7 Hungarian highlights

1054 wines from 17 countries were entered into the 27th edition of VinAgora international wine competition, held in Budapest, Hungary. Champion winners were announced in 8 categories this year, while 17 Grand Gold medals were awarded. A total of 220 wines received Gold medals, representing more than one-fifth of all entries, while 100 wines were awarded Silver medals. In addition, 315 wines received the Commended distinction.

Wines of our cover photo

– Vesztergombi Vintage 2021, Szekszárd – Grand Gold winner

This vintage has several vintages–since here Vintage is the name of the wine. It is a blend of five grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Kékfrankos. The wine named Csaba also received gold medal.
VinAgora fact sheet
More about Vesztergombi Cellar

– Vylyan Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Villány – The Best Hungarian Sauvignon Blanc

It is the VERY FIRST Sauvignon Blanc of Vylyan, it has just debuted, and it costs only 2790 HUF / around 7.8 EUR on the webshop of the winery! Vylyan won 3 gold medals alogether at VinAgora.
VinAgora fact sheet
More about Vylyan Vineyard and Winery

– Frittmann Hajnal 2025, Kunság – gold medal

When an easy-going, affordable wine gets gold medal, there is hope for humanity. Yes, every-day, thirst quenching, charming wines can also be appreciated. This white blend costs only 1700 HUF / less than 5 EUR on the webshop of the winery!
VinAgora fact sheet
More about the wine

– Garamvári Mimi Blanc de Blancs brut NV, Balatonboglár – gold medal

Garamvári Vineyards is one of the most successful wineries of VinAgora–this year with 5 gold medals! Mimi is a special traditional method sparkling wine, actually, it is a love message made of Pinot Blanc…
VinAgora fact sheet
More about Garamvári Vineyard

Panel tasting results

47 Rhine Riesling reviews are published in the latest issue of Vince Hungarian print wine magazine. 4 wines received 5 stars, the highest recognition, 2 wines from Australia and 2 wines from Hungary. Let us introduce Pannonhalmi Prior 2024, the wine from the cover of the magazine.

Intense and beautiful

The grape for Prior was harvested in several stages, the crop from a prestigious single vineyard was handled separately. Following destemming and selecting the grapes by an optical sorting machine, the pressed juice was settled and then slowly cold-fermented in stainless steel tanks and finally kept on the fine lees for a long time.
Vince panel review:
“A lemon-yellow hue with greenish undertones. An intense and beautiful, varietal aroma of ripe citrus, green apple, linden blossom, and mineral notes. A wine with a firm structure and crisp acidity, featuring the slight residual sugar so characteristic of Rieslings. On the palate, honey, grape blossoms, juicy pear, ripe citrus, petrol, and stony minerality linger for a long time.”
Pannonhalma Archabbey Winery has a very detailed website. We have every piece of information about the vineyard (like planted in 2023, Guyot training system, low cordon, 5210 vines / hectare) and about the wine (it contains 6 g/L acidity and 3.3 g/L residual sugar), and extras like the number of bottles (5700) and the number of magnum bottles (600). The retail price (winery webshop) is only 6900 HUF (approximately 17.5 EUR)
See the full fact sheet of Pannonhalmi Prior 2024

Did you know?

– The word “prior” stands for a superior in abbeys, a prior comes after the abbot.
– Pannonhalma Archabbey is the only winery in Hungary that received the title Winery of the Year twice.
– Zsolt Liptai chief winemaker was named the Winemaker of the Year in 2024.

Winery of the Year 2023: Pannonhalma Archabbey Winery

Winemaker of the Year announced: Zsolt Liptai from Pannonhalma Archabbey Winery!

Trade tasting available for Bortársaság club members as well

If you are a wine connoisseur expat living in Hungary, the spring tasting by Bortársaság is an event for you. Though you should join Bortársaság Club first, but then they can join a tasting where all the winemakers will pour the wines personally.

Did you know about Bortársaság?

BorTavasz = WineSpring
The most important annual event of Bortársaság wine store chain.

Why is there an engine in a venue called Eiffel?
BorTavasz tasting takes place in the so-called Eiffel Műhelycsarnok (‘Garage’) or Eiffel Art Studios named after the famous architect, Gustaf Eiffel, whose company built Nyugati pályaudvar, one of the railway stations of Hungary. The actual building the venue of the tasting was not designed by Eiffel.

