is that we do not restrict the grapegrowing. We create big but airy leafage, which significantly triggers the photosynthesising capability of the vine-plant, and (boosts) the quality of the grape and wine.”

Koch & Nati Harvest Experience 2026

Make your own wine this year at Koch Winery and immerse yourself in the exciting world of winemaking – from the grape to the bottle! Experience harvest with Pálma Koch and Nati the winemaker this September in Hajós-Baja wine region. Don’t just taste the wine – make it yourself!
Hand-picked and selected grapes, a real experience where YOU experience what a real harvest is like! Of course, music will be playing all the time, and cold spritzers will refresh you between the rows of grapes.
Date: 5 September 2026
Location: Koch Winery (Borota)

Tickets and packages

– You can register for the program with a harvest day ticket without accommodation, it includes the whole day event with wine and food (see detailed programme below).
Price: 35 000 HUF

– The accommodation packages are based on double rooms at the Koch Panzió. Couples and guests arriving together should book in advance, as accommodation places are filled in the order of bookings.
Price for two people: 135 000 HUF
More about the rooms

– The bus departing from Budapest will take guests to Borota in the morning and return to Budapest in the evening. We can provide space for a maximum of 8 people on the bus.
Bus ticket: 5000 HUF / person

Get your ticket here (in Hungarian, but google can help)
You can also contact Pálma Koch here

Detailed programme

Saturday, 5 September

8:30–9:00 Coffée together, juice and snacks at Koch Wine&Coffee
9:00–13:00 Harvest by hand
13:00–14:00 Lunch and coffée
14:00–16:00 Grape processing with a grape crusher and with a more than 100-year-old basket press
16:00–17:00 Siesta, chill, pool time
17:00–19:00 Cellar tour and wine tasting
19:00–20:00 Dinner
20:00–22:00 Wine quiz and games with surprise prizes

Sunday, 6 September (for those, who stay)

8:00–8:30 Coffée together at Koch Wine&Coffee
8:30–9:30 Yoga in the vineyard
9:30–10:30 Breakfast and saying goodbye

Besides the prizes mentioned in the lead, Koch Winery was selected “The Most Beautiful Vineyard” in 2025

The Most Beautiful Wine Estates of Hungary announced

An organic wine by Koch

Have you heard of Castellum grape variety?

 

Look at the cover photo, it features a lively festival, doesn’t it? Can you imagine that this festival is organised by only one winery? Farkasmály, the location of Dominium Winery is a charming village, and it hosts an annual wine festival now for the 5th time.

 

What happens: it is a small scale, relaxed, friendly wine event with live music, local wines. Cellar visits are also carried on in the historic cellars. The brain behind the event, Dániel Orbán, the owner of Dominium Winery speaks good English, but it is required to contact him in advance to organize a cellar tour in English.
Contact Dániel Orbán here.
Entrance ticket: 5000 HUF / day (13.8 EUR) or 8000 HUF / 2 days (22 EUR). Tickets are to be bought on the spot.
Getting there: The village of Farkasmály is only 2 km from the town of Gyöngyös and 3 km from Mátrafüred. You can ride a bike on the bike route or take a taxi, but you can walk as well. The town of Gyöngyös is only one hour’s drive on motorway M3 or 1.5 hours by train from Keleti railway station.
Food will be provided by Banditos Pizza Napoletana.
Accommodation: The organizer Dominium Winery has 8 stunning guests rooms, it is definitely the most comfortable option.
The website of the event (in Hungarian, but Google can help)

A recent success of Dominium Winery

Dominium Feketelányka – gold again!

More than 30 wineries – and a lot of sparklings!

The Nagyerdő (‘Great Forest’ city park) is always atmospheric, but it is best on summer evenings, with great music and a glass in hand. For three days, performers will pass the microphone to each other on three stages, and the exhibitors will constantly offer their wines. Among them will be Béres Vineyard from Tokaj, Bock Winery from Villány, Garamvári Vineyard from Balaton, Steigler Cellar from Sopron, Thummerer Winery from Eger and the Tornai Winery from Somló – they all have sparkling wines to sparkle the summer nights!

Did you know, that Debrecen is the 2nd largest city of Hungary?

Visit Debrecen, enjoy the zoo and the museums, the vibrant squares and parks.
Discover Debrecen – more information here

Date and time: 6–8 August 2026, evenings (from about 5 pm)
Venue: Nagyerdő (‘Great Forest’), Debrecen
Tickets: An entrance ticket is required for the event, which costs 5,000 HUF / person on Thursday, 6,000 HUF on Friday and Saturday, and a three-day pass is 13,000 HUF. Admission is free for children under 12.
Wines must be paid for at the exhibitors.
More information

Wineries mentioned in the introduction

Béres Winery

Bock Estate

Garamvári Vineyard

Steigler Cellar

Thummerer Winery

Tornai Winery

Savages y Suefo is one of the many bands to play, listen to them here:

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

Winelovers River Night on 23 July in Budapest

Unlimited tasting for 4 hours, including a 2 hours’ river cruise with breath-taking sights all around with the top attraczions of Budapest. Don’t miss the 150 wines by 31 wineries, including the brand new Tornai sparkling wines made of the rare Csomorika grape, the new releases of Kancellár Estate, the creator of SomlAI, the “AI wine”, the best non-Austrian sparkling by Falstaff magazine: Etyeki Kúria Rose Brut (with 92 points).

