Patricius Archives - Hungarianwines

Ladies of the Label

Hungarianwines.eu — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 20:11:32 +0000

5 Hungarian wines dedicated to women

Olívia from Kunság, Hërka from Villány, Adél from Mátra, Gabriella from Badacsony and Katinka from Tokaj – five lovely wines with enchanting stories, from Hungarian winemakers.

Olívia, Irsai Olivér’s bride (Frittmann Winery, Kunság wine region)

The family winery in Kunság wine region has been working with Generosa, a less known variety for a long time. The Hungarian Generosa is a cross between Ezerjó and Piros Tramini (Savagnin Rose). This pink-berried cross was obtained in 1951 by Bíró Károly in Hungary, tested since 1976 by Edit Hajdú at the Kecskemét viticulture research centre, and finally christened Generosa in 2004. In 2020 they blended Irsai Olivér with Generosa, and thus Olívia was born! The wine is charming, intense on the nose but not overwhelming, like a gracious young lady. Refreshing, juicy and the aromas of ripened grape linger on in our mouth. The two varieties work together perfectly, the result is a super balanced, wonderful summer wine made in every vintage.

More about Frittmann Winery

Hërka, the girl who fooled the devil (Vylyan Vineyard and Winery, Villány)

Once upon a time there was a blonde girl, Hërka, who was so beautiful that even the devil fell in love with her. In his desperate love, the devil agreed with the old witch (Harka’s mother) to plough the rocky mountain of Harsány within one night. The job seemed impossible: the rocky surface was hard and solid, thus nobody had been able to plough it before him. The witch told him: „if you don’t succeed, you have to promise to go back to hell immediately!” The devil was strong and devoted: it was not even midnight when he almost finished. The old witch loved her daughter, she was afraid of losing her, so she was thinking hard to come up with a solution. Finally, she ran to the hen house and started to crow, just like roosters do at dawn. Though sunrise was hours away, she could wake up the roosters of the neighbourhood, who replied to her voice, and suddenly the cocks of the whole village were crowing. The devil was shocked, he had not finished yet! He was furious but had to leave, the place where he went down the hell is still there in the town of Harkány, hot water has been coming to the surface since there to supply the famous Harkány spa. And if you drive from Harkány to Villány, you can still see the traces of his plough, a quarry on the rocky mountain.
Hërka is one of the most popular wines of Vylyan made of 100% Chardonnay, with the enchanting legendary girl on the label.
More about Vylyan Vineyard and Winery

Adél, the enchanting pretty woman (Dominium Winery, Mátra)

Adél is made of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Furmint. The varieties aged separately in new oak for 8 months and after blending the wines matured in stainless steel for 4 more months. Only 1200 bottles were made and the indicative retailed price is around 23 euros. Rich, elegant, long finish, complex, fiery, concentrated. And the following notes: dried figs, quince, walnut, pistachio, tropical fruits, juniper, pine, lemongrass, toffee, gingerbread, brioche (and many more). It was selected The Best Sustainable wine at Budapest Wine Festival in 2023.
More about Dominium Winery

Gabriella, a devoted wife and mother (Borbély Family Winery, Badacsony)

Gabriella is a juicy, lovely summer wine made of Muscat Ottonel. Pale lemon colour, medium intense nose typical of the variety. Lilac, lily of the valley and genuine Muscat notes. Some almond, sage and lavander in the background. Ripened white fruits on the palate, good acidity, round sip. A lovely, refreshing wine, a beautiful representative of the variety. And it is named after the founder’s wife, and she is Tamás Borbély’s mother, who happens to be the Winemaker of the Year 2020, the youngest holder of the prestigious title ever.
More about Borbély Family Winery

Katinka, a sweet girl, Patricius Winery, Tokaj

Katinka is a blend of Furmint and Yellow Muscat with 116.3 g/l residual sugar and 5.9 g/l acidity, perfectly balancing the sweetness. A reference point among the late harvest wines of the Tokaj Wine Region. Selected bunches containing healthy, over-ripened and partly botrytized berries which were picked during the late – autumn harvest. The characteristic varietal notes of Furmint and Yellow Muscat form the foundation of this wine, braced by minerality and zippy acidity for great balance and topped off with an incredibly long finish and creaminess.

More about Patricius Winery

The post Ladies of the Label appeared first on Hungarianwines.

Not a festival, but an encounter – BorTavasz on 31 March in Budapest

Hungarianwines.eu — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:11:46 +0000

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)

Can you pair the names with the faces?

The post Not a festival, but an encounter – BorTavasz on 31 March in Budapest appeared first on Hungarianwines.

“Furmint now has universal recognition”

Hungarianwines.eu — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:33:19 +0000

Interview with Zsuzsa Toronyi after the 8th edition of Furmint February in London

14 wines spanned 25 years at the 8th Furmint February tasting and masterclass in London organised by Zsuzsa Toronyi, held by Caroline Gilby MW and Richard Bampfield MW. The event was full house, a great success with participants like Jancis Robinson and representatives of key companies like Majestic, Liberty and Berkmann, sommeliers from restaurants like Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and media like Decanter.
In the cover photo from left to right: Zsuzsa Toronyi, Caroline Gilby MW, Richard Bampfield MW
Questions: Ágnes Németh

The masterclass took place on 23 February at Liszt Institute, the Hungarian Cultural Centre in London, as part of a trade tasting event of a curated selection of Furmint wines available in the UK. The chief organiser, Zsuzsa Toronyi, owner of Wine Communication and Wines of Hungary UK answered our questions regarding the event.

