Bring Olaszrizling into the limelight

“The event is a significant step towards the establishment of Balaton, as a wine brand. We have to invite the wine experts, who – thanks to GROW du Monde – have already understood something of the variety, now our duty is to introduce them this unique terroir to help increase our export potential” – added Tamás Tornai, owner of Tornai Winery in Somló, the president of Balaton broader wine region. “This grape gets much less attention than many of its peers, yet it has already proved its potential to give wines of outstanding quality” – said the Serbian founder of GROW, Igor Lukovic, editor-in-chief of Vino i fino magazine. Sasa Spiranec Croatian wine writer, the third founder believes that the producing countries and regions of the variety should communicate with each other, research and develop so that “the whole world should recognize what we already know, the greatness of Olaszrizling and that it has a place among the emblematic grapes of the world”.

4 great Olaszrizling wines from Lake Balaton

Olaszrizling is one of the most versatile grapes of Central Europe. It can give crispy, refreshing summer wines but it is also capable of serious, barrel aged, complex white wines. Let us show four faces of the grape from Lake Balaton.

The refreshing: Tornai Estate Olaszrizling 2022

“One of our most popular grape varieties in a modernized style. In Somló it is usually made in a more serious, often oaky style, so it must be like a fresh breath of air in a warm summer evening. An exciting, versatile wine that can be a perfect company next to light salads with balsamic vinegar and light chicken dishes.“

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The limited: Borbély Karós Olasz rizling 2019

Concentrated wine with characteristics of the variety, subtle oak spices and deep reflection of the terroir. Vintage 2019 is especially rich and elegant and in spite of its relatively high acidity and alcohol, it is soft and very pleasant on the palate. The unique fruit of a small, unique plot where the traditional training system was kept.

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The serious: Fehérvári Nagy-Somlói Olasz Rizling 2021

“Our Grand Reserve Riesling 2021 wine is perhaps one of the most beautiful examples of our mission: to keep Somló human and true, to care for the grapes and to constantly move towards the excitement of innovation.”

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The elegant

One of the winery’s most important wine is this elegant Olaszrizling. On the nose it has notes of marzipan, almonds, and a hint of mint, rich on the palate, concentrated but harmonious, with dried apple, pear and a touch of minerality. Maturing aromas characterise the palate throughout, with a long and lively finish.

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More about Olaszrizling grape

It is grown all over Hungary, in fact the most widely planted grape in the country, and popular in the whole Carpathian basin.

It ripens rather late, in good vintages even shrivels. When young, there are flowers on the nose, on the palate full of flavours and there is a little bitter almond note in its aftertaste. It has a pleasant, refreshing acidity. Olaszrizling is capable of long barrel aging.

It was and is mistaken for Rhine Riesling, though it is a completely different grape. Its synonyms include the most common Welschriesling (Austria, Germany), Graševina in Croatia, Laški Rizling in Slovenia. It is quite likely to originate from the Danube basin, though there are numerous other hypotheses. Though it is the most widely planted grape of Hungary, it did not have a good reputation for a long time and while nowadays wonderful examples are easy to find in Hungary both in fresh and aged style.

Steigler Furmint 2019 (Sopron)

Furmint is not restricted to Tokaj at all! This relatively young, but ambitious and enthusiastic winery planted some Furmint, and as it seems their efforts are rewarding! “The Furmint grapes for this wine came from the mica-schiest soiled, fully organic Steiger vineyard. Vivid, intense straw yellow color. Ripened white flesh fruits, refined oaky tones, honey and floral notes. A full bodied wine with long ageing potential. Concentrated and long with infinite aromas. We suggest to keep this wine for a long time.“ The estate wone another gold medal with their Steigler Kékfrankos Premium 2019.

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Top Selection Szent Ilona Olaszrizling 2019 (Somló)

Tornai is one of the most successful Hungarian wineries with 3 gold medals! Zeusz ice wine 2019 and Top Selection Apátsági Furmint 2019 also received gold medals. Szent Ilona Olaszrizling proves the potential of our most widely planted varietal to give exceptional wines. “We selected the most beautiful grapes of our vineyard in front of the winery into this wine. The oaky maturation gave more richness and excitement, it is worth laying down and age in the bottle, it has a long aging potential. Juicy pear, grapefruit and sophisticated oaky aromas in the nose. Vanilla, elegant oaky palate with citrus fruitiness on the background and slightly stone minerality. The acidity is shaped, but still gives freshness.“

