Tasting and wine dinners of the Eger white blend in Hungary

Several restaurants and wine bars of Eger, Budapest and even one place of Veszprém offer Egri Csillag themed tastings and wine dinners this week, until 16 March. ‘Egri Csillag’ meaning ‘Eger Star’ is a refreshing white blend, ideal in springtime.

Torches and stars

The most famous wine of Eger wine region is undoubtedly the red blend called Egri Bikavér (also known as Bulls’ Blood, though nowadays the Hungarian term is preferred). When winemakers of Eger were looking for a name for the white counterpart in 2011, they agreed on Egri Csillag since it has two cultural references: Egri csillagok (plural) is the title of the most read Hungarian novel ever. And also, Eger has been an important trade route for centuries, and before the invention of electricity hundreds of torches were lit along the vineyards to mark the routes – they were often referred to as the “stars of Eger”.

This year 20 events await fans of the blend, just to mention a few:

– Zengő wine bar in Budapest offers 3 Egri Csillag wines by the glass
– Macok bistro in Eger has put Egri Csillag wines with matching dishes for this week, for example: Gál Tibor Egri Csillag and roulade of trout from
Szilvásvárad with porcini and celery salad, fennel cream with horse radish.
– Some wineries also have offers this week, Tóth Ferenc Winery is one of them with a great value Egri Csillag pack. The package includes a fresh, 2022 classicus wine, a superior wine from 2021 and some chocolate matching with the wines.

More Egri Csillag events (in Hungarian, but google can help)

Classicus Egri Csillag – freshness and juiciness

“Egri Csillag is called the wine of spring because of its freshness and bright, fruity aromas. The complex aromas and flavours, the result of careful blending, often display floral notes which invoke the season. In addition, new vintages of the best-known representative of this category of wine, Egri Csillag classicus bottlings are being released during this period.
Egri Csillag, like other protected wines of Eger, can be produced in three categories: classicus, superior and grand superior. While classicus wines are about freshness, lightness and juiciness, superior wines show more concentration and weight and are aged for a longer period of time, while grand superior wines represent the highest category and are all single vineyard wines where the constituent lots of the blend must all come from the same plot.” (Excerpt from the press release)
Photo on the right by Tamás Kőrösi 

Two great Egri Csillag wines

– Gál Tibor Egri Csillag 2022

Grape varieties: Olaszrizling, Hárslevelű, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Tramini and Szürkebarát
Vineyards: Pajados, Síkhegy
Vinification: The varieties were harvested separately. Fermentation in stainless steel at low tempreature. The blending took place shortly after fermentation. Bottling after short maturation in stainless steel.
Tasting notes: Golden colour, swirls elegantly in the glass. The nose reveals white flowers and white flesh fruits along with gooseberry, mint, lemon grass. Easy drinking, zesty wine with refreshing acidity. Long, fruity, citrusy aftertaste.
Available: Gál Tibor Fúzió restaurant – with gratis sample of Egri Csillag (Eger), Bortársaság stores (troughout Hungary), Citadella Imports (US), Borstore (Germany), 2bratanki (Poland), Winelovers Webshop (all over Europe)

– Tóth Ferenc Egri Csillag 2022

Grape varieties: Leányka, Olaszrizling, Királyleányka and a touch of Muscat Ottonel
Vinification: The grapes were harvested separately at the optimal ripeness level of each. Some were processed destemmed while some in whole bunches. Fermentation at controlled, low temperature. Maturation on the lees until the end of November.
Tasting notes: Straw yellow colour. Intense nose with white horehound (Marrubium vulgare), candies and a hint of Muscat notes. After a while white flesh fruits appear. The palate also follows the sweetish character of the nose, however the refreshing acidity places fruitiness in focus. Citrus fruits, pear, juicy peach and long finish. (Tasting note by Adél Bernát-Ulcz from CsokiLaBor).
Available: Tóth Ferenc Winery (Eger), Best of Hungary UK (United Kingdom), Ungarische Weine (Germany),Winelovers Webshop (all over Europe)

Facts about Egri Csillag blend