Date and time: 23 July, 18.00–22.00
Venue: Europa Boat / Jégverem Street Port, Budapest, Hungary
Tickets: 19 900 HUF / person (until 22 July)
VIP tickets are available in limited number for 36 900 HUF, it includes dinner and extra samplings.
See all the exhibitors and get your ticket here

More about the new tradtiotional method sparkling wines made by Tornai Winery

New release by Tornai: Sparkling made of Csomorika

More about the international success of Kancellár SomlAI 2021

(Sold out, but the estate has many other great wines worth tasting)

Breaking news: the Best White Wine of CMB is Hungarian!

More about the recent debut of Etyeki Kúria traditional method sparkling wines

World sensation: sabrage with an airplane

Tóth Ferenc Winery and Eger Wine Festival

International Kadarka Day is held on 20 November, however, Tóth Ferenc Winery does not put up with just one day of the year for their beloved variety: they celebrate Kadarka every Friday! Plus, next weekend, on 9–11 July visitors can taste three Kadarka wines at their booth at Eger Wine Festival in the green heart of Eger.

Tóth Ferenc Winery is one of the most active Hungarian wine estates with summer picnics on the spectacular Síkhegy plateau, chocolate and wine pairings, wine hikes and many other activities. The tasting room awaits wine connoisseurs all year, and on top of that, their charming guest house at the foot of the famous Eger Castle offers cosy and unforgettable stay.

See more about Várvédőház guest house
Follow Tóth Ferenc Winery on Facebook or Instagram to see their upcoming events

Key facts about the jubilee Eger Wine Festival

– This year the 30th celebration of Eger wine will take place in Eger, in the beautiful Archbishop Garden, the green heart of Eger.
– The event is admission free, while food and wine samplings are to be paid at the exhibitors. Tasting glass is needed to be purchased.
– Live music, dance shows are provided on two stages and there will be other programs, like parades (for example tractor parade).
– Egri Bikavér wines have special importance at the event: all the exhibiting wineries collaborate with a restaurant, and they present a Bikavér pairing at their booth.
– Tóth Ferenc Winery will offer

Várvédő Egri Bikavér Grand Superior 2022 (Síkhegy vineyard)
with pork cheek, home made pickles and flatbread.

– Tóth Ferenc Winery will offer three summer whites:

Egri Csillag 2025
Egri Csillag Superior 2024
Édes Lányom 2024

– As written earlier, Tóth Ferenc Winery will offer three Kadarka wines:

Kadarka Siller 2025
Egri Kadarka 2024
Egri Kadarka Superior 2023

See more about Eger Wine Festival
Did you know that Eger is the most visited city of Hungary after Budapest? Find the top sights of Eger here.

Have you not heard of Egri Csillag wine? Well, it is the “Star of Eger”!

Read more

The Star of Eger – the wine and the visioner

Why is Síkhegy so special?

Dreamlike event spot in Eger wine region

Guest house by the feet of Eger Castle

You can be the lord by the castle!

 

Cseri Winery event on 1st of August

Let us share the kind invitation of Cseri Winery from Pannonhalma wine region for a special day, a celebration with family, friends and fellow winemakers. Barni, the owners’ son will have birthday, and the family decided to celebrate with their followers – and with at least 25 wines to taste.

Join us for a very special afternoon as we open the doors of Cseri Winery once again to celebrate Barni’s birthday!
Whether you’re a wine enthusiast, a curious traveller, or simply looking for a memorable summer afternoon in one of Hungary’s beautiful wine regions, we’d love to welcome you.
Just like every year, Barni’s fellow Junibor winemaker friends will be joining the celebration, bringing some of their most exciting wines with them. Come along, taste, chat, meet the winemakers, and simply enjoy a relaxed afternoon filled with great wines and even better company.
The event begins with a casual walk-around tasting, where you can discover more than 25 different wines while getting to know the people, stories, and styles behind each bottle.
And as the sun goes down… the atmosphere changes.
This isn’t a traditional wine tasting. And it’s not just a party either. It’s that rare combination where outstanding wines, wonderful people and unforgettable moments come together.

