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Our jury members: Felicity Carter, Mónika Debreczeni, Dr. Ágnes Veszelszki, Ruma Singh, Tamlyn Currin, Thomas Brandl, Sergey Smolin, Davide Bortone, Lilla O’Connor, Richard Siddle, Pál Rókusfalvy, Tímea Tóth, Erzsébet Farkas, Dániel Ercsey, Zoltán Győrffy, Zsuzsa Toronyi, Tamás Dobos.

The largest international wine competition of Hungary, the 21st VinAgora took place on 3–5 July, and the results have just been announced. The number of samples hit a new record at one of the most important wine competitions of Central Europe. 50 wine experts from all around the world tasted close to 800 wines and allocated 6 Champion prizes, 7 grand gold, 140 gold, and 94 silver medals. 19 special awards have been given to the best Hungarian varietal wines, best foreign wines, and to the most successful producers. We suggest our readers to click on the links below the wines, because VinAgora is quite unique among the wine contests giving a very detailed evaluation of the wine.

See the full list of VinAgora winners

Pannon Imperial Extra Dry – a Champion sparkling

One of the six Chamipons is this bottle fermented sparkling wine made by Garamvári Vineyard in Balatonboglár wine region. Its winemaker, Péter Baranyai has also been selected The Most Successful Young Winemaker of VinAgora. An interesting point: this sparkling wine is made exclusively for Lidlsupermarkets. We could see many own label wines win in the UK, but in Hungary so far there were not many awarded supermarket wines. Needless to say: this bubbly made of Chardonnay is a great wine for a fair price(under 9 euros).

VinAgora evaluation

More about Garamvári Vineyard

Egri Bikavér Classicus – a Grand Gold red wine

Only seven wines have received Grand Gold medal, this Egri Bikavér Classicus by Thummerer Winery in Eger is one of them. Bikavér is certainly a blend, in this case the ingredients are Kékfrankos (40%), Merlot (20%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). The wine matured in used barrels for 8 months. The owner of the winery, Vilmos Thummerer was chosen as early as in 1995 The Winemaker of the Year, and the standard of the winery has remained high ever since. There is no VinAgora without Thummerer gold or Grand Gold, just like this year.

VinAgora evaluation

More about Thummerer Winery

Paulus Olaszrizling The Best Olaszrizling of Hungary

VinAgora has announced 18 special prizes as well. Apart from the best wines of different countries, the best examples of Hungarian grape varieties have also been awarded. Olaszrizling is the most widely plantedwhite grape of Hungary, therefore it has a special importance. This year the trophy has gone to Paulus Wineryin Mór wine region. The wine was fermented and matured in stainless steel tank for 3 months to keep the typical fruitiness of the grape. Its 3.8 g residual sugar makes it adorable and it is well balanced with the 5.2 g refreshing acidity.

VinAgora evaluation

More about Paulus

The German competition claims to be the largest international contest under OIV patronage, and it also claims to be one of the strictest ones: “With the self-imposed limit of 7,000 submissions each in February and July, the BWT is the first international wine contest that has introduced a limit for quality reasons.” Berliner Wine Trophy is undoubtedly important for Hungarian wineries, especially to enter the German market. This year the winter tasting has brought great news: 32 medals were given to Hungarian wines, 30 gold and 2 silver.

The most successful Hungarian winery is Bognár-Vin, a large company known for its relatively cheap wines from several wine regions. Bognár-Vin won 8 gold medals, followed by a similar type of large company, the Balaton based Varga Winery, which has a cellar in Eger wine region as well – they won 4 gold medals. The whole list of Hungarian medal winners can be found here, and now let us recommend 3 excellent wines of the gold winners.

Bock Libra, Villány, 2015

Bock Cellar is one of the most well-known wineries of the mediterranean Villány, its founder, József Bock is an influental personality of the wine region. This Bordeaux blend shows perfect harmony of the varieties, that is what the name ‘libra’ stands for. The 3 Bordeaux varieties come from different vineyards: Ördögárok (Cabernet Franc), Jammertal Cabernet Sauvignon), Fekete-hegy (Merlot). “A full-bodied, concentrated wine with an incredible wealth of aroma and depth of flavour. It is characterized by a deeply intense colour verging on black in which tobacco and milk chocolate appear alongside overripe fruit. Alongside the dried fruits, chocolate is a dominant element of its flavour.”