“Shifting the perception”

– You are the “engine” behind all the Furmint February events in London, and Furmint February has become the reference point of Hungarian wines in the UK. Do you remember how the idea occurred 8 years go?

– The concept of organising an awareness-raising tasting for Hungarian wines emerged shortly after I began working with Hungarian wines in the UK. At the time, Tokaj was the most widely recognised (the only), wine region with established distribution on the market. It was a logical decision to focus on wines that already had both reputation and availability, building on existing awareness to further promote Hungarian wines in the UK market. The key challenge was to introduce dry wines and shift the perception that Tokaj is exclusively associated with sweet wines.

– I had the honour to participate in some of the past events, and it was revealing to hear buyers and sommeliers about the potential of Furmint – with many great insights and useful ideas. How do you feel now, do you think that the education has been done and those “who count” in the UK have sufficient knowledge of Furmint?

– A particularly significant endorsement of our work over the past eight years came from Alex Hunt MW, Head of Wine at Berkmann Wine Cellars, who observed that Furmint now has universal recognition within the wine trade.
Each Furmint February places a strong emphasis on education, showcasing the many expressions of Furmint through focused initiatives such as The Thousand Faces of Furmint, a Sparkling Furmint masterclass, and presentations of single-vineyard wines. We invited trade professionals, journalists this year to experience the exceptional ageing potential of dry Furmints.
Furmint is now well established within the trade, and we have further strengthened its market position by expanding distribution and increasing sales through new importer partnerships, as well as additional restaurant and retail listings.

The growth opportunity lies in placing the wines directly in front of consumers through targeted by-the-glass trade promotions, while expanding into new UK regions and increasing visibility beyond London. Next year’s Furmint February will take place in Edinburgh, to expand the initiative beyond London and strengthening its presence across the UK. And we will run a nation-wide Furmint by-the-glass promotion to drive sales and consumer recognition.

“I have been a firm believer in the quality and potential of dry Furmint, ever since tasting Szepsy’s legendary Úrágya 2000 in his cellars. I, for one, am looking forward to this unique opportunity to taste and compare over two decades of rare wines showing how Furmint can age and how winemaking has evolved. It’s time to add Furmint to the list of great white grapes.”
Caroline Gilby MW

Is there life beyond Furmint?

– Obviously there are critics, some experts believe that placing too much emphasis on Furmint is not the smartest path, especially because Hungary produces much more other wines, like Olaszrizling or the popular aromatic varieties. Does Furmint help the other Hungarian varieties or styles or does it take all the limelight?

– Furmint and Tokaj serve as a gateway to other grape varieties and wine regions; however, at times, I feel they do not fully make room for other wines to follow. There is a clear need to introduce additional Hungarian grape varieties to the UK market, driven both by trade demand and the ambitions of Hungarian producers. We successfully hosted a Hárslevelű tasting during COVID, running the Blue of the Danube tasting for the third time this year (October 2026) focusing on Kékfrankos and Bikavér, and introduced other grape varieties at the Furmint February – Furmint and Friends tasting two years ago. For Balaton, we raised awareness and drove sales through a comprehensive JancisRobinson.com article.

The Wine52 Balaton campaign, accompanied by a 60-page magazine about the region, brought nearly 100,000 bottles of Balaton wines directly in front of UK consumers.

We also hosted a GROW/Olaszrizling masterclass at last year’s CEE Wine Fair. Further efforts are needed to support other Hungarian regions than Tokaj, and other grape varieties on the UK market. Building awareness and consideration for lesser-known wine regions and grape varieties is no easy task. It demands focus, consistency, patience, and significant investment from the wineries—an investment that is difficult to sustain without support from the wine marketing board.

Hoping for cooperation next year

– Over the years you have established a good relationship with the Hungarian Embassy in the UK. In what way do you help each other?

– We have been working together with the Hungarian Embassy and the Liszt Institute in London since the beginning. HE dr Ferenc Kumin ambassador and Enikő Magyar former Agricultural Attache and now Bálint Illés is supporting our work. We are organising events together as well as promoting Hungarian wines like the Decanted Hungary, which features DWWA medal winning wines. Last year the Embassy hosted a highly successful South Korean lunch with Hungarian wines for Korean restaurant owners, and sommeliers fostering business connection and driving sales. The year-end Importer Brunch is an annual tradition where HE invites importers and buyers to review the performance of Hungarian wines over the past year and discuss opportunities and recommendations for further development.

– The key people and bodies of the Hungarian wine marketing have changed several times during these past 8 years. Could you cooperate with the official Hungarian wine marketing, and can you cooperate now?

– We have worked closely with the main Hungarian wine marketing bodies in the past 8 years, and UK initiatives have received their support to date. However, this year there was no budget allocated to support Furmint February in the UK unfortunately. We are actively fostering collaboration to ensure the successful joint execution of planned Furmint February activities next year.

