Wine & Painting at Tornai Winery

Zsuzsanna Kővári artist will share her passion of creation with joy at Tornai Winery on 11 April. Wine, wine bites and paint will be provided, guests only need to bring their heart. Plus: do not miss the chance to stock some of the 4 recent gold medal winner Tornai wines!

Date and time: 11 April 2026, 13.00
Venue: Tornai Winery, Somló hegy 1242., Somlojeno, Hungary, 8478
Participation fee: 12 000 HUF (approximately 30 EUR)
It includes: refreshing wines from Tornai, some wine bites, guided painting
Booking: +36 70 663 6641 / rendezveny@tornaipince.hu
More about Tornai Winery

Tornai Winery celebrates its 80th anniversary this year with several events all year long.

Painting with heart

Vivid colours, different techniques, several styles – Zsuzsanna “Zsanna” Kővári does not want to stay in her comfort zone, she wants to try herself in new techniques and genres to evolve. She grew up in Balaton Uplands, her love of the lake district is reflected in many of her paintings.
11 April is the Day of Poetry in Hungary, commemorating one of our most famous poets, Attila József, who was born on this day. Then why a painter? First of all, why not, secondly, Zsanna’s painting is poetry. She often reads poems for inspiration, because, as she says: “good things inspire me the most”. She “paints with heart”, and she can transfer this passion through a workshop like the one at Tornai Winery.

More about Zsuzsanna Kővári

Does it give you a boy?

Spoiler: no. The myth has been debunked. The wine of the indigenous grape of Juhfark from volcanic Somló does not give you a baby boy, but it gives you pleasure, so enjoy it, even today, on Valentine’s Day.
Background photo of the cover: Pexels / Foundertips
Author: Ágnes Németh

The following article of mine was written 10 years ago, I won Millesima Blog Awards in Wine Reporter category with this article in 2017, so it might be worth republishing it. The wines are different from the ones in th original article.

Make love and drink Juhfark – does it help if you want a baby boy?

Well, the first action definitely does. The most important indigenous grape variety of Hungary’s smallest wine region, the volcanic soiled Somló is said to have a positive effect on women who long for a son. The legend goes back to the XVIII. century, when Maria Theresa, Habsburg archduchess of Austria and queen of Hungary ordered the young Habsburg archdukes to drink Juhfark wine from Somló on their wedding night so that they would have an heir as a fruit of the night. The argument was backed by the local observation, that four times more baby boys were born then girls around the hill of Somló.

Endre Czeizel, Hungary’s most famous geneticist, who has passed away recently, commented the belief. ‘Stomach is very far from the womb’ – said he undermining the myth immediately. The professor claimed that certain diets might influence the sex of the baby, but these researches still lack evidence, and some of them are too long and hard to keep. Intimate irrigation may have significant influence, however, if the irrigation liquid is acidic, it helps to find their way for X chromosomes, which are for girls, and alkaline environment helps Y chromosomes, and therefore the boys. The grape Juhfark is highly acidic, thus if it has an influence, it has a reverse one: it might enable women to give birth to girls! It is enough to look at Maria Theresia’s family: she had 16 children, and 11 of them were girls! The message of the story is that one should enjoy Juhfark for its own merit, not for family planning.

Juhfark takes its name from the sheep’s tail, as the long cylindrical shape of the bunches resemble the sheep’s tail. Juhfark has a rather neutral, restrained nose with some flowers and green apples. High, sometimes brutal acidity. It is really difficult to tame this variety, but there are amazing examples of it in history! If you are not afraid of straightforward acidity, take a chance on it. In Somló, the minerality paired with high acidity results some outstanding wines with great aging potential.

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)

 

Importer of the month: Hundert Weinhaus

Wineries attend exhibitions to network and secure orders, but this is hard work and extremely costly, and sometimes an exhibition yields no results but costs a lot of money. However, this is not the case with the Weinfestival Basel. The Swiss go there to taste and then order, so in addition to fruitful connections, there is also immediate success. Last November was a success for the Villány wineries exhibiting, and István Bicsek and Marietta, the owners of the Hundert Weinhaus wine shop, played a major role in this.
Author: Ágnes Németh

Contact

Hundert Weinhaus
Address: Leuenallee 8A, CH-4702 Oensingen, Switzerland
Email: info@hundertweinhaus.com
Tel: +41 (0)79 555 99 15
https://hundertweinhaus.com/

