Hungarian wineries at Warsaw Wine Experience – more than ever!

The friendship between the Polish and Hungarian peoples has a long history, but this legendary relationship was overshadowed by the former Hungarian regime. Those dark days are over; Hungary has a new government, and hopefully our Polish friends will once again welcome us with open arms. Polish importers 2Bratanki, Kociolek i Vino and WinaWulkaniczne have joined forces and will be presenting the widest selection of Hungarian wines to date at the Warsaw Wine Experience on 22 and 23 November 2026. Let’s introduce seven of the confirmed participating wineries!

The wines featured in the cover photo – made by 7 of the confirmed wineries

– Tóth Ferenc Winery, Eger: Egri Csillag Superior 2025 – gold winner at the latest edition of Berliner Wine Trophy
More about Tóth Ferenc Winery

– Etyeki Kúria, Etyek: Blanc de Noirs and Brut NV bottle fermented sparkling wines – gold and silver from the latest edition of Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships
More about Etyeki Kúria

– Tornai Winery, Somló: Orange Wine – a new release of the 80-year-old winery, an orange wine made of Hárslevelű
More about Tornai Winery

– Fehérvári Wine Estate, Somló: Blanc de Blanc Grand Reserve 2020 – a stunning new release, traditional method sparkling wine from the volcanic Somló
More about Fehérvári Wine Estate

– A.Gere Winery, Villány: Gere Solus 2023 – the icon Villány Merlot has just received 100 points from Stuart Pigott independent wine expert, former wine writer of James Suckling
More about A.Gere Winery

– Steigler Cellar, Sopron: Fusion 2023 – a gold winner white blend at Berliner Wine Trophy 2026 winter tasting, made of Zöldveltelini (Grüner Veltliner), Furmint and Muscat Ottonel
More about Steigler Cellar

– Sauska, Tokaj: Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2017 – grand gold winner at the latest edition of Berliner Wine Trophy
More about Sauska

The list is still growing, we will update our readers soon, and see you, Polish friends in Warsaw!

More about Warsaw Wine Experience

More about 2Bratanki

More about Kociolek i Vino

More about WinaWulkaniczne

Sauska, Vesztergombi, Teleki, Tóth Ferenc, Garamvári

Altogether 1032 medals were given at this session of the German international wine contest, out of which 96 medals are for Hungarian wines. There are 10 grand gold, 78 gold and 8 silver medals. Let us highlight some gold medal winner wines and reveal some statistics.
More about Berliner Wine Trophy

Statistics: medal chart

1. Germany with 233 medals
2. Italy with 193 medals
3. Spain with 111 medals
4. Hungary with 96 medals
5. France with 70 medals

…and some statistics from Decanter World Wine Award

Among the Central Eastern European countries, it was Croatia, that gained the most medals (412) at the latest edition of DWWA (results announced a month ago), including 34 gold medals. With over all medals Slovenia is the second (202) and Serbia is the third (146), however, in terms of gold medals, Hungary and Austria are the 2nd with 15-15 gold medals and 144 medals over all. Tóth Ferenc Várvédő Egri Bikavér is one of the Hungarian medal winners – congratulations to all of our producers!

Country                       All medals       Gold medals
Austria                                    144                  15
Bulgaria                                   51                     5
Croatia                                    412                  34
Bosnia& Herzegovina              45                     5
Czech Republic                       81                     6
Hungary                                 144                   15
Kosovo                                     1                       0
Moldova                                   97                     6
Montenegro                             17                     2
Poland                                      6                      0
Romania                                 112                    8
Serbia                                     146                    7
Slovakia                                  10                      0
Slovenia                                  202                  12
Ukraine                                    73                     0

See all Decanter results here

Tóth Ferenc Várvédő Egri Bikavér Sík-Hegy-dűlő, 2022

Egri Bikavér is the flagship red blend of Eger wine region. Read the regulation here. Tóth Ferenc Várvédő Bikavér is made of 36% Kékfrankos, 33% Cabernet Franc, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Syrah.
Decanter tasting note:
“Refined and elegant style, with aromas of black and red berries, vanilla and violets. Spicy palate.” 87 points, bronze medal
How was it made
The different grape varieties were harvested separately at their ripening times. Fermentation took place in a mixture of steel tanks and, due to the low yields, in smaller quantities in vats. After fermentation and malolactic fermentation, ageing took place in younger and completely new Hungarian and French oak barrels with capacities of 500 and 225 liters. After two years, the team decided on the final blend, then left the wine to rest in stainless steel tanks for a few months before bottling.
Food pairings
Roast beef, game dishes, smoked cheese and roast lamb.
More about the wine and the winery
See Decanter fact sheet

Tóth Ferenc Winery loves Kadarka grape a lot!