“Awareness is established, listings are increasing”

– Why did you choose this intimate masterclass format this year, instead of the earlier grandiose walk-around tastings combined with masterclasses?

– This year’s Furmint February was very much on strategy or at least executed as part of the objectives. “Some tastings introduce a category – and some tastings quietly change your perspective on it. 25 Years of Dry Furmint in London was very much the latter” as demonstrated by this year’s vertical tasting, this reflects what I aimed to achieve in London: awareness is established, listings are increasing, and nearly every restaurant features a dry Furmint. Now we need to keep the trade engaged and educated about Furmint and its full potential – this year in partnership with Liberation Tardive’s 10+Wine campaign we presented a rare opportunity to taste iconic Furmint wines from the past two decades.
Unfortunately, we were unable to run the planned nation-wide by-the-glass trade promotion and the Edinburgh tasting this year, so these initiatives will be prioritised for next year.

– As you said earlier on the phone, the masterclass and tasting in London was a big hit, full house and you received a lot of positive, enthusiastic feedback. Can you quote some of the comments?

– It was a tasting with a wonderful atmosphere. Everyone was thoroughly delighted with the wines and especially appreciated the selection featured in the masterclass. Jancis Robinson congratulated us after the masterclass, highlighting the quality and complexity of the wines, as well as the well-considered structure of the tasting. We will be able to read more of her insights on her website and in the Financial Timas as well.

“It was indeed a serious and highly prestigious event. We are delighted to have been part of it with our Muzeális Aszú.”
Szilvia Kárpáti Grand Tokaj

“It was a real privilege to be able to share such amazing Furmints, going all the way back to 2003 for dry wines and 1988 for Aszú.”
Caroline Gilby MW

“Thank you so much for the tasting yesterday, it was amazing. I particularly liked the dry whites, which really showed the ageing potential of the Furmint. I am glad I came.”
Luisa Vogliolo-Welch, wine writer

“I am well acquainted with dry Furmint and have enjoyed several bottles over the years, but I had never imagined that it could age so gracefully and develop with such elegance. This experience has been a complete revelation—thank you, I have learned a great deal.”

Christopher Burr MW

“It was fascinating and hugely exciting to see how well dry Furmint ages. In both oaked and unoaked forms, the wines were taking on real complexity; and the natural acidity of the grape means that the wines are never short of verve or freshness. Given the relative lack of experience with this style of wine, the future looks highly promising!”
Richard Bampfield MW

The wines of the masterclass

Furmint Méthode Traditionnelle 2018, Carpinus Winery, Tokaj, ABV: 11%, brut
Kis-Garai Furmint 2021, Tokaj Hétszőlő, Tokaj, ABV: 13,5%, single vineyard: Kis-Garai
Furmint Selection 2021, Chateau Dereszla, Tokaj, ABV: 12,5%, vineyards: Henye, Poklos
Birsalmás Furmint 2019, Sauska Tokaj, Tokaj, ABV: 14%, single vineyard: Birsalmás
Nagy Somlói Furmint 2016, Kolonics Winery, Somló, ABV: 13%, vineyard: Arany-hegy
Mandolás Furmint 2014, Tokaj Oremus, Tokaj, ABV: 12.5%, single vineyard: Mandolás
Szent Tamás Furmint 2012, Royal Tokaji, Tokaj, ABV: 14%, single vineyard: Szent Tamás
Tokaji Furmint 2009, Füleky, Tokaj, ABV: 13%, estate wine
Tokaji Furmint 2007, Dobogó, Tokaj, ABV: 14%, vineyards: Betsek, Szent Tamás, Palota
Tokaji Furmint 2005, Patricius, Tokaj, ABV: 12.5%, estate wine
Úrágya Furmint 2003, Szepsy, Tokaj, ABV: 13.5%, vineyard: Úrágya
Dry Szamorodni 2015, Harsányi Winery, Tokaj, ABV: 15%, vineyard: Ciróka
Kapi Vineyard Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2015, Disznókő, Tokaj, ABV: 11%, RS:187 g/l, vineyard: Kapi
Tokaji Aszú 5 puttonyos 1988, Grand Tokaj, Tokaj, ABV: 11.5%, RS:131 g/l

The post “Furmint now has universal recognition” appeared first on Hungarianwines.

A sip of knowledge: Zéta grape

Hungarianwines.eu — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:55:17 +0000

Patricius Tokaji Szamorodni

Zéta is the 6th letter of the Greek alphabet, and also a grape variety allowed to use for wines under the Tokaj appellation. If you have never heard of it, don’t worry, even wine geeks lack information about this rare grape. Let us teach you and taste Patricius Stilla Aurea Tokaiensis, a sweet Tokaji Szamorodni with 50% Zéta variety.
Grape photo by Bor.hu

What to know about Zéta?