Wineries in the Hundert Weinhaus portfolio

A Gere Winery (Villány), Árvai Family Winery (Tokaj), Bock Winery (Villány), Bodri Winery (Szekszárd), Erzsébet Cellar (Tokaj), Eszterbauer Winery (Szekszárd), Fritz Cellar (Szekszárd), Gróf Degenfeld Estate (Tokaj), Günzer Winery (Villány), Heumann Winery (Villány), Hétszőlő (Tokaj), Jammertal Wine Estate (Villány), Kikelet Winery (Tokaj), Koch Winery (Hajós–Baja / Villány), Mészáros Winery (Szekszárd), Pajzos (Tokaj), Ruppert Winery (Villány), Teleki Wines (Villány), Thummerer Winery (Eger), Törley Winery (Etyek–Buda), Tornai Winery (Somló), Vylyan Vineyard and Winery (Villány)

Foreword

I have never taken so long to write an article, and I am solely to blame for this. I usually send my questions for the Importer of the Month series by email, which is what I did in the case of Hundert Weinhaus – roughly two years ago. However, Marietta Bicsek, one half of the owner couple, was busy preparing for a pre-Christmas expo and didn’t want to bother with writing, so she called me. I was on vacation at the time, walking around Bordeaux with my children, and unfortunately, by the time I got home, my memory of our pleasant and informative phone conversation had faded. I felt ashamed about this, and that was the end of it. Until last November, when we attended the Franc & Franc conference in Villány together, picked up where we left off, talked a lot, and I got to know two wonderful people in Marietta and István.

After the first Swiss Furmint February

This Sunday, February 1, the first event promoting Furmint took place with the participation of seven Hungarian wine merchants, and of course Marietta and István were there too. “The audience was primarily professional, the masterclass led by Lilla Fülöp was a great experience, and finally, all the merchants living in Switzerland who distribute Hungarian wines were present at the same time with their excellent wines. In the evening, we had dinner at the same table to discuss the events of the day. Jörg Waldthaler, the organizer of the event, did a lot to make this happen, and we are confident that the promotion of Hungarian wines in this form will continue.”

If you have never heard of Csomorika, don’t blame yourself, this variety is a rarity even in Hungary. At the end of the year, Tornai Winery in the volcanic Somló wine region released a sparkling wine – in two versions depending on the dosage – made of this ancient, yet unknown grape.

Hungary made sparkling wines well before the Spanish

Whether it was Dom Perignon abbey in Champagne or British merchants in London, who invented sparkling wine – or who realized the bubbles appear when wines referment –, we will never know, that dispute will hang in the air forever. The Catalans also claim that an abbey in Mallorca and another one in Girona discovered bubbles in wine, well before Dom Perignon – again, there is not much evidence. However, we know that the first officially recorded sparkling wine in Spain was made in 1872.
And in Hungary? Almost 40 years earlier! The first Hungarian sparkling wine factory was founded in 1834, by Ignácz Prückner in Budapest, and the second one was founded in 1859 in the southern city of Pécs, by Lőrinc Littke. This latter was the sparkling winery that used Csomorika grape as base wine for sparkling wines.
And it was Endre Tornai, founder of Tornai Winery in Somló, the present owner’s late father, who introduced the variety in Somló winer region. And it was Tamás Tornai, present owner, who created the first Csomorika sparkling wine in Hungary, after the change of the regime (Ottó Légli also has plantations of Csomorika, but his sparkling wine is not released yet.)

Forget all other sparkling wines!

Csomorika is quite likely to have Hungarian origin, though it has a German (Swabian) name as well: Lammerschwanz. Csomorika is a wine rich in flavours and with quite high acidity, which makes it an ideal base wine for sparklings.
Borsmenta Hungarian online wine magazine published a panel tasting of Hungarian sparkling wines in December, here is their opinion about Tornai Brut: “The sparkling wine opens with a pleasant, sugary aroma, followed by white flowers, ginger, peach, pear, and finally citrus. The taste is elegant, floral, citrusy, slightly bitter, with persistent effervescence and a beautiful bubble structure. Well chilled, it makes a perfect welcome drink, but it will also go down well on summer evenings in the garden or on the terrace.”
Tornai Winery itself describes it with the following sentences:
“The bouquet bursts with lively citrus aromas, reflecting the unique character of this rare Hungarian grape variety. On the palate, delicate creamy effervescence accompanies an almost bone-dry profile, where vibrant lime and subtle grape blossom unfold beautifully across the palate. The long, graceful finish lingers with notes of grapefruit zest and hints of dried chamomile.”
We also tasted it at an event before New Year’s, we agree with both of the descriptions, but most of all with the unique character. It cannot be compared to a sparkling wine of Chardonnay, it is not only a different style, but a completely different genre. It is definitely worth trying, especially for winelovers with thirst for adventures!
Brut has 5 g dosage, while the other version, Extra Dry has 15.5 g/L sugar.
Retail price on the winery webshop: 4990 HUF (approximately 13 EUR).

