The trend of bubblies go on marching gloriously, and our majestic wine region, Tokaj also gives more and more traditional and alternative sparkling wines using local grapes, mainly Furmint and Hárslevelű. The festival takes place in the pearl of Tokaj, in the village of Mád. The entrance is free, guests pay for the wines. It is relaxed event with kids, dogs, Dj-s and lots of bubbles.

‘Mádi Pezsgés’ is the name of this annual wine event, in which ‘pezsgés’ refers to a vibrant event, but it also refers to sparkling wine (‘pezsgő’ in Hungarian), while Mád is the name of the village with a suffix at the end. At this informal all day event participants can sit on the grass, dance, taste local gourmet products or just relax in a hammock.

Date and time: 25 May 2024, 13.00–24.00
Venue: Bercsényi utca, Mád, Tokaj, Hungary
By car from Budapest: 2.5 hours (220 km) via M3
By train from Budapest: 3 hours (with Tokaj Intercity and a local train from Szerencs)
Entrance: Free, wines are to be paid on the spot. A so called “Pezsgőútlevél” (‘Sparkling Wine Passport’) will be available, it gives some discount and it is fun to get stamps.
Exhibitors: The village of Mád is full of great wineries. The list is not announced yet, but guests will surely meet Zsirai, Holdvölgy, Barta, Pelle and TR wineries.
Accommodation: There are several guest houses in Mád, yet it is recommended to book as soon as possible, the event is popular, the places will be fully booked. Two suggestions:
– The fabulously renovated mansion managed by Barta Winery:

Rákóczi Aspremont Mansion

Suites, Rákóczi-Aspremont Mansion

– The lovely, cosy guest house managed by Zsirai Winery.

Zsirai Guest House

Guesthouse

Orginizer: The organizer of the event is Mádi Kör (‘The Circle of Mád Producers’), see members here.
Photos of the last edition here.

3 great bubblies from Mád

Barta Tokaji Furmint 2019

A serious player from one of the best vineyards of Tokaj. “2019 was another suitable vintage to produce a great Furmint base wine from Öreg Király. It underwent secondary fermentation in the bottle and was aged on the leesfor a minimum of 3.5 years before disgorgement.” The dosage is only 4 g/l.
More about Barta Winery

Holdvölgy ‘Hold and Holló Uppp 2022

A playful aerated sparkling wine with 8,9 g/L residual sugar, made of Zéta and Hárslevelű. The nose begins with juicy sugar melon, fresh grapefruit, later it is dominated by peach. Creamy, juicy on the palate with refreshing green applenotes, pear and citrus fruits.
More about Holdvölgy

Zsirai Méthode Traditionnelle

“We have been flirting with the idea of making a traditional sparkling wine for a long time. Finally, in 2020, all the conditions were right, and we managed to pick excellent grape from the Nyúlászó vineyard. The base wine was made from a blend of Furmint and Hárslevelű, which was aged for 18 months on fine lees after bottling. We disgorged at the beginning of October 2021, and no dosage was added. In the aroma, white-fleshed fruits, citrus and floral notes return. The fruity sip is nicely complemented by the flavours from bottle ageing and the minerality characteristic of the wine region. Well-structured, concentrated wine with a long finish. An excellent choice to make the festive moments even more memorable.”
More about Zsirai Winery

Trade tasting along with Bocuse d’Or

Agricultural Marketing Centre (AMC), the official agency responsible for Hungarian wine marketing towards export markets has conducted several online and virtual trade tastings throughout Europe from Lithuania to the United Kingdom. An online series of Export Academy was also carried on aiming to endorse Hungarian wineries with more information about the complicated procedure of establishing export markets. This March AMC takes a huge step further organizing the first Hungarian Wine Summit. Wine professionals of Europe will have a perfect opportunity to get acquainted with Hungarian wines in a trade tasting at Hungexpo Exhibition Centre.

Trade members are welcome

The 3-day exhibition will feature selected wineries from all over the country. Importers, distributors, sommeliers and wine writers will have the chance to taste wines from a wide range of wineries, who were selected according to strict criteria:

– Size do not matter, both larger and smaller wineries can introduce the wines, in case the quality of the wines meet the international standards.

– “Help the ones who deserve it” – AMC aims to give opportunity to wineries, which can add significant work, passion and stamina. The trade fair is only the first step, therefore the exhibition showcases wineries, which definitely have the potential, the human resource and the wit to go further.

Trade members are welcome, entrance is free for them, however prior registration is a must. Professionals should fill in the registration form here to get a pass to enter the fair.

Wine & gastronomy: side by side with the ‘Chef Olympic Games’

Bocuse d’Or is the most famous, the most prestigious competition for chefs, no wonder, Hungary is proud to host Bocuse d’Or European final again. Hungarian fine dining scene has undergone serious improvement, just to mention one amazing record: Budapest boasts the most Michelin stars among the former Eastern Bloc countries. Hungary has some outstanding results from the previous Bocuse D’Or contests as well: Tamás Széll won the European final in 2016.

Hungarian Wine Summit and Bocuse d’Or European final will take place with SIRHA, the largest Central-Eastern European gastronomy and HoReCa trade fair.

More information about Hungarian Wine Summit