– It is a crossing between Furmint and Bouvier.
– The crossing was carried on by the renowned Hungarian viticultirist, Dr. Ferenc Király and his colleagues in 1951 at Pécs Research centre.
– Zéta is a half-sibling of Zengő, Zenit and Zeusz (he was definitely fond of the letter Z).
– Zéta was the protagonist of a novel by Géza Gárdonyi, a famous Hungarian writer. (A láthatatlan ember – Slave of the Huns / The Invisible Man)
– The official recognition took place many years later, only in 1990.
– At the beginning Zéta was known as Oremus, which is an important vineyard, a ‘cru’ in Tokaj wine region, and also the name of a winery (Tokaj Oremus, and estate owned by vega Sicilia). To avoid confusion, in 1999 the name was changed into Zéta.
– In 1999 there were only 34 hectares, but currently there are 110.7 hectares planted with Zéta in Hungary (source: HNT), exclusively in Tokaj.
– It ripens early and susceptible to botrytis. It has the potential to give full bodied wines rich in aromas and flavours.
– It usually contains less acidity, especially in case of very hot summers, therefore in the majority of the wines, Zéta is blended with other grapes of more acidity.
– You can see Zéta – and many other – vines in the educational vineyard of Patricius Winery, right near the estate building.

Patricius Stilla Aurea Tokaiensis 2021

– It is a sweet Tokaji Szamorodni, a traditional style similar to Tokaji Aszú in many ways, but with less botrytis, less sugar and with a more affordable price. For Szamorodni healthy and botrytised berries are harvested together.
– Stilla Aurea Tokaiensis (Latin) = Golden Drop from Tokaj
– The 2021 vintage of the wine is a blend of 50% Zéta, 28% Muscat Blanc and 22% Furmint.
– It fermented in stainless steel and then aged in 220 L oak barrel for a year.
– Alcohol: 12.5%, residual sugar: 124.2 g/l, acidity: 8.4 g/l
– “The nose brings the aromas of the botrytised Aszú berries with lots of fruity notes, as mango, peach, quince, apricot. In the back the elegance of the barrel ageing also appears. On palate fine complexity, roundness and elegance can characterize the taste. At the end unique minerality completes the wine.”
More about Patricius Winery

Patricius wines are available in many countries, for example in Great Britain at Great Wines & Co and also in the United States at Citadella Imports. If you are in Hungary, you can get hold of the wine at Budapest Airport.

Stay at Andrássy Kúria and Spa in Tokaj wine region…

…where you can taste all the wines of Patricius Winery

Breakfast with Giorgio in Tokaj

Patricius Winery in Tokaj

The cellar of Patricius

The post A sip of knowledge: Zéta grape appeared first on Hungarianwines.

Furmint Grand Tasting in Budapest on 26 February

Hungarianwines.eu — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:38:18 +0000

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)

The post Furmint Grand Tasting in Budapest on 26 February appeared first on Hungarianwines.

Taste magnificent Tokaj wines at Wine Paris

Hungarianwines.eu — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:08:51 +0000

Dereszla, Holdvölgy, Patricius and more

Tokaj is undoubtedly the king (and queen, emperor, president, chief of tribe, whatever system we speak about) of noble sweet wines. But Tokaj has more to offer: the dry Furmint wines (brilliant alternatives of Chablis), wines of the rich and exciting Hárslevelű, and even traditional method sparkling wines of Tokaj grapes.
To read about the wines of our cover photo, scroll down

Furmint Masterclass with Konstantin Baum MW

Taste 3 single vineyard Furmint wines on 9 February (Monday) at Wine Paris with Konstantin Baum MW. Wines:
– Balassa Tokaji Furmint Szent Tamás 2021
– Barta Öreg Király Furmint 2024,
– Maison aux Pois Betsek Furmint 2022
More information and registration here

35 Hungarian exhibitors at Wine Paris

35 exhibitors, but it means at least 50 wineries, since there are several associations among the exhibitors. Wines of Hungary, the official wine marketing body itself organises the pavilion of most of the exhibitors, and they will be present personally as well.
Date and time: 9–11 February 2026), open from 9 am to 7 pm on Monday and Tuesday, and closes at 5 pm on Wednesday, on the last day.
Venue: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles 75015. Easy to access by tram or metro (fast and cheap).
Tickets: Media representatives can apply for free media pass. Buyers or other professionals can get invitations with free pass from exhibitors. In other cases, visitors can simply buy tickets, now 80 EUR / person / 3 days.
More about Wine Paris
Some of the Hungarian exhibitors:

Bock (Villány), Dereszla (Tokaj), Etyeki Kúria (Etyek, with Fine Wine Association of Hungary), Garamvári (Balatonlelle), Holdvölgy (Tokaj), Homola (Balatonfüred, with Fine Wine Association of Hungary), Patricius (Tokaj), Sauska (Villány and Tokaj), Tornai (Somló), Tóth Ferenc (Eger, with Fine Wine Association of Hungary), Tűzkő (Tolna)

To see all Hungarian exhibitors click here
More information about the wineries who exhibit with Wines of Hungary

The magnificent Tokaj wines from the cover photo

Dereszla Kabar 2022

Have you not heard of Kabar? No problem. Kabar is a new variety (the crossing was made in 1967 in Tarcal research centre) allowed in the Tokaj wine region since 2006. Kabar is exclusively grown in Tokaj, in fact it is an experimental strain previously known as Tarcal 10 that is a cross between Hárslevelű and Bouvier. Kabar represents only 1 percentage of Tokaj plantations, and probably Dereszla is the only winery bottle it as a varietal wine. Kabar gives wines with some linden blossom on the nose and high acidity on the palate. Dereszla Kabar is rich, dense, clear and mineral, and the typical linden flower aromas are complemented by the vanilla flavour imparted by the barrel.
More about Dereszla and the wines at Wine Paris

