Harvest Report from Hungary: Eger and Villány – happy news

Though Hungary is a small country, the vintage of 2016 is expected to vary in quantity. While the west part of the country suffered from hail, the east and south of Hungary is absolutely positive about the new vintage.

As it turns out of the report made by International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the vintage of of 2016 is a negative record all over the world: the smallest yeald in the past 20 years due to draught, floods and hails. According to OIV the severe weather will result in higher prices. The gross wine pruduction has decreased by 5 % from last year producing 259 million hectoliter.

– As for quantity, Italy is the number one in the world with 48,8 million hectolitres.
– The second is France with 41,9 millio hectolitres (with a 15% decrease from last year)
– Hungary is the 15th in the order with  2,7 million hectolitres (with 6% decrease from last year).

Balaton – black day in the middle of the summer

In Hungary, around lake Balaton, in the middle of the summer a severe hail destroyed a uge portion of the vineyards, at some wineries even 50% of the vines were seriously injured. Thanks God the quality is expected to be high.

Villány – a lucky region

Villány wine region in the south of Hungary is a lucky one, only some early spring frost caused threat near Siklós, but the vines have completely recovered from that. József Bock, owner of Bock Cellar is satisfied: „Thanks God we had a beautiful harvest, though there was some rain in October, we have brought wonderful, healthy fruit to the cellar.” The winemaker pointed out that Merlot and Cabernet Franc are especially great this year, and he is also satisfied with the nice acidity and rich flavour of the berries. His first wine made of Portugieser is released tomorrow, at St Martin’s Day as we wrote earlier.

Eger: great Pinot and Chardonnay

Winemaker of Kovács Nimród Winery in north-east wine region of Eger is also pleased with 2016. The wine region was not sruck by severe weather, only two significant rainy periods were recorded during the long, warm summer. Autumn was balanced, therefore the yield was even better then last year. Péter Szerdahely, the winemaker is especially satisfied the quality of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. „Cool nights after hot days in August will result in fruity, elegant wines from Eger”.