Programme

15:30–18:00 Walk-around wine tasting featuring more than 25 wines from Cseri Winery and our guest winemakers.
From 18:00 A birthday toast to Barni with a glass of sparkling wine, followed by a relaxed evening of wine, conversation and celebration.
Guest Winemakers: Six carefully selected wineries that are close to Barni’s heart will join us for the event. (Coming soon!)
Food & Drinks: We’ll also have a sparkling wine corner and delicious street food available throughout the afternoon and evening. We’d love to celebrate with you—raise a glass with Barni and let’s toast to another wonderful wine year!
Date: 1 August 2026
Time: 15:30–21:00
Venue: Cseri Winery, Panoráma utca 7, 9082 Nyúl, Hungary
Participation fee: HUF 13,990 per person
Dress code: Casual
Glass deposit: HUF 2,500 (cash only)
Your ticket includes

• Unlimited wine tasting during the walk-around tasting (15:30–18:00)
• One glass of sparkling wine for the birthday toast at 18:00

Contact:  +36 30 421 7415, sales@cseripinceszet.hu
Ticket information

Tűzkő Estate from Tolna will also participate

Winelovers X is a walk-around tasting for professionals on 9 June, with approximately 50 exhibitors. The venue is the hotel of the wine competition, Ensana Thermal Hotel in the charming Margaret Island. Are you a wine professional? This tasting is worth an escape in the green heart of Budapest! Entrance is free of charge for the members of the wine trade.  The first 15 exhibitors are revealed, Tűzkő Estate, a “daughter estate” of the Tuscan Antinori will also be present.

Date and time: 9 June 2026, 15.00–19.00
Venue: Ensana Thermal Hotel, Margaret Island, Budapest, Hungary
How to register? In case you are a member of the wine trade (wine merchant, importer, buyer, sommelier, restaurant manager etc.), write an email to info@winelovers.hu. Besides your name and profession, please, provide your workplace and your position. Our colleagues will reply shortly.
Exhibitors: 15 names are announced and some more is coming soon, we plan to have 50 exhibitors. See the list here.

Did you know that Antinori estate is Europe’s most admired winery?

Just check out this list! And did you know that Antinori has an estate in Hungary? Tűzkő Estate is located in the hilly Tolna wine region, and they have a wide range of wines from the crispy Grüner Veltliner to the complex red flagship blend, Tűzkő Domb. The winery has won The Best Chardonnay trophy at the first edition of Winelovers Wine Awards international wine competition, while Tűzkő Domb 2023 has just won gold medal at VinAgora, the other international wine contest organised in Hungary..

More about Tűzkő Estate

Visit Babarczi Vineyard and Winery

The so called “Open Cellars” is an annual, nationwide event at Pentecost weekend. On 23 May wine enthusiasts are quite likely to “bump into a cellar”, since almost all of them are open and prepared for the visitors. Pannonhalma wine region is “cool” in many aspects, and Babarczi family winery awaits its guests with delicious food, live music, guided tastings and treat even for the unlucky driver.

Professor Gergely Szolnoki (Geisenheim University, Germany) has recently said in a conference that to be competitive in the market, cellars should offer extras and should think of the non-drinkers as well. The Babarczis have always been doing so, without having heard the professor’s advice.
Transfers are provided by the wine region, but if you prefer going by car, your driver will be well treated.

5 reasons to visit Babarczi Vineyard and Winery

– Pannonhalma wine region is one of the less known wine regions of Hungary, however, its importance is constantly growing. Discover it before others!
– Due to its cooler climate, wines of Pannonhalma are elegant, crispy, refreshing.
– It is a versatile wine region and Babarczi estate represents this versatility perfectly. Aromatic, refreshing Irsai Olivér, majestic Chardonnay and Rhine Riesling, playful aerated sparkling wine and a whole line of remarkable, complex red wines.
– The winery surrounded by a large courtyard and vineyards will make you feel at home. Cosy atmosphere and lovely staff including Zsuzsa Babarczi, the perfect hostess of the house and Ali, the “perpetuum mobile” dog of the estate.
– Events are the core of the winery to create a community of “Babarczi-lovers”, and as a result the team is experienced in these open-door things, they really know what makes guests feel good.
More info below the photos

16–18 May 2026, Vienna

A professional jury has selected 25 Hungarian Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) wines, which will represent the variety at VieVinum Austrian wine expo on 16–18 May 2026 in Vienna.
For the list of 25 wines scroll down.

Selected wines by wine region

9 Szekszárd,
7 Villány,
3 Sopron,
2 Balaton-felvidék,
1 Badacsony,
1 Balatonfüred–Csopak,
1 Eger,
1 Etyek–Buda

Wines from our cover photo

Bock Kékfrankos Selection 2023, Villány

Yield controlled fruit from Fekete-hegy vineyard. Fermentation in stainless steel, ageing in 2nd use barrique. Cherry, sour cherry and chocolate on the nose and palate.
More about the winery

Etyeki Kúria MSV Konkrét Kékfrankos 2023, Sopron

Hand harvest, gentle destemming, fermentation on the skin. Ageing for a year in concrete tank. Pure fruitiness – sour cherry, cherry, redcurrant – complemented by a hint of spiciness and some minerality.
More about the winery

Heimann Bati Kereszt Kékfrankos 2021, Szekszárd

The grape comes from the north-facing Bati Kereszt vineyard. Beautiful aroma with a lighter body, very floral, cool, and playful. The 2021 vintage is particularly young and vibrant.

More about the winery