Every Friday is Kadarka Friday – especially next Friday in Eger

Another article about the winery and Kadarka grape

The secrets of a defiant yet wonderful variety

Tóth Ferenc Winery and Eger Wine Festival

International Kadarka Day is held on 20 November, however, Tóth Ferenc Winery does not put up with just one day of the year for their beloved variety: they celebrate Kadarka every Friday! Plus, next weekend, on 9–11 July visitors can taste three Kadarka wines at their booth at Eger Wine Festival in the green heart of Eger.

Tóth Ferenc Winery is one of the most active Hungarian wine estates with summer picnics on the spectacular Síkhegy plateau, chocolate and wine pairings, wine hikes and many other activities. The tasting room awaits wine connoisseurs all year, and on top of that, their charming guest house at the foot of the famous Eger Castle offers cosy and unforgettable stay.

See more about Várvédőház guest house
Follow Tóth Ferenc Winery on Facebook or Instagram to see their upcoming events

Key facts about the jubilee Eger Wine Festival

– This year the 30th celebration of Eger wine will take place in Eger, in the beautiful Archbishop Garden, the green heart of Eger.
– The event is admission free, while food and wine samplings are to be paid at the exhibitors. Tasting glass is needed to be purchased.
– Live music, dance shows are provided on two stages and there will be other programs, like parades (for example tractor parade).
– Egri Bikavér wines have special importance at the event: all the exhibiting wineries collaborate with a restaurant, and they present a Bikavér pairing at their booth.
– Tóth Ferenc Winery will offer

Várvédő Egri Bikavér Grand Superior 2022 (Síkhegy vineyard)
with pork cheek, home made pickles and flatbread.

– Tóth Ferenc Winery will offer three summer whites:

Egri Csillag 2025
Egri Csillag Superior 2024
Édes Lányom 2024

– As written earlier, Tóth Ferenc Winery will offer three Kadarka wines:

Kadarka Siller 2025
Egri Kadarka 2024
Egri Kadarka Superior 2023

See more about Eger Wine Festival
Did you know that Eger is the most visited city of Hungary after Budapest? Find the top sights of Eger here.

Have you not heard of Egri Csillag wine? Well, it is the “Star of Eger”!

Read more

The Star of Eger – the wine and the visioner

Why is Síkhegy so special?

Dreamlike event spot in Eger wine region

Guest house by the feet of Eger Castle

You can be the lord by the castle!

 

The grapegrower and the winemaker share insights

The article below was written by Tóth Ferenc Winery team.
See the original here.

When we talk about Kadarka, we must picture a true prima donna. There is no doubt that it shows its finest side in Hungary’s Eger and Szekszárd wine regions. It is an elegant grape variety with immense potential, yet it is extremely delicate: it demands the utmost professional care from the vineyard to the cellar. In the right terroir and in careful hands, it offers an unparalleled experience, but it punishes even the slightest negligence immediately. Let’s take a peek behind the scenes and see what makes making Kadarka such an exciting—and at the same time, challenging—task.

9–11 February, Paris, France

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).
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:

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

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

10 great wines to remember, #4

Silky, naughty, tricky – a lovely example of Kadarka grape variety made by Tóth Ferenc Winery in Eger. Towards the end of the year, we look back to some of the great wine moments we have enjoyed. All the 10 wines we will list until New Year’s Eve are special for some reason and they are all worth buying, multiple bottles, if you can afford. (The order is NOT a ranking.)
(Cover picture background painted by Emma Katalin Dobos)

The origin of Kadarka

“Kadarka is said to have been introduced to Hungary from the Balkans, either by Serbians, which fits with Kadarka being the Slavic name for Scutari, a lake (also known as Skadar) between Montenegro and Albania, and with the fact that the variety was once cultivated under the synonym Skadarka in Croatia and Serbia (Levadoux 1956; Galet 2000; Rohály et al. 2003), or by Turks, hence its synonym Törökszőlő (‘Turkish grape’). It is conceivable that it made its way to Hungary via Bulgaria, where it is still widely planted under the synonym Gamza, and where it is considered to be indigenous. It is also said to be “be indigenous to the region of Miniş near Arad in western Romania, where the first sweet Aszú-style red wine was made from shrivelled Cadarcă grapes in 1744 (Dejeu 2004). The exact origin of Kadarka remains unknown but it lies somewhere within the Balkan-Pannonian area.” Excerpt from: Robinson, Jancis; Harding, Julia; Vouillamoz, Jose. “Wine Grapes (9780062325518).” iBooks.

