1000 years at present

The Benedictine monks who settled on the Sacred Mount of Pannonia in 996 have always been closely connected with the viticulture introduced by the Romans. For centuries, they have applied the highest prevailing standards of wine growing and vinification. At the beginning of the 1900’s, the Abbey held about 100 hectares of vineyards in the direct vicinity of Pannonhalma, and it also owned plantations on the Somló Hill and in Tokaj. Its bottled wines, both white and red, were sold in Hungary as well as abroad far beyond the borders of what was then Greater Hungary.

The political and social upheaval that followed World War II put an end to the centuries-old tradition when the single-party state confiscated the Abbey’s vineyard holdings and winery. During the decades that followed, the monks never gave up hopes of reviving the legacy of excellence one day. Finally, 10 years after the collapse of Communist rule, plans for rebirth took shape. As a result, a new winery with a floor space of 2000 m² and a storage capacity of 3000 hectolitres was established in 2003. The Pannonhalma Archabbey, since 1996 part of UNESCO World Heritage, is the majority owner, in partnership with the MBH Bank.

Historic vineyards replanted

The vineyards of the Pannonhalma Archabbey are situated in the officially designated wine region of Pannonhalma which, with a total area of about 600 hectares, is one of the smallest of the 22 historic wine regions of Hungary. The weather conditions are balanced with average sunshine hours and heat, and higher than average precipitation. Most of the vines are grown on brown forest soils that formed on loess and sand. Consistently from vineyard to vineyard and in all vertical intervals, the soils are alkaline owing to the presence of lime.

The winery cultivates about 50 hectares divided among four major vineyards, each of which used to belong to the Abbey in the historic past. The new vines planted under a program started in 2001 are spaced at a distance of 2.4 x 0.8 m; the training system is Guyot. The goal was to achieve a planting density of over 5000 vines per hectare in order to significantly cut the yield per wine to harvest much better quality fruit. In our choice of cultivation techniques, we strive to keep an optimal balance between modern mechanization and fastidious manual labour.

Due to its strict technological processing, this wine delivers the fresh and crispy flavours of early summer fruits with its floral and pleasant aromas during its first months after bottling while exhibits the deeper character of the Riesling varieties for the following months and years.

The crop of the two vineyards Széldomb and Tavaszó that bear diverse soil and microclimatic characteristic was harvested in different phase of biological ripeness. Due to the timely and carefully applied technology in the winery, a tasty and crispy white wine with the typical notes of the grape variety was produced that, at the same time, authentically represents the natural conditions of Pannonhalma. The aromatics of the wine are dominated by hay, gooseberry and green apple, enriched by a sweet tinge of elderflower on the finish.

Rhein Riesling is a really typical grape variety of the Pannonhalma wine region that also covers the biggest part of the vineyards of the Pannonhalma Archabbey. This wine is defined by the freshness with a dominance of mint leaves and a smooth touch of grape blossoms on the nose, while it is driven by citric aromas ranging from grapefruit to lime on the palate. The slightly full-bodied but still intense and fresh wine has high bottle ageing potential; at the present time, it is a lovely fresh summer wine with the true Riesling structure which will develop and guarantee its quality in the future. It shows the feature that made it one of the most well-known and popular grape varieties of the region.

Matching the styles of the old and the new worlds! Regarding Pinot Noir, we cultivate four Burgundian clones in three vineyards. The manifold soil and microclimatic facilities of the Pannonhalma wine region offer a unique potential to apply traditional technology combined with modern, new world approach. The wine is characterized by typical aromas of the variety on the nose. It reveals the full scale of red berries of the early summer from the ripe raspberry up to the black cherry. These notes are enriched by the spiciness coming from the aging in wooden barrels. On the palate plenty of ripe fruity aromas guarantee an unforgettable joy of drinking.

A wine of uncommon purity, this flagship riesling selection is introduced by the citrus aromas that are very characteristic of the variety, embodied in Mediterranean notes of tangerine and ripe orange rather than the greenish tones that the variety often produces in northern growing locations. Crystalline and pristine, the wine relies on a broad rather than sharp acid foundation – a token for serious cellaring potential and the endurance of minty fruit flavours. The solid acid backbone attains a superb balance with a hint of residual sugar.

Infusio is the red wine of Pannonhalma in Bordeaux style. Made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prestigious blend of Pannonhalma Archabbey comes from the hottest vineyard. Ripe bramble and cranberry simultaneously appear on the nose, completed by the aroma of vanilla coming from the wooden barrels. The balance of extract sweetness, alcohol and mature tannins results in a mellow taste evoking the concentrated notes of dried sour-cherry and plum as well as coffee and chocolate. It is a serious and elegant wine with Mediterranean notes and a high aging potential. A wine truly devoted to festive occasions …