Holdvölgy Culture 2017

Holdvölgy wines are the embodiments of elegance, grace and subtlety, ant their Tokaji Aszú called Culture is the crown. 2017 vintage is made of Furmint, Hárslevelű and Zéta, it was aged for two years in barrels, and has a residual sugar of 200 g/L. “The nose is clean and precise, dominated by fresh cantaloupe and supported by apricot compote, candied lemon peel, and a hint of clove. A lively citrus flavour attack on the palate, with the cantaloupe returning on the core. The finish is long, led by apricot and fig with persistence and fine complexity.” And you can buy 12 vintages of this miracle! Holdvölgy has kept a part of every vintage of Culture, thus now wine connoisseurs can get hold of Tokaji Aszú wines from 2006.
Find all the Holdvölgy Culture 6 puttonyos Tokaji Aszú vintages here
More about Holdvölgy and the wines at Wine Paris

Patricius Brut

Sparkling wine consumption is still increasing in most countries, in others it is at least not decreasing, so why not present something new to your bubbly lover clients? Patricius Brut is a traditional method sparkling wine made of Furmint and Hárslevelű, and it has a dosage of only 3.9 g/L sugar. “This terroir-driven sparkling wine, made using the traditional method, captures the unique character of Tokaj’s volcanic soil. The fruity notes of Hárslevelű are elegantly balanced by the vibrant acidity of Furmint and enriched by the complex aromas developed during bottle fermentation and extended ageing on the lees.”
More about Patricius and the wines at Wine Paris

Part of Holdvölgy estate building in the village of Mád, in Tokaj

The post Taste magnificent Tokaj wines at Wine Paris appeared first on Hungarianwines.

35 Hungarian exhibitors at Wine Paris

Hungarianwines.eu — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:07:06 +0000

9–11 February, Paris, France

Date and time: 9–11 February 2026), open from 9 am to 7 pm on Monday and Tuesday, and closes at 5 pm on Wednesday, on the last day.
Venue: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles 75015. Easy to access by tram or metro (fast and cheap).
About the expo: “Now a flagship event for producers and buyers from across the globe, Wine Paris will welcome over 6,000 exhibitors representing 60 countries and over 60,000 visitors from 155 markets in 2026.”
Tickets: Media representatives can apply for free media pass. Buyers or other professionals can get invitations with free pass from exhibitors. In other cases, visitors can simply buy tickets, now 80 EUR / person / 3 days.
More about Wine Paris

Some of the Hungarian exhibitors:

To see all Hungarian exhibitors click here
More information about the wineries who exhibit with Wines of Hungary

In the upcoming days we will publish several specific recommendations tailored to different needs. Follow us!

The post 35 Hungarian exhibitors at Wine Paris appeared first on Hungarianwines.

Let’s sparkle on 29 December in Budapest

Hungarianwines.eu — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 11:05:18 +0000

Winelovers Sparkling Night

Guests can taste around 100 sparkling wines from more than 50 estates. Apart from the 35 Hungarian sparkling brands, participants can taste bubblies from France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Austria and South Africa. Patricius Brut, a great Furmint–Hárslevelű blend sparkling wine will also be available. And the venue is Hotel InterContinental in Budapest, with magnificent view of the river Danube and the iconic Chain Bridge.

Date and time: 29 December 2025, 17.00–22.00
Venue: Hotel InterContinental Budapest, 1052 Budapest, Apáczai Csere J. u. 12-14, Hungary
Pre-sale price until 28 December: 15 900 HUF/person (approximately 41 EUR), 29 800 HUF / 2 people (approximately 77.6 EUR)
Tickets on the spot: 18 900 HUF / person (approximately 49.2 EUR)
More information and ticket order here
Contact

Patricius Brut 2023

Bottle fermented sparkling wine made of Furmint and Hárslevelű, with 5.3 g/L dosage. This terroir-driven sparkling wine, made using the traditional method, captures the unique character of Tokaj’s volcanic soil. The fruity notes of Hárslevelű are elegantly balanced by the vibrant acidity of Furmint and enriched by the complex aromas developed during bottle fermentation and extended ageing on the lees.

More about Patricius Winery

Andrássy Kúria and Spa – a place to stay in Tokaj and enjoy the whole range of Patricius wines

Breakfast with Giorgio in Tokaj

An earlier article of ours about Patricius Sárgamuskotály, a stunning example of the variety

Wine of the Weekend: Patricius Sárga Muskotály

An earlier article of ours about Katinka, a sweet little girl

Sweet November: Patricius Katinka from Tokaj

The post Let’s sparkle on 29 December in Budapest appeared first on Hungarianwines.

Prepare for Aszú Day!