“Do you speak Kadarka?”

Kadarka is grown almost all over the country. It has significant vineyards in the Great Hungarian Plain, where Kunság, Csongrád and Hajós–Baja wine regions are situated. Kadarka is most important in Szekszárd and Eger, the two wine regions where the famous blend, Bikavér (Bull’s Blood) is made, and Kadarka is usually one component of the blend. Total plantings of Kadarka account for less than 700 hectares.
It is really hard to cultivate Kadarka. Late ripening, sensitive, its thin skin can be affected with harmful and noble rot. The colour is medium deep ruby. On the nose rich, spicy and elegant – if in good hands. On the palate juicy, spicy, medium bodied with good acidity and low tannins. Usually consumed young, within 1–3 years, but with properly restricted yield and careful vinification Kadarka can be aged for a long time – as it is proved by some vertical tastings carried on in Szekszárd and other wine regions.

Kékfrankos by Vesztergombi, Tóth Ferenc and Thummerer wineries

The term “blending” in Hungarian is the same word for “marrying”. After all, when we blend two wines, the blended wine will be something even better, just like in a good marriage, when a man and a woman become a functioning, happy “unit” called family. So, when my niece – Hungarian, of course – invited me to her wedding with a Spanish boy, my sister and me decided to give a special wine to her and the wedding guests: a blend of a Hungarian and a Spanish variety.
By Ágnes Németh
Photos: Fanni Fövényi

Though Hungarian is the most well-known for its sweet wines from Tokaj, while in other wine regions producers like placing emphasis on blockbuster red wines, our country is first and foremost a white wine country. Let us introduce three great white wines, all gold winners of the latest edition of Berliner Wine Trophy.

 

The results of the Berliner Wine Trophy Summer Tasting are available. At this session Hungary is the 5th on the medal ranking with 81 medals after Italy (327 medals), Germany (286 medals), Spain (17) and France (107). Our country collected 3 Grand Gold medals – all for Tokaji Aszú wines –, 54 gold medals and 24 silver medals.

See all Hungarian medal winners here

Thummerer Egri Csillag Superior 2024, Eger

Egri Csillag is a white blend, a relatively new phenomenon in Eger wine region, the homeland of Egri Bikavér (Bull’s Blood), the famous red blend. Egri Csillag Classicus is an approachable, easy-drinking category, while Egri Csillag Superior is a “wine for thought”, more complexity, more pleasure.
This Thummerer wine is made of Tramini, Zenit, Királyleányka and Chardonnay. After harvesting the fully ripened grapes, the must fermented in barrique, 10% of it was new oak. Ageing took 6 months, also in the barrels. A full-bodied wine abundant in aromas and flavours, with long ageing potential. Ideal partner of fish dishes, cured ham and cheeses.

More about Thummerer Winery
The BWT info sheet of the wine

Holdvölgy Hold and Hollo Dry 2024, Tokaj

Holdvölgy estate makes outstanding Tokaji Aszú wines and stunning dry wines, but they also have a playful range, the Hold and Hollo wines along with Uppp aerated sparkling wine.. “A cool and bold Tokaji that offers a fresh interpretation of the Tokaj tradition. It’s all about pleasure—no mysteries! This stylish partner is ready for all your adventures, but only if you have enough bottles…” The wine is a blend of Furmint, Hárslevelű, Zéta and Muscat à petits grains. “Hold and Hollo Dry is all about freshness. The nose is full of exotic fruits like mango, coconut, and pink grapefruit. The sip is quite vibrant with a blend of maracuja, papaya, lime, and citrus. No mystery, just pleasure.”

More about Holdvölgy
The BWT info sheet of the wine

Tóth Ferenc Rhine Riesling Superior 2024, Eger

The family winery focuses on indigenous grapes like, but Rhine Riesling also works very well at the estate, as it has been proved through several vintages. “With its golden colour, the wine has a mature character in its appearance. The nose is rich and worth allowing to open up, as it gradually sheds tropical fruit-pineapple, lime-ginger mottled, baked pear notes. If you wait, even a hint of linden blossom and even popcorn will come through. Creamy on the palate. Toasty notes, toasted almonds and buttery character reflect the careful use of oak, as the wine’s acidity also comes through and leads the citrus flavours nicely. This fruit tends to dominate on the medium-long finish. A complex yet light wine.”

More about Tóth Ferenc Winery
The BWT info sheet of the wine