Bortársaság = something like Wine Society
Not by accident. The founder, Attila Tálos spent years in London and got obsessed by wines through the British Wine Soicety.

How many shops does Bortársaság have?
16 in Budapest and 8 in the country.

What about the international selection?
Many icon wineries are represented, like Krug, Chateau Margaux, Chateau d’Yquem, Antinori, Vega Sicilia, Graham’s, Penfolds, Kaiken, Opus One.

And the Hungarian selection?
Currently there are 70 wineries in the portfolio with many renowned wine estates, many of them are family wineries, but also with new wave wineries like the biodynamic Kristinus. Attila Tálos, the founder / owner also has an organic winery of 7 hectares in Balatonfüred wine region called Gellavilla.

How to join the club? Simply buy wines for more than 10 000 HUF online or in any of the Bortársaság shops, provide your email address, and get started. More information here.

BorTavasz

Date and time: 31 March 2026, 18.00-22.00
Venue: Eiffel Műhelyház, Mozdonycsarnok (‘Engine Hall’), 1101 Budapest, Kőbányai út 30.
Tickets (for club members): 20 000 HUF (until 5 March) or 25 000 HUF (from 5th March)
Some of the exhibitors: Etyeki Kúria (Etyek), Gál Tibor Winery (Eger), Gere A Winery (Villány), Heimann Family Estate (Szekszárd), Kristinus (South Balaton), Pannonhalma Archabbey Winery (Pannonhalma), Patricius Winery (Tokaj), Sauska (Tokaj, Villány, Budafok)
More information (in Hungarian)

Wine Paris is over, we can start preparing for ProWein, the Düsseldorf wine expo, which awaits trade visitors with completely new visuals and several novelties to make business easier. The Hungarian Wine Marketing Agency will present 11 exhibitors.

Location: Hall 3 / C41
Exhibitors: Bock Winery (Villány), Heritage Wines – Cabolo, representing several wineries, among others Vesztergombi Cellar (Szekszárd), Csányi Winery – Teleki Wines (Villány), Kancellár Estate (Somló), Pannonhalma Archabbey (Pannonhalma), Sauska (Tokaj / Villány), Eurobor – Tűzkő Estate (Tolna), Grand Tokaj (Tokaj), Maison aux Pois (Tokaj), St Andrea (Eger), Törley Pezsgőpincészet (Sparkling Winery) (Etyek–Buda).

See them on ProWein website here

During the next weeks we will tell our readers more about the exhibiting wineries, come back soon!

16th edition with estates from ALL the 22 wine regions of Hungary

More than 150 wineries will exhibit at Borjour Magnum, the annual tasting of not only the well-established, famous wineries, but also of the ones yet to be discovered. Literally all the 22 wine regions will be represented including the rarely mentioned Csongrád and Bükk, along with some Hungarian wineries from beyond the borders. Early bird tickets are on sale!

Date and time: 14 February 2026, 15.00–21.00
Venue: Budapest Congress Centre, 1123 Budapest, Jagelló út 1–3.
Tickets: an early bird ticket is 16 900 HUF (instead of 30 000 HUF), it is approximately 44 EUR. The best value ticket is the limited-edition dual ticket (Valentine Ticket) for only 39 900 HUF / 2 people (approximately 103 EUR).
Website of the event

Truffle-seeking demonstration and other extras

Borjour Magnum offers some side programmes, for example a little show with Samok, a dog will demonstrate in every hour how he finds truffles in the forest. Glass test, Coravin show, olive tasting, cheese premier and tasting of delicacies made of plants grown in the wild by Dzsindzsa.

Some of the exhibitors:

Borbély Family Winery (Badacsony), Dominium Winery (Mátra), Feind Winery (Balatonfüred–Csopak), Frittmann Winery (Kunság), Gál Tibor Winery (Eger), Garamvári Vineyard (Balatonlelle), Homola Winery (Balatonfüred), Koch Winery (Hajós–Baja), Kovács Nimród Winery (Eger), Pannonhalma Archabbey Winery (Pannonhalma), Sabar Wine House (Badacsony), Szeleshát (Szekszárd), Taschner Winery (Sopron), Teleki Wines (Villány), Tűzkő Estate (Tolna).