More information about Tornai Winery and the sparkling wines

Tornai Wines are available in several countries, for example in the United Kingdom at Astrum Wine Cellars. If you are interested in importing, contact Éva Dományházi commercial manager.

Hungarian Circle of Winewriters’ Super 12 lists announced

After 3 years of Eger holding the prestigious title called Kosárka Memorial Award, now Szekszárd took over with Vesztergombi (in our cover photo). As for the two Super 12 lists, this year Balaton gave us most of the Super wines, altogether 10 wines, including the two Grand Prix winners. To see the Grand Prix winners and the two Super 12 lists, go on reading!

See the full lists below.
The awards ceremony will take place in Székesfehérvár on 10 January.

About József Kosárka

Dr. József Kosárka was the founder and president of the Hungarian Wine Writers’ Association until his death in 2022. The prize, established in his memory, is awarded to the winery with the most entries from wine writers. The 2025 Kosárka Memorial Award went to the Vesztergombi Cellar from Szekszárd.

Warsaw Wine Experience consumers’ day on 17 November

If you happen to stay in Warsaw, visit Warsaw Wine Experience and do not miss these wines at 2Bratankiexhibitor’s booth! Vylyan Csóka, a true rarity, Tornai Premium Juhfark, a gem from Somló and Bock Ermitage, an all-time-favourite from Villány – along with many other wines presented by 2Bratanki wine importer and webshop.
Information and exhibitors here

The wines of our cover photo

Vylyan Csóka Variáció 2019, Villány

“Csóka is a true rarity. The autochthonous variety had been grown in Hungary already before the Kadarka and it is practically extinct today. Because of the special characteristics of this grape variety, we decided to save it and plant it on our estate once again. In cooperation with the Pécs Research Institute for Viniculture and Oenology, we launched an exciting experiment in spring 2004, grafting Kadarka plants with the ancient Hungarian variety, Csóka. The experiment yielded success. Currently we are holding around 4000 vines.
With its unique character, Csóka 2019 intriguingly embodies the beauty of the exceptional vintage from Villány. Notes of dried cherries and cool, forest-like aromas and flavours coexist harmoniously. The truly silky acids and velvety tannins are reminiscent of Burgundy.”
More about Vylyan Vineyard and Winery

Tornai Premium Juhfark 2024, Somló

Juhfark is an indigenous grape almost exclusively grown on the volcanic Somló mountain, in the smallest wine region of Hungary. “Mature aroma dominated by barrel notes, cinnamon, anise, and overripe fruity notes, with a background of apple and pear. Complex, full-bodied, and rich in flavours. The acidity supports the sip well, and the ripe fruits and minerality are in beautiful harmony with the refined barrel aromas. Its aftertaste is long and creamy. Suggested food pairings: A great choice to accompany Caesar salad, mildly spiced Indian cuisine, and grilled dishes.”
More about Tornai Winery

Bock Ermitage 2023, Villány

“The winery’s most popular wine. Made from grape varieties from the most beautiful vineyards in the Villány wine region, a cuvee of Merlot, Pinot Noir, Portugieser, Kékfrankos and Syrah built upon a base of Cabernet. It is matured in large oak barrels (70%) and used barrique barrels (30%) for 12 months. A wine characterized by its medium dark intensity and colour verging on the garnet-red paired with lightly spiced, red-fleshed fruits. The bitterness of the sour cherry with a light chocolate aftertaste can be sensed in its flavour.”

More about Bock Winery

Our earlier article about Tomasz Witkowski and 2Bratanki wine shop and national webshop

“Poland is a blank page to write on”

28 wineries, including Teleki, Thummerer, Tornai

The venue of this relaxed tasting is the so-called ‘Bálna’, in English the ‘Whale’, a modern building in the shape of a whale on the bank of the Danube. The walk-around tasting is called Vingardium, sounds like the famous spell in the Harry Potter movie to make objects levitate. Well, let us add another spell: Teleki, Thummerer, Tornai. Taste their great wines from Villány, Eger and Somló – but moderately, otherwise it will be you, who starts levitating… Discounted tickets are still available!