Hungarianwines.eu — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 18:51:38 +0000

7+1 tips for the 10th of December

Tokaji Aszú is a majestic natural sweet wine, it well deserves a day in the year, what is more, it deserves to be consumed more often, and not only as a dessert wine. Many Michelin-star restaurants have paired main courses with Tokaji Aszú with success, to prove that it is high time thinking out of the box. Grab a bottle of Aszú and celebrate Aszú Day in a special way this year! Let us recommend 7 extraordinary Tokaji Aszú wines, plus a glass, dedicated to Aszú.
As for the availability, we have given some examples, in some cases the vintages may differ. If you need help, contact us.
For some basic info about Aszú Day and Tokaji Aszú, scroll down.

Barta – in the price of gold and worth it!

Barta Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2019 is undoubtedly the most expensive in this list with its price at 100 EUR for a bottle of only 0.375 L. A single vineyard Aszú from Öreg Király (‘Old King’), a cru of historic importance near the village of Mád.
“For this wine, botrytised, shrivelled Furmint berries were individually hand-picked and then macerated in fermenting Furmint base must for 18 hours before gentle pressing and fermentation in oak barrels. The fully fermented wine was cooled, racked, and then aged for 24 months in small Hungarian and French oak barrels.”
Available in the UK and some other countries.
More information

Béres – every single drop is medicine

The winery was founded by the son of the creator of the world famous Béres Drops – hence the slogan. The estate is located in the picturesque village of Erdőbénye, where the very first evidence of grape-growing of Tokaj was found.
On TasteHungary.eu Aszú-lovers can find a 2008 vintage Béres Tokaji Aszú, a true treasure!
“This wine is a blend of Furmint (70 percent) and Hárslevelű (30 percent) from volcanic soil in the Lőcse and Omlás vineyards. Vintage 2008 had an early spring, and enough rain to produce a good amount of botrytis and lots of Aszú berries. Grapes were harvested up until November 26th. The gorgeous dark golden-amber color of this wine is a promising sign of what is to come inside the bottle. This wine was fermented in oak barrels and aged in Hungarian oak barrels for 24 months (with an additional 12 months in the bottle before it was released).“

Available in the EU, while Béres Tokaji Esszencia is available in the US.
More information

Dereszla – affordable and outstanding

Having a good price would not be a merit without high, what is more outstanding quality. Edit Bai chief winemaker is devoted to select the best wines from the many barrels for the Aszú wines, the result is constantly great, for example vintage 2011 Dereszla Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos received 95 points from Wine Spectator. The current vintage available in most places is 2017, it is a blend of Furmint and Hárslevelű.
“A tightly wound and focused sweet wine, with intense acidity harnessing layers of apricot coulis, golden raisin, mango and passion fruit puree. It’s all about the fruit now, with some added notes of spice and chalk lifting the finish. Should develop nicely over time.“

Available in many countries, for example in the UK and even in Spain.
More information

Holdvölgy – the embodiment of Tokaj’s culture

This Tokaji Aszú is the odd one out – this is the only one with a name: Culture. Though Holdvölgy estate gives a name to each of the wines, the range consists of Intuition, Signature, Meditation and others. Holdvölgy is also unique to offer many vintages of the 6 puttonyos Tokaji Aszú on their webshop, 12 different vintages (!), to be precise. They make only 6 puttonyos Aszú wines and age them for 8 years! This is the reason for having released “only” 12 vintages. However, for keen Aszú lovers younger vintages are also available en primeur.
Holdvölgy Culture 2017 is made of Furmint, Hárslevelű and Zéta with a 100% Furmint base wine. “The nose is clean and precise, dominated by fresh cantaloupe and supported by apricot compote, candied lemon peel and a hint of clove. A lively citrus flavor attack on the palate with the cantaloupe returning on the core. The finish is long led by apricot and fig with persistence and fine complexity.“

Available in the UK, in the Netherlands, in France and other countries
(Aszú is on the way to the Dutch webshop!)
More information

Patricius – makes you beautiful

Let me share a personal memory: when I was pregnant with my third child, I happened to participate in a wine dinner in Tokaj with several producers. I refused to drink wine, but Péter Molnár, the estate manager of Patricius and his wife, Sarolta Bárdos (owner and winemaker of Tokaj Nobilis) insisted on having a tiny portion of Tokaji Aszú. “It is full of trace minerals, and, believe us, your baby will be more beautiful!” Certainly, they were joking with the second half of the sentence, but I looked around, at all the beautiful faces around me, and I was convinced. Needless to say, my daughter is a real beauty…
Patricius Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2019 is a varietal wine made of 100% Furmint. “Nicest aromas of botrytized berries followed by enormous, high structure and full body. Long, smooth, endless taste and exceptional deepness of peach, apricot and fig character. Full of Tokaj.“

Available in the UK, in the US and many other countries
More information

Sauska – impeccable, and full of life

The wines of Sauska estate – weather they are red wines from Villány, sparkling wines disgorged in Budafok or Aszú wines from Tokaj are simply spotless. When a wine critic wants to find a fault, the only thing they say is that it is “too perfect”. Well, perfection can be boring, but Sauska wines are full of excitement as well. 2019 vintage Sauska Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos is a blend of Furmint, Hárslevelű and Sárgamuskotály.
“Beautiful golden color wine with aromas of white nougat, lemongrass pannacotta, candied ginger, and dried mango. It is lusciously sweet with hard-to-believe fresh acidity that beautifully balances the natural sweetness of the wine. Very long aftertaste with ginger-like spiciness. This is the kind of wine that will only get better with age. We expect this wine to have a very long, 30+ year, life ahead.“

