Wine of the Weekend: a “Grand” red from Mátra

Dominium is an organic family winery from the mountainous Mátra wine region. At the latest edition of VinAgora wine contest, the estate won two gold medals, one for Dominium Grand Feketeleányka 2022. Feketeleányka (‘Black Maiden’) is the same grape as the Romanian Fetească Neagră.

Two years ago, we reported that Dominium Grand Feketeleányka 2022 had been selected the best red wine of a Hungarian trade magazine, and it had also been chosen “The Wine of Gyöngyös” (the capital city of Mátra). We wrote the following: “The 2022 vintage was an excellent year, the fruit of it is called Grand Feketeleányka, a complex, barrel aged, organic wine with great potential.”
And yes, the tasters were right! Now, two years later, the same vintage got gold medal again at the prestigious VinAgora international wine competition! What is more, Dominium Merlot 2023 was also awarded gold.

Not cheap, not weak – so what?

Dominium Grand Feketeleányka 2022 is made of selected fruit from a vineyard cultivated with organic viticulture. It fermented spontaneously, and matured in new and second use 250 L and 500 L oak barrel for 11 months. Full-bodied, complex, layered wine abundant in forest fruits and spices. The alcohol is 16%, well, do not drive after that, you had better stay in one of the charming rooms of Dominium guest house, and the other day do not miss the sauna with view of the vineyard.
It costs 49 000 HUF / 138.5 EUR – but outstanding wines have their price… The other gold winner wine, Dominium Merlot 2023 costs only 99 000 HUF / 28 EUR.

More about Dominium Winery

Read an interview with Dániel Orbán, the winemaker of Dominium Winery

Organic wines and absolute “recharge” in Mátra

Dominium wines are available in several wine shops in Hungary, like Ab Ovo wine shop or the webshop of Dominium. In case you are interested in importing Dominium wines, contact Dániel Orbán. 

Dominium Guest House – the best place to taste

The well equipped, lovely guest house is ideal base for those, who plan to discover Mátra mountain. Recently the guest house has been equipped with three e-bikes and 2 bikes, thus friends and families have a new way to wander in the neighbourhood.

More about the guest house and booking

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

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

The German international wine contest has always been popular among Hungarian winemakers, but this winter edition is the record so far: Hungary ranks 3rd in the medal contest with 178 medals after Italy (337 medals) and Spain (245). Even the organizer Germany has less medals (169). Hungary has collected 8 grand gold, 147 gold and 23 silver medals. Let us introduce some highlights of the award winners.

Winelovers Wine Awards results announced on 22 July

With 1063 entries at the 4th edition, Winelovers Wine Awards have become the largest wine competition organized in Hungary. Samples came from 13 countries, 8 wines received grand gold medal, six from Hungary, one from Romania and one from Italy. The most successful winery of the contest is Sauska (Tokaj and Villány), with 7 gold medals, plus 6 silver and 2 bronze medals.

This year’s gold medal winners by Sauska

– Sauska Brut NV Magnum, Tokaj, 92 pts
– Sauska Kékfrankos 2022, Villány, 91 pts
– Sauska Cuvée 13 2021, Villány, 90 pts
– Sauska Chardonnay 2024, Tokaj, 90 pts
– Sauska Csukma Merlot 2019, Villány, 90 pts
– Sauska Brut NV, Tokaj, 90 pts
– Sauska Extra Dry NV, Tokaj, 90 pts
See all the medal winner Sauska wines here

If you ask a Japanese wine person about the wine preferences of the nation, he will hurry to add that Japanese palate is very different from the Chinese one, Japanese wine people prefer dry wines. This is clearly proven by the latest results of Hungarian wines at the 8th Sakura Women’s Wine Awards: 6 Hungarian medals (5 gold, 1 silver), and 5 of them went to dry wines. The panel of exclusively female judges evaluated 4562 wines from 32 countries.

Here is our beautiful list of medal winners:

– Sauska Villány, 2 gold medals for Sauska Cuvée 13, 2018 and Sauska Cuvée 7, 2017.

– Chateau Dereszla, Tokaj, 1 gold medal for Tokaji Semi Dry White, 2017 and 1 silver for Tokaji Furmint Dry, 2019.

– Juliet Victor, Tokaj, 1 gold for Betsek Furmint, 2017.

– Tokaj Oremus, Tokaj, 1 gold for Mandolás Furmint, 2017

Let us introduce two gold winners!

Sauska Cuvée 13, 2018 – amazing price value

This red wine from Villány is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Kékfrankos, Portugieser and Cabernet Franc. After a quick, accurate selection berries cold-soaked for 3-5 days. Fermented in stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeast to maximize fruit character. Aged in stainless steel and selected used barrels for 8 months.

“Warm ruby red. Aromas of plum, raspberries and freshly baked sourdough bread dominate the nose. On the palate, a lovely outburst of red forest fruits, delicate freshness, clean and balanced finish.”
And only less than 10 euros retail price in Hungary! Certainly Japanese price may be higher (2500–4000 JPY)

More information about Sauska Cuvée 13, 2018

Chateau Dereszla Tokaji Semi Dry White, 2017

Chateau Dereszla has a long history of wine making in Tokaj wine region: the first known written mention of this Bodrogkeresztúr cellar was in the early-15th century when an inventory reports that cellars owned by King Sigismund were used to collect and store wine offered as part of the tithes.