See all the exhibitors here
(Click on ‘KÖVETKEZŐ’ meaning ‘NEXT’ at the bottom of the page to see more)

A place to find new favs

Borjour Magnum is huge indeed and features several relatively or actually unknown and / or new wineries, thus it is the best place to discover new favourites. For example, we have not heard of Rózsa Winery (Tokaj), Katalin Rábai (Neszmély), Neiner Cellar (Szekszárd), just to mention a few.

22 categories and special awards

The annual awards of Vince wine magazine and wine club were given out on 8 November at Vince Gala event at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest. First the team and trustworthy experts of the magazine nominated three wines in each category – partially based on the monthly panel tastings –, and then the readers could vote for their favourite ones. Congratulations to the winners!
See the full list of winners below the photo.

The winner wines from our cover photo:

– Kovács Nimród Battonage Chardonnay 2023
– Pannonhalmi Főapátság Infusio 2022
– Heimann és Fiai “Piros” Siller 2024
– Steigler Pet-Nat Zöld Veltelini 2024

Venue: Museum of Fine Arts

Vince print wine magazine will announce the Vince Award winners at the grandiose gala tasting event at the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts. The venue is worth a visit in itself – especially for the William Blake temporary exhibition, but on the 8th of November all the Gala Award nominated wines will be available to taste (See the list below.) Plus, if you vote, you can help your favourite winery, and you can win – among others – voucher for the Michelin awarded Virtu restaurant.

Voting period: until Saturday (25th October) midnight.
Vote here (first you should click “Elfogadom a felhasználási feltételeket”, meaning “I accept terms of use”)
The voting page is in Hungarian, but our translation of the 22 wine categories can help.
With your vote you can win:
– Vince Gala event double ticket
– 15 000 HUF voucher for Virtu restaurant
– Ford test drive
– a yearly subscription to Vince magazine

Vince Gala event

Date and time: 16.00–23.00, 8 November 2025
Venue: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary
Prices: Single ticket: 27 500 HUF, double ticket: 49 990 HUF
Buy your ticket here (in Hungarian, but Google can help)
Masterclasses: Champagne, Burgundy, Provence, more info here (in Hungarian, but Google can help)

Vince Award nominated wines, nominated by the experts of Vince Magazine

Again, vote here (first you should click “Elfogadom a felhasználási feltételeket”, meaning “I accept terms of use”)