Available in the UK, in the US and many other countries
More information

Zsirai – the “One & Only”

The Mád winery led by two sisters, Kata and Petra Zsirai has recently gone through a rebranding: new logo, new labels, new wine names. The One & Only wines are unique, outstanding ones with a serial number, so that they are collectibles. Zsirai Tokaji Aszú No1 2021 is one of the three One & Only wines, it is made of 100% Furmint from Középhegy and Nyulászó vineyards.
The hand picked grapes fermented spontaneously and then aged for 24 months in 4th use 220L barrels.This wine has the highest amount of residual sugar of all we listed with 288.5 g/L! But do not worry, the acidity of 9.14 g/L balances it brilliantly.
“The perfect combination: good grapes, good vintage, good balance. One of the greatest Aszú wines we have ever made. There are no words, let us speak the wine for itself.”

More information

+1 Aszú Glass – to dress your Aszú properly

Riedel created a Furmint glass in 2017, God bless them, and more recently, in 2023 Halimba Crystal, a Hungarian company created a glass dedicated to Tokaji Aszú wines. “A new glass, designed and tested to show Tokaji Aszú at its best, has been ceremonially unveiled today in Andrássy Kúria Hotel’s conference room in Tarcal. The approximately ninety invitees to the special event, mostly local winemakers, were treated to two Aszú wines, served in this elegant, uniquely shaped glass, selected from five finalist designs at a tasting by multiple local growers and wine professionals in August earlier this year. The event was hosted by Tokaj expert and author of the award-winning Tokaj Guide Gergely Ripka who has been the originator of, and driving force behind, the project. The glass is now available for purchase from manufacturer Halimba Crystal and, while few will be able to clink this with an Aszú on 10th December, International Aszú Day, the new glass will certainly adorn many more tables this coming Christmas in Hungary, and then hopefully become an essential part of the glassware range for bars and restaurants the world over.”
From Tokaj Today on 8 December 2023

ASZÚ GETS ITS OWN GLASS ON THE EVE OF INTERNATIONAL ASZÚ DAY

More information

Aszú Day – since 2017

The idea of the International Aszú Day came from Dániel Kézdy, an avid fan and great expert of Tokaj. Mr. Kézdy has published a book on the wine region in 2014 with the title Tokaj – People and Vineyards which is available both in Hungarian and English. He was also the initiator and organizer of Furmint Február an annual event since 2010, and Hárslevelűk Éjszakája since 2014. The two events are designed to highlight these important Hungarian varieties. It was also Mr. Kézdy who came up with the idea of the International Furmint Day to be celebrated on the 1st of February. „You might say I am biased but I am convinced that it would be a hell of a task to refute me, so I’m not afraid to declare that Tokaj Aszú is the greatest sweet wine in the world and it deserves to be put in the limelight worldwide”, says Mr. Kézdy.
He also led an online campaign on social media and maintained a website dedicated to Aszú Day, however the landing page does not funcion any more. Nevertheless, Aszú Day is alive and is on, as long as there are fans of this magic wine.

Tokaji Aszú in a nutshell

The Tokaj wine region is situated in North East Hungary at the foothills of the Zemplén Mountains, along the rivers Bodrog and Tisza. The world’s first delimited wine region since 1737, the regulations were designed to protect local values and they prohibited the import of grapes, must or wine to the region. The soil is of volcanic origin (andesite, liparite, quartz) and this is reflected in the wines which show a certain minerality and tightness. The climate is continental with long and dry autumns. One of the defining features of the wine region is the multitude of microclimates and soils in the various vineyards resulting in wines of great variety and distinct characters.

Thanks to the special microclimate of the wine region the onset of Botrytis cinerea or noble rot responsible for the shrivelling of berries is an almost certain occurrence each year though admittedly with varying degrees of intensity. In autumn the diurnal alternation of morning fog created by the rivers and dry sunny days is conducive to the production of aszú berries.

Botrytis punctures the grape skins thereby assisting the evaporation of liquid matter and by doing so increasing the concentration of sugar, acidity and flavour compounds. However this is not a uniform process so the shrivelled berries have to be picked one by one over a prolonged period. Needless to say this is an extremely labour-intensive process; even experienced pickers can gather only 6-7 kilograms a day and the same vine might have to be revisited 4-5 times in one harvest period.

Once the liquid matter has evaporated the aszú berries are macerated in the fermenting juice or base wine of the same vintage for 24-48 hours with regular stirring for proper extraction. Once the maceration is done the aszú paste is removed, pressed and the resulting must is fermented to arrive at Tokaj Aszú. Post-fermentation residual sugar content must reach at least 120 gramm/liter.

Properly stored Tokaj Aszús can be enjoyed for several decades. A properly stored 20 year old Aszú is still magnificent with slightly transformed flavours, added complexity; it’s easy to see why they are so higly regarded by connoisseurs. However tasting younger Aszús with their more springlike, fresher and brighter profile provides just as much pleasure.

On Tokaj wine styles read our Vocabulary section

The post Prepare for Aszú Day! appeared first on Hungarianwines.