This white wine is a blend of 85% Furmint and 15% Yellow Muscat. Fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
“An intense nose with elegant and rich minerality. A perfect balance of beautiful acids and pleasant residual sugar, ending on a long finish.”

More about Chateau Dereszla

Passionate about food and wine pairing

Another important feature is that they are crazy about food and wine pairing, thus most wines end up on the table next to a home made or restaurant dish. Mami Whelehan wine expert, PR director of Pieroth Japan has a stunning Instagram page with mouth watering food photos and food pairing ideas, and she can give great pieces of advice on what wine to drink with Japanese dishes, for example in this interview with her.

More about Sakura Women’s Wine Awards

We are not among the most successful countries at the 28th edition of German Mundus Vini wine contest, but the result is not bad. Hungary might be far from the most successful Italy (734 medals) or Spain (703), still our small country won more medals than Georgia (18), Argentina (15) or China (10). We also say congratulations to our neighbours: Austria won 96 medals, Romania 29, Croatia 20 and Serbia 13.

“Almost 3,000 wines from all over the world were awarded medals at the 28th MUNDUS VINI International Wine Awards in Neustadt, Germany. The great wine qualities in the competition convinced the jury of experts, who blindly and professionally tasted 7,300 wines from 39 wine-growing countries of the world on a total of 20 tasting days in small groups this year.”  (Press release of Mundus Vini)

These times we are not overwhelmed by wine contest results, because several competitions are cancelled, postponed or held with smaller number of samples and judges. However the Asian contest, China Wine And Spirit Award Best Value received more samples than ever – which proves that the 20 year old contest is influential and important.

“With entrants from 85 countries, the CWSA Judges – responsible for buying 90 million bottles of wine and spirits per year – were extremely impressed by entrants” – comments the team of organizers.

“CWSA Medals continue to be the benchmark of quality and assurance for buyers. Especially when making buying decisions remotely, CWSA Medals are more crucial now than ever” – comments judge Jonathan Mather, formerly of leading wine importer ASC Fine Wines and now MD Acceler8 Marketing.

Hungary is among the 85 countries participating: only one wine entered, but this one won not less but gold medal! Chateau Teleki Merlot 2017 by Csányi Winery in Villány has proved its merit again (vintage 2015 was selected the best value red wine in Hungary by the publication called Top 100 wines).

“Dark ruby colour with the shade of pomegranate. Intense nose reminiscent of sour cherry jam and red fruits. Well detectable spicy notes and also some slightly smoky shades from barrel ageing. The palate is vivid, juicy with fine acidity and again recalling the red fruits of the nose. The tannins are velvety and fit smoothly into the structure of the wine. Taste it slowly…”

Find all the results here

More about Teleki wines and Csányi Winery

While most experts enjoy their well deserved summer holiday, Tom Stevenson and his team had gone through sparkling wines from 18 countries evaluating a record number of samples, in the southern English town of Kent. From Hungary only 5 wines were awarded, 4 of them are from Kreinbacher Estate, Somló. Kreinbacher Brut Classic 2015 Magnum won gold last year and was selected „Best Hungarian Future Release”. This year future turned into present, and the magnum won gold again, proving the expertise of the jury predicting great quality last year, before Brut Classic had been released. Kreinbacher Estate won 3 silver medals besides their gold: Rosé Brut 2016 Magnum has just been released, while Brut Classic 2016 Magnum and Prestige Brut 2016 Magnum are not yet released. The gold winner 2015 vintage is a blend of 71% Furmint, 29% Chardonnay with a dosage of 8,5 g/l. „Aged on the lees for more than two years now, but its remarkable freshness shows further potential for bottle ageing. Besides the citrusy flavours like grapefruit other fruits make it rich and characteristic of the Furmint grape variety. Intense and surprisingly smooth mousse, vibrant acidity and freshness feature this lean sparkling wine. The zest ensures a long finish.”
Photo: Csaba Barbay / Flashback

More about Kreinbacher sparkling wines.

Full list of silver and gold medals of The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2019

Last week we published some of the special prizes and great gold medals of the most important national competition of Hungary. „Simple” gold medals seem to stay in the shadow, as if gold was not brilliant enough. But when there are 908 entries, it is an honour to be among the 140 gold winners. Especially with the highest score of the gold winners! Tűzkő Estate is one of the proud gold winners with their Tűzkő Domb, the flagship blend of the winery. Tűzkő Domb Cuvée 2017 received 91.50 scores, which makes it the most successful gold winner apart from the great gold winners. The estate is situated in Tolna wine region, one of the less known wine regions of Hungary in spite of the infinite merits of the region, neighbouring star regions like Villány or Szekszárd. Tűzkő is owned by Marchese Piero Antinori – a guarantee to create great quality wines true to their terroirs. So who is this gold winner beauty? „Deep colour,  full bodied, matured wine rich in refined tannins. Thanks to the two varieties fruity and spicy notes meet, and the blend is made complex with some discrete barrel ageing and 10 months of bottle ageing. Refined, integrated tannins with the deep, warm character of Cabernet Franc and the velvety and chocolate character of Merlot.”

More about Tűzkő Domb