1. Fresh white wine made of international variety
   – Balassa Rhine Riesling 2024
   – Anonym Pince Frazír (Sauvignon Blanc) 2024
   – Etyeki Kúria MSP Konkret Chardonnay 2023
2. Fresh white wine made of important variety of the Carpathian Basin
   – Balassa “Kacsa” Furmint 2024
   – Jásdi Csopaki Olaszrizling Hegybor 2024
   – Demeter Zoltán Tokaji Hárslevelű 2023
3. Fresh white wine made of other variety
   – Holdvölgy Intuition No2. 2023
   – Steigler Zöld Veltelini 2023
   – Válibor Budai Zöld 2024
4. Fresh white blend
   – Gizella Tokaji Cuvée Hárslevelű Furmint 2024
   – Kislaki – Légli Géza Birtok Rizling 2024
   – Gál Tibor Egri Csillag 2023
5. Barrel aged white wine made of international variety
   – Kovács Nimród Battonage Chardonnay 2023
   – Kislaki – Légli Géza Matacs Chardonnay 2024
   – Bujdosó Our Sea Chardonnay 2023
6. Barrel aged white wine made of important variety of the Carpathian Basin
   – Barta Öreg Király dűlő Furmint 2023
   – Kikelet Tokaji Hárslevelű “Tarczal” 2022
   – Gizella Bomboly Furmint 2023
7. Barrel aged white wine made of other variety
   – Györgykovács Imre Tramini 2022
   – Spiegelberg Juhfark 2022
   – Folly Kéknyelű 2024
8. Barrel aged white blend
   – Gizella Szil-Völgy Furmint-Hárslevelű 2023
   – Barta KVG 2023
   – Figula 30 Olaszrizling-Furmint 2023
9. Fruit driven red wine made of international variety
   – Németh János Deviant Syrah 2023
   – Jakab Badacsony Pinot Noir Easy 2023
   – Szászi Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
10. Fruit driven red wine made of important variety of the Carpathian Basin
    – Vida Bonsai Öregtőkés Kadarka 2023
    – Sebestyén Kadarka 2023
    – Heimann & Fiai Szekszárd Kadarka Bio 2024
11. Fruit driven red wine made of other grape
    – Szászi Birtok Csókaszőlő 2024
    – Vylyan Csóka 2019
    –Szentesi Fekete Muskotály 2024
12. Fruit driven red blend
    – Kislaki – Légli Géza Birtok Vörös 2023
    – Riczu Tamás Villányi Kikerics 2022
    – Streit-Zagonyi Legacy 2022
13. Barrel aged red wine made of international variety
    – Etyeki Kúria Pinot Noir 2023
    – Gere Solus 2022
    – Bakonyi Péter Cabernet Franc 2020
14. Barrel aged red wine made of important variety of the Carpathian Basin
    – Bukolyi Marcell Kékfrankos Reserve Nagy-Eged Grand Superior 2021
    – Centurio (Ludányi Balázs) Diós Kékfrankos 2023
    – Orsolya Kadarka 2023
15. Barrel aged red wine made of other grape
    – 2HA Tabunello 2022
    – Balla Géza Ménesi Fekete Leányka Sziklabor 2022
    – Szentesi Tihanyi Kék 2023
16. Barrel aged red blend
    – Pannonhalmi Főapátság Infusio 2022
    – Sebestyén Iván-völgyi Bikavér 2020
    – St. Andrea Nagy-Eged Egri Bikavér Grand Superior 2021
17. Rosé, siller
    – Figula Bella Róza 2023
    – Sebestyén Pince Szél Rosé 2024
    – Heimann és Fiai “Piros” Siller 2024
18. Natural wine or sparkling wine
    – Bott Frigyes Muzsla 2023
    – Steigler Pet-Nat Zöld Veltelini 2024
    – Hummel Góré Hárslevelű 2019
19. Charmat method sparkling or aerated sparklig wine
    – Bujdosó Gyöngyözőbor 2024
    – Holdvölgy Hold and Hollo Uppp 2023
    – Pelle Frizzi 2024
20. Traditional method sparkling wine
    – Kreinbacher Brut Classic 2019 Magnum
    – Sauska Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 2019
    – Kreinbacher Egoiste Magnum 2017
21. Late harvest sweet wine
    – Barta Öreg Király Dűlő Késői Szüretelésű Furmint 2018
    – Oremus Late Harvest Tokaj 2022
    – Tóth és Tóth Debrői Borok Debrői Hárslevelű Késői Szüret 2023
22. Sweet Szamorodni or Tokaji Aszú
    – Barta Öreg Király Dűlő Aszú 6 puttonyos 2019
    – Grand Tokaj Terroir Selection Amforában Érlelt Tokaji Eszencia 2013
    – Kikelet Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2019

St. Martin’s Day in Pannonhalma wine region

Are you based in Hungary and miss your family? Take part in the St. Martin’s Day “fiesta” at Babarczi in a tiny town near the city of Győr and you will feel at home, guaranteed! Babarczi Vineyard and Winery has collected several national and international gold medals and many top restaurants listed their wines, but the best experience is still to visit them and enjoy a true “Babarczi-party” with mouth-watering food and wines, warm and cosy atmosphere, laughter and dance.

Duck rillettes cover photo and recipe here by Chef Charlie
Babarczi Rhine Riesling in the cover photo pairs well with the fatty rillettes due to its crispy, brilliant acidity and elevating fruit profile.

Why on St. Martin’s Day?
Because wineries have their doors wide open at the weekend closest to St. Martin’s name day (11 November).

Why do we eat duck and goose dishes on St. Martin’s Day?
Scroll down for the answer.

What happens at Babarczi estate on the 8th of November?
Visitors can choose between 4 time slots to participate in a tasting of 5 wines accompanied by duck rillettes (by Izsóp restaurant) and fresh bread.

Tasting time options and prices
– 12.50-14.35 – 6500 HUF
– 14.50-16.35 – 6500 HUF
– 16.50-18.35 – 8000 HUF
– 18.50-20.35 – 8000 HUF
The afternoon tastings are slightly more expensive, because from 5 pm live music will be provided by a duo called AcouStone.
If you must drive, the same price applies, but you can take a bottle home.

How to book?
Write an email to the winery and don’t forget to mention the time slot you prefer.