Date and time: 17.00–23.45, 18 October 2025
Venue: Bálna (‘The Whale’) Fővám square 11-12, Budapest, Hungary
Tickets: 14 000 HUF / approximately 35 EUR (pre-event price)Buy your ticket here.
What will happen? Relaxed walk-around tasting with live music. Food will available to purchase (not included in the entrance ticket).
More information and full list of exhibitors

Three wines not to miss

 

Teleki Tradition Chardonnay Brut 2021

This Villány winery proves that elegant traditional method wines can be produced in the southernmost wine region. Elegant, pale colour with tiny, fine bubbles. Intense, complex nose with orange notes, discreet yeastiness and some citrus fruits. On the palate, it is characterized by a finely woven texture, tight structure and crystal-clear flavours. The vibrant acidity gives liveliness and freshness to the sparkling wine, highlighting its fruity character. Ethereal sparkling wine with small and creamy bubble pearls and perfect harmony.
More about the wine
More about Teleki Wines

Save the date!

The annual tasting festivity of the indigenous grape of our smallest wine region awaits its guests. The volcanic Somló is a land of astonishing wines with their distinct character. If you taste Somlói Juhfark, you will remember it. The hosting estate is – as always – Tornai Winery.

Date and time: 11 October 2025, 13.30–19.00
Venue: Tornai Winery, Somló, Hungary
How to get there: It takes approximately 2.5 hours to get to Tornai from Budapest.
Transfer from Budapest: There will be a transfer from Budapest directly to Tornai Winery for 7900 HUF (return trip), prior booking is needed.
Accommodation is available, plus Tornai has a charging station for electric cars.
What happens? Participants can taste Juhfark wines from 16 wineries in a relaxed walk-around tasting.
Participating wineries: Baráth, Barcza, Csordás-Fodor, Fehérvári, Fekete, Hegedűs-Szabó-Clements, Kabor, Kancellár, Kolonics, Kőfejtő, Kreinbacher, “A Nagy Bajuszú Jász Laci Pincéje”, Somlói Vándor, “A szemüveges srác borpincéje”, Tornai.
Guest winery: Laposa Estate from Badacsony
Dishes by Tornai restaurant will be available to purchase:
– Grilled Camembert wrapped in bacon, garnished with fresh salad (for vegetarians without bacon)
– Grilled chicken breast with basil and fresh salad
– French fries
– Cheese selection
– Cream dessert a la Tornai
Side programmes:
– 14.30–15.30: Somló tour with a tourist train, with tasting the wines of each stop, ticket: 8900 HUF
– 15.30–16.30: Cellar and museum visit with tasting, ticket: 2900 HUF
– 16.30–17.30: Vertical Juhfark tasting with several award-winning wines, conducted by the owner, Tamás Tornai, ticket: 8900 HUF

Tickets cost 12 900 HUF / person.
Buy your tickets here
For more information call +36 70 663 6641 or write to here.
More about Tornai Winery

A World Heritage site, 4 days, nearly 90 wine exhibitors

Buda Castle is undoubtedly one of the most majestic venues of the world, no wonder the pop star Katy Perry’s video for the song Firework was shot here. “THE” Wine Festival, as it is often referred to was the first significant wine event more than three decades ago. The organizers put a lot of effort into the renewal from time to time, as a consequence the 4-day open air wine cavalcade has still been the meeting point of wine enthusiasts.

Date and time: 11–14 September 2025, from 2 pm (check closing hours here)
Venue: Buda Castle, in the centre of Budapest, easy access. Find more details here.
Tickets: Daily tickets between 6900 HUF and 8900 HUF, more details here.
Food will be available to purchase at more than 20 vendors, including an oyster shop and some well-known Budapest restaurants, like Pomo d’Oro.
Some of the exhibitors: Bock (Villány), Borbély Family Winery (Badacsony), Fehérvári Wine Estate (Somló), Garamvári Vineyards (South Balaton), Teleki (Villány), Thummerer Winery (Eger), Tornai Winery (Somló), Tűzkő Estate (Tolna), Vylyan Vineyard and Winery (Villány).
Novelty this year: several wineries and companies exhibit for the first time or for the first time after many years, like the importing Heinemann Brothers and the kosher and vegan wine producing Gluck Estates.
Message from the organizers: “This autumn, you are invited to one of Hungary’s most iconic events, the Budapest Wine Festival, a true celebration of wine culture, elegance, and gastronomy for over three decades. Set within the historic walls of the Buda Castle, the festival offers a unique atmosphere, a powerful sense of community, and an unforgettable meeting of past and present, must-attend for every wine enthusiast. Say farewell to summer in style between September 11 and 14 with fine wines, breathtaking Danube sunsets, great company, and a rich blend of flavours. Expect a masterfully curated gastronomic selection and sophisticated wines from Hungary and beyond.”