Sweet November: Patricius Katinka from Tokaj

Hungarianwines.eu — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 10:23:02 +0000

A best seller of Budapest Airport

One of the merits of a late harvest noble wine of Tokaj is that you can find the traces of botrytis and the myriads of flavours typical of noble sweet wines of the region, yet a late harvest is much more affordable, even at the pricey airport shop. No wonder, Katinka is a top seller, an evergreen in shiny golden.

Patricius Katinka 2023

Grape varieties: Furmint and Yellow Muscat
Alcohol: 12%
Residual sugar: 116.3 g/l
Acidity: 5.9 g/l
A reference point among the late harvest wines of the Tokaj Wine Region. Selected bunches containing healthy, over-ripened and partly botrytized berries which were picked during the late – autumn harvest. The characteristic varietal notes of Furmint and Yellow Muscat form the foundation of this wine, braced by minerality and zippy acidity for great balance and topped off with an incredibly long finish and creaminess.

Find Katinka on Patricius webshop for only 6000 HUF (around 15 EUR)
More about Patricius Winery

You can also buy Katinka in the United Kingdom for 19.95 GBP at Great Wines & Co and also in the United States at Citadella Imports.

Stay at Andrássy Kúria and Spa in Tokaj wine region…

…where you can taste all the wines of Patricius Winery

Breakfast with Giorgio in Tokaj

An earlier article of ours about the wines at Budapest Airport

Budapest Airport best buys

The post Sweet November: Patricius Katinka from Tokaj appeared first on Hungarianwines.

Patricius Archives - Hungarianwines

Ladies of the Label

5 Hungarian wines dedicated to women

Olívia, Irsai Olivér’s bride (Frittmann Winery, Kunság wine region)

Hërka, the girl who fooled the devil (Vylyan Vineyard and Winery, Villány)

Adél, the enchanting pretty woman (Dominium Winery, Mátra)

Gabriella, a devoted wife and mother (Borbély Family Winery, Badacsony)

Katinka, a sweet girl, Patricius Winery, Tokaj

Not a festival, but an encounter – BorTavasz on 31 March in Budapest

Trade tasting available for Bortársaság club members as well

Did you know about Bortársaság?

BorTavasz

Can you pair the names with the faces?

“Furmint now has universal recognition”

Interview with Zsuzsa Toronyi after the 8th edition of Furmint February in London

“Shifting the perception”

Is there life beyond Furmint?

The Wine52 Balaton campaign, accompanied by a 60-page magazine about the region, brought nearly 100,000 bottles of Balaton wines directly in front of UK consumers.

Hoping for cooperation next year

“Awareness is established, listings are increasing”

“I am well acquainted with dry Furmint and have enjoyed several bottles over the years, but I had never imagined that it could age so gracefully and develop with such elegance. This experience has been a complete revelation—thank you, I have learned a great deal.”

Christopher Burr MW

The wines of the masterclass

A sip of knowledge: Zéta grape

Patricius Tokaji Szamorodni

What to know about Zéta?

Patricius Stilla Aurea Tokaiensis 2021

Patricius wines are available in many countries, for example in Great Britain at Great Wines & Co and also in the United States at Citadella Imports. If you are in Hungary, you can get hold of the wine at Budapest Airport.

Stay at Andrássy Kúria and Spa in Tokaj wine region…

Furmint Grand Tasting in Budapest on 26 February

More than 60 exhibitors

Furmint in a nutshell

The latest discovery about furmint, announced yesterday:

Béres Lőcse Furmint is available in magnum format!

Exhibitors of Furmint February Grand Tasting 2026

Taste magnificent Tokaj wines at Wine Paris

Dereszla, Holdvölgy, Patricius and more

Furmint Masterclass with Konstantin Baum MW

35 Hungarian exhibitors at Wine Paris

The magnificent Tokaj wines from the cover photo

Dereszla Kabar 2022

Holdvölgy Culture 2017

Patricius Brut

35 Hungarian exhibitors at Wine Paris

9–11 February, Paris, France

Some of the Hungarian exhibitors:

In the upcoming days we will publish several specific recommendations tailored to different needs. Follow us!

Let’s sparkle on 29 December in Budapest

Winelovers Sparkling Night

Patricius Brut 2023

Prepare for Aszú Day!

7+1 tips for the 10th of December

Barta – in the price of gold and worth it!

Béres – every single drop is medicine

Dereszla – affordable and outstanding

Holdvölgy – the embodiment of Tokaj’s culture

Patricius – makes you beautiful

Sauska – impeccable, and full of life

Zsirai – the “One & Only”

+1 Aszú Glass – to dress your Aszú properly

Aszú Day – since 2017

Tokaji Aszú in a nutshell

Sweet November: Patricius Katinka from Tokaj

A best seller of Budapest Airport

Patricius Katinka 2023

Find Katinka on Patricius webshop for only 6000 HUF (around 15 EUR) More about Patricius Winery

You can also buy Katinka in the United Kingdom for 19.95 GBP at Great Wines & Co and also in the United States at Citadella Imports.

Stay at Andrássy Kúria and Spa in Tokaj wine region…

An earlier article of ours about the wines at Budapest Airport

Find Katinka on Patricius webshop for only 6000 HUF (around 15 EUR)
More about Patricius Winery