Why do we eat duck and goose dishes on St. Martin’s Day?

Saint Martin has a special importance for Hungarians, since the famous bishop was born in the province of Savaria in 316 in the Roman Empire, in the territory of Hungary. Savaria is now called Szombathely, a city of about 90 000 inhabitants, and the church stands at his presumable birthday to commemorate him.
As a teenager, he became Christian to his father’s dislike. His father was a soldier of the Roman Empire and made his son to join the army as well. According to the legend once Martin cut his coat with his sword and gave half of it to a beggar in the street who had been robbed of his clothes. At the age of 22, Martin baptized, and devoted all his life to God. He founded the first monastery in Europe. He was so modest, that – as the legend says – he hid among the geese to avoid being made a bishop. As a memory to his modest character, people eat dishes made of goose or duck on his name day on (and around) 11 November.

More about Babarczi Vineyard and Winery

Wine Village grand tasting by Global Wineries

More than 60 wineries will present more than 400 wines at the 21st annual portfolio tasting of Global Wineries importing company. The venue is majestic, so are the wines. There will be 9 Hungarian companies introducing their wines. Let us recommend 4 great blends this time!
For the description of the 4 wines, scroll down.

Date and time: 28–29 September, 13.00–18.00
Venue: Handelsbeurs, Borzestraat 31, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
Tickets: 25 EUR / person
Buy your ticket here
Exhibiting Hungarian wineries at Global Wineries Wine Village: Etyeki Kúria (Etyek),
Gál Tibor Winery (Eger), Gere Attila Winery (Villány), Gilvesy Winery (Badacsony), Pannonhalma Archabbey (Pannonhalma), St. Andrea (Eher), Tokaj-Hétszőlő Organic Vineyards (Tokaj), Törley (Heinkell–Freixenet group) (Etyek), Vylyan Vineyard and Winery (Villány)

Our interview with Peter Goossens, founder of Global Wineries

A legendary importer: Peter Goossens, Belgium

Meet Babarczi team in the city of Győr on 28–30 August

Though Babarczi Vineyard and Winery of Pannonhalma wine region has collected many accolades recently with their red wines, the majority of their production is still white. Crispy, vibrant, lively and juicy wines, why not pair them with cheese? In case you are in Hungary, it is worth visiting the city of Győr, “Wine Days” will take place in an island in the middle of the city!

Győr Wine Days

Date and time: 28 (17.00–24.00), 29 (16.00–02.00), 30 August (12.00–02.00), 2025
Venue: Radó island, in the centre of Győr, Hungary
How to get to Győr from Budapest: By car it takes approximately 90 minutes via M1. By public transport the best is to take an InterCity train from Keleti railway station, it is only one hour to Győr, then a short walk to the island.
The event is free, wines are to be purchased at the winery exhibitors.
Music program is provided, more information here (in Hungarian)

Babarczi medals at Winelovers Wine Awards 2025

The winery won 3 silver and 1 bronze medals with high scores at the latest edition of WWA.
– Babarczi Pannonhalmi Marianum (Cabernet Franc) 2021, silver medal, 89 points
– Babarczi Pannonhalmi Sirius (Chardonnay) 2023, silver medal, 89 points
– Babarczi Pannonhalmi Aeternum (Bordeaux blend) 2022, silver medal, 88 points
– Babarczi Pannonhalmi Merlot 2021, bronze medal, 85 points

Wine & cheese pairing by Babarczi

The family winery organises several relaxed events at the estate, and certainly food is provided on these occasions. And in a recent post the winery shared their wine and cheese pairing recommendations, so that Babarczi-fans can enjoy them at home as well.
– Sauvignon Blanc – the refreshing, fruity wine with greenish notes pairs well with goat cheese or Feta or other salty, white cheeses.
– Chardonnay – if the wine is a barrel aged, creamy textured wine, it pairs well with matured, silky cheeses, like Mozzarella or Camembert. Try to add walnut and pear!
– Olaszrizling – a more restrained, subtle wine, perfect with harder cheeses of nutty character, like Gouda or Emmental.
– Rosé – fresh, fruity and playful, ideal with soft cheeses like Brie.

A recent article of ours about the success of Marianum

The Best Wine of Pannonhalma: Babarczi Marianum 2022

A recent article about Babarczi Birtokvörös (‘Estate Red’)

Welcome to my estate!