More about Libra and Bock Cellar

Kővilla Vállogatás Villányi Cuvée, Villány, 2015

Csányi Winery, founded by the world famous viticulturist, Zsigmond Teleki is most proud of the great founder’s heritage. ‘Kővilla’, a ‘Stone Villa’ is a building still standing on one of the vineyards cultivated by Teleki. This wine has won a gold at VinAgora, another OIV competition. The Merlot base of the wine was harvested at full ripeness. Blended with Cabernet Franc the resulting wine has become a spotless match. The base was being matured separately in 3rd use, 300 l Hungarian oak barrels. “Dark ruby colour. The intense nose is determined by the notes of sour cherry and blackberry accompanied by subtle tones from barrel ageing. The palate is exciting, firm but nice tannins, a touch of chocolate and the fruity flavours reminiscent of the nose.“

More about Kővilla and the winery

Tivald Szekszárdi Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017

This wine is another evidence to prove that Bordeaux varieties feel good in Hungary in case of careful viticultural practices. Tivald is a great, full bodied wine by Eszterbauer Winery, a perfect example of the grape variety. Full bodied, but as the wine writer of Pécsi Borozó wrote, the big body pairs with elegance and delicacy. “Deep and dark colours, temperate flavour, but very rich. It has the aroma of blackberry and blueberry, there is a hint of dark chocolate and cherry brandy. Very strong in the mouth, but pleasant tannins, pepper and sweet spices. The alcohol is understandably high, but it can’t ruin the structure, it has a matured and rich body. The use of the barrel is very nice. Takes a long leavewith very rich taste…” And who is Tivald? He was a simple day labourer working for the owner’s grandfather. János Eszterbauer well remembers his figure, always unshaved, always complaining about something – and always working. This wine and the label is an honour to him – and probably to all the simple, honest, hard working people.

More about Tivald and Eszterbauer Winery

Pannon Wine Guild is an association uniting the iconic winemakers of Hungary. They celebrated their 20th anniversary last year, and a special workshop will be conducted with 10 wines of Guild members at VinCE Budapest Wine Show on 4th April.

The prestigious group

Pannon Wine Guild is an association of the most significant family wineries throghout the country. It was founded by 1999 by ten winemakers: János Árvay (Tokaj), Tibor Gál (Eger), Attila Gere (Villány), Zoltán Heimann (Szekszárd), István Szepsy (Tokaj), Huba Szeremley (Badacsony), Vilmos Thummerer (Eger), Ede Tiffán (Villány), Sándor Tóth (Balaton Uplands), Ferenc Vesztergombi (Szekszárd).  It is a prestige to become a member. They hold tasting events, for example the annual Christmas tasting and the Guild has an award commemorating a member, late dr László Bussay. The Guild has 38 members at the moment. The award is given to wine experts, who work hard for the cause of Hungarian wines.

The members of Hungarian Wine Guild (presidents, founding members, members)

Workshop from Cserszegi Fűszeres to Fekete Leányka

The 10 wines presented at the workshop are made of grape varieties of the Carpathian basin (except for Pannonhalmi Infusio). We can taste Csókaszőlő made by the winery of the late doctor Bussay, this light bodied, spicy, fruity red variety is a rarity even for us, Hungarians. Cserszegi Fűszeres is a crossing made in Hungary, aromatic and adorable. Of course we cannot present a tasting without Kadarka, this spicy, exciting variety, which is usually consumed young, but there are amazing matured examples as well. Kékfrankos, the most important black variety will also be introduced along with Fekete Leányka (Feteasca Neagra) by Géza Balla, a Hungarian winemaker from Romania.

Tóth Ferenc Egri Kadarka Superior 2018

Ferenc Tóth, the owner and founder of this Eger winery, he celebrated his 80th birthday last year. The winery was among the first ones to use the new community bottle for their Kadarka and Kékfrankos wines. “Roasted walnut is the first impression, then raspberry juice and strawberry jam on the nose. If we are patient enough, some herbal– resinous notes appear as well. Vibrant acidity and integrating tannins are felt immediately on the palate, followed by fresh sour cherries with ever increasing intensity, and certainly spiciness appears.”

More about the wine

Eszterbauer Frankos 2017

Eszterbauer is another family winery, but from another important wine region called Szekszárd. Eger and Szekszárd have many similarities, for example both (and only them) are allowed to make Bikavér. Kékfrankos (known as Blaufrankisch in Austria) is the main variety of most Bikavér blends, but varietal Kékfrankos wines are also more than important. Eszterbauer Frankos is a single vineyard wine from Bodzás vineyards. Only 1100 bottles were made of this great vintage. The label pictures the owner’s grandfather.

Read the story of the label

The whole list of wines at Pannon Wine Guild workshop

1. Pannonhalmi Infusio, 2017
2. Font Pince Kunsági Cserszegi Fűszeres, 2019
3. Bussay Csókaszőlő, 2017
4. Tóth Ferenc Egri Kadarka Superior, 2018
5. Eszterbauer Frankos, 2017
6. Bott Frigyes Kékfrankos, 2018 (vintage to be confirmed)
7. Figula Öreghegy Olaszrizling, 2017
8. Balla Géza Feteasca Negra Feketeleányka Sziklabor, 2017
9. Andrea Merengő Egri Bikavér Superio,r 2006
10. Tokaj Kikelet Tokaji Szamorodni sweet, 2016

More information and tickets to VinCE Budapest Wine Show