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Rosé Cuvée Frittmann 2020 (Kunság)

Zweigelt and Pinot Noir blend from Frittmann family winery – Winery of the Year 2015. “This salmon-coloured rosé recalls red berries like strawberry, red currant and raspberry. Sip is also determined by the vibrant and vigorous fruity scent, completed by spicy notes. It is a rich rosé with dynamic acids and low alcohol content. A well-balanced and easy-to-love wine.“

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Zsirai Tokaji Furmint Középhegy, 2018 (Tokaj)

Zsirai Winery did an outstanding performance at this contest with 4 gold medals! Zsirai Betsek Furmint 2018, Zsirai Tokaji Aszú 2017 and Zsirai Tokaji Szamorodni 2019 are all gold winners. As for Középhegy Furmint: “On the nose pear, quince, typical Furmint. The palate is very concentrated. The terroir gives a very expressive minerality. Elegant, a real individuality with long ageing potential.“ Jancis Robinson gave it 17 points.

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Holdvölgy Meditation 2018 (Tokaj)

Dry white made of 100% Furmint from the legendary Király (King) vineyard, aged in oak partially. The 8.6 g residual sugar is nicely balanced with the 6.9 g acidity. Crystal clear, subtle nose of apricot and quince. Layered palate with flavours of passion fruit, pink grapefruit, quince. A wine for thought from an outstanding vintage.
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Etyeki Kúria Kékfrankos 2016 (Etyek / Sopron)

The winery is based in Etyek (near Budapest), but the Kékfrankos grape comes from their Sopron vineyard. 12 months of maturation in 300 litre oak barrels (50% new). A perfect example of the variety: on the nose with sour cherry, raspberry and cranberry juice, sweet spices and black pepper, while on the palate with hints of sour cherry and cranberry, accompanied by liquorice and mineral notes.
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Gere Tamás & Zsolt Villányi Franc Várerdő dűlő 2016 (Villány)

Várderdő is a vineyard with exceptional qualities, and the family winery makes its flagship wine from here. Villányi Franc is the top community brand of Villány made of Cabernet Franc, justifying Michael Broadbent’s famous sentence: Cabernet Franc has found its home in Villány. “A wine which is a concept from now, a wine which rises up as a bastion and says about: Villányi Franc is the embodiment of elegance and harmony.” Gere Tamás & Zsolt won another gold medal for another Villányi Franc: Villányi Franc Selection 2016.

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Teleki Selection Villányi Kékfrankos 2017

Csányi Winery in Villány wine region won another gold with Chateau Teleki Villányi Franc 2017. As For Teleki Selection Kékfrankos 2017 this gold is another one in the line. The wine is probably the best value Kékfrankos in the whole country. “Villányi Kékfrankos has the colour of ruby with medium intensity. The nose is dominated by ripe sour cherry and blueberry. The fruity notes of the nose are continued on the palate, whereas the aftertaste is rounded and long. A smaller portion of the wine was matured in barrel, while the majority was vinified in stainless steel tank.“

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Dubicz Kékfrancos–Cabernet Franc, 2018 (Mátra)

Mátra wine region is first and foremost famous for its aromatic white wines, but fruity, elegant red wines are also born here. Dubicz Winery and Vineyard is a wine cellar with 110-year history and 123 hectares of own vineyard, that focuses mainly on white wines – however, as the gold medal proves, they are good at red wines as well! “Medium ruby, light red wine with characteristic red berry flavours and fragrances. The velvety sweet taste gently balances the lively acids. A great companion to red meet and red berry desserts as well.”

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Grand Tokaj Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos 2014 (Tokaj)

100% Furmint Tokaji Aszú with 160.7 g/l residual sugar! The high acidity (9.2) can compete with the immense amount of sufar and gives a rich dessert wine with infinite flavours and aromas. “This wine displays a vibrant yellow tint. It has a highly complex fragrance. Botrytis due to the aszú berries, orange peel and brittle, figs and exotic flowers, and a hint of dill at the end. A very pure fruity flavour dominates upon tasting, with appearances of orange, quince and pear. The acids maintain the wine’s round and long body, and first-fill barrel fermentation supplements the palate nicely. Fades with a lime and grapefruit flourish at the end, leaving a matured, long mouthfeel. A true Tokaji specialty wine with great potential, looking forward to a long development stage.” The winery won another gold medal for the same Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